Embracing Our Unique Beauty: A Reflection on Body Image

As a content creator, often collaborating with beauty brands, I have received the (often taboo) question, “have you had work done?”

I have never had anything done and my skincare routine is quite nonexistent. I also don’t plan to have anything done. I’ve been reflecting on this a lot lately as it seems more often then not, people are going behind the needle or under the knife to meet society’s beauty standard of the moment.

If you have had work done, this post is nonjudgemental, just an honest reflection that has really shifted my perspective and may shift yours.

There are three themes that come to mind when I think about plastic surgery.
Plastic surgery encompassing all of it – even botox, lip filler, etc.

The first is that trends are constantly changing. If you think about what was in during the 90s-you might think skinny=chic. If you think 2015-ish times, you think BBL and curvy being in. All of this to say, there is constantly a new standard, a new “hot” body, and a new trend to follow. Botox and filler are often known as a common, not big deal treatment, yet they consist of injecting yourself with toxins.

The next theme is that your body looks the way it does for a reason. I think about people who have a few more wrinkles around their mouth or around their eyes, maybe from laughing hard or smiling often. I think about women postpartum who are sad they gained a few pounds, when they literally have the scars from bringing new life into the world. I think about the freckles that come from soaking up the sun and playing outside.

…and lastly and what I think is the most important – your nose that you don’t like came from your grandmother, your height that you wish was taller came from your parents, your chin that you wish was more chiseled traces back to your great grand father. Your features that you so desperately wish to change to match everyone else are the very features that make you unique and connect you back to your ancestry. When I feel down about a feature, I think about my family history and people happy, smiling, living their lives without stressing over their image.

Your features, that you so desperately wish to change to match everyone else, are the very features that make you unique and connect you back to your ancestry.

One day, we will all leave our bodies behind and when we look back, we wont wish we got plastic surgery.

We will want to remember how we laughed, loved, felt, and moved in our beautiful bodies.