what makes a woman beautiful?

The standards of beauty change constantly. For many years now the Tall - Thin woman has held the lead position in the minds of Western society. This woman has symmetrical features, long legs, is generally over 5'8", and under 110 lbs. Men still like some womanly features so Bust and Hips are still in, however, the traditional hourglass figure is no longer the norm of "beauty" in the media. FYI: The traditional hourglass held an approximately 10-12 inch difference in the measurement of Bust - Waist - Hips. So the measurement might look like this 36 - 27 - 37 and still be within the norm. The media shows us women who are not the norm. They are in the position they are in first because they were born with natural beauty to begin with (Halle, Beyonce, Brooke Shields, Kate Hudson) or the money to buy their way into our living rooms (Paris Hilton). They spend much of their day working to maintain their "beauty". They have personal trainers, delivered meals, chefs, exlusive gym memberships, make-up artists on call, stylists, and personal shoppers, and access to other means. It is their job to maintain their "look" this is how they earn a living. For those women who are posed on covers and inside of magazines, they are airbrused to perfection. We, the women who don't have the advantage of all the above well we have to make due. We are born the way we are born perfections and imperfections both. Most of us will never be able have the time or money that our media created cultural icons have and thus most of us will always be striving for their "look". There is nothing wrong with striving to improve ourselves through healthy diet and exercise regimes, these extend our lives and improve the quality of our lives. There is obviously something wrong with going over the edge. In the past thirty or so years there have been several new disorders defined around this issue. There are even clinics and areas of medicine now specifically designed to treat these; Anorexia, Body Dismorphia, Bulimia, and Binge Eating. While women are the primarily affected men are not unaffected. Eating disorders can start as early as 12-years old in young girls, boys seem to be affected a bit later in their lives. Finally there is Body Dismorphic Disorder (BDD) while not it new has found a new outlet with the rise in availability of plastic surgery. So we are imperfect based on current standards of beauty. Unfortunate that our imperfection has led to such extremes. The media is a powerful voice in our social consciousness today. It is hard to escape it. It is difficult to believe we are good and perfect in our own right when if we are not the perfect size 6 the clothing we need is in the basement or hidden behind housewares. It is difficult to get a handle on the idea that we have no flaws when everywhere we look there is no single role model that looks like us and even those who are of our heritage look more like others. So the media indeed has a powerful voice. Different is not easily lived with in the world of today. Assimilation is the desire, acceptance by ones peers is the driver. The powerful drive to be beautiful by whatever standard and whatever means often overwhelms the need for individuality and personal definition. It is a sad and frightening world for young women and men today. Yes, even for some of us older ones.

Hi there lauranthalasa! I agree with you. The media has conditioned the mind of the people about what should be classified as beautiful or sexy and what should not. For me, I think that still, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. People have different preferences and it's hard to really classify one as beautiful and expect that everyone else will think the same too. Personally, I think that beauty can be determined as a whole and not through seeking perfection. For example, I think that beautiful eyes can't be determined by its color, the length of eyelashes but through the fact that that person's eyes seems to always match her smile. Like she can show joy even just through her eyes. I think that how a person feels about his or herself, through self-confidence and great personality helps in affecting how other people see him or her.

It's a shame the media has consistently been shallow in representing women. It doesn't bother me personally but it makes me sad when girls as young as 7 feel like they are too fat and don't look nice in clothes. They have a warped sense of what is beautiful these days. It is about time that diversity and personality were celebrated.

At first impression, it is size and appearance that makes a woman beautiful, but after that, it is attitude. We all know people who are beautiful on the outside but their expression and the way they speak to people make them ugly, and people who are plain whose attitude and way of treating others make them beautiful. And with your friends, how quickly do you stop thinking about how they look? I once had older married friends. The man was a judge, and he traveled from time to time without his wife. Once, he went to Israel and when he came home, he brought her a beautiful dress that was about 5 sizes too small. He said that he just never noticed that she wasn't that size any more. At that time, she had not been that size for 15 years or more;) So, love makes a woman beautiful.

I agree but women are created equal as men are i find the simplicity on women to be the most appealing though..

I would say inner beauty counts more than physical beauty...because inner beauty reveals the real character of a woman, this is what make her beautiful..but recognizing this inner beauty is very difficult but not impossible..,

Well, I remember my past , when my friends always dreamt about a nice looking girl as his dream girl . But now time has been changed and every body looking for girl with beautiful mind . I think body appearance is not so important today to make a beautiful woman . Its important but not so much ... But mind should be beautiful and her nature should be acceptable ... Thanks !!!

I am agree with you lauranthalasa. This discussion remind me of Cristina Aquilera, Beautiful. Words sometime make us down and we just wanna be perfect. But we are perfect anyway no mather what they say.

it depends on the woman...some woman have the body, some have the face, some have too much personality...some are very intelligent...some are sexy...some are youthful, etc. i think pick the look that fits your personality and enhance it. i look thru fashion magazine for ideas...what to buy or for cute haircuts...mostly shopping ideas. models are thin because thin woman look better on clothes and show the fashion better. like clothes hangers. i think if you need to lose weight, eat healthy, cut junk food/fast food and drink lots of water, and do some form of exercise or activity to move your body. living healthy for a better body, mind and soul..

Beauty is not only how people see it but how handle it. I believe no matter how beautiful you are in the eyes of other's physically, if you don't know what you really are and trust yourself, you can't really enjoy it. Even in or out. You can be beautiful by simple phrase. Be beautiful, stay beautiful and feel beautiful. It's all about handling it the right way.

I agree with what you are saying. I also think that beauty is what makes us different and unique, there are not 2 women or people the same and there lies the beauty of every human been. It doesn't matter if you are tall, short, thin, chubby, color skin or fare, blond or brunette. What makes us beautiful is the confidence and high self steem that we have mixed with the personallity of everyone of us and how good we feel with ourselfs. That makes us interesting, attractive, unique and beautiful.

Superficial beauty tends to get the first glimpse but the character tends to get the last. There's a saying "She was beautiful until I heard her speak". Beauty without character it's just beauty. Character makes beauty ageless. Character that includes intelligent, honesty, compassion, love of course and lastly but hot the least good sense of humour make a beautiful woman complete.

I agree. The media is runing the chance for women to see the good in themselves. I hate to admit it.. but I feel terrible every time I look in the mirror. I'll admit... my body isnt perfect.. by any means. Now. Im not starving or anything like that. I am dieting right. I just understand what women go through. I wish the media would focus more on how people are on the inside.. not the clothes that they wear or how skinny they are. it's hard living in todays world.

for me, a beautiful woman is all about whats inside. i prefer the bigger woman, not the skiny ones. personallity is key for me, she's gotta make me laugh and laugh at my jokes. be able to get through anything and still be smiling.

Well, I would think that what makes a girl real beautiful is that she would have beautiful makeup, including blue eye lashes/shadow. Also the red kissible and shiny lipstick. I would say that her clothing does not matter at all. My match would be a tall and slim light blonde girl. As long as she is real strong and active. And that she always exercises. Meaning having a strong, healthy, and beautiful. And that importantly also she has great honesty and personality. I bet that beautiful girl would be real special to me. I wonder what you all think.