Exploring beauty standards across different cultures offers a fascinating insight into the diverse perceptions of attractiveness around the world. Initiated by Esther Honig in 2014, the trend gained momentum as individuals from diverse backgrounds, such as Priscilla Yuki Wilson and Marie Southward, put their own unique twists on the concept of beauty. Collaborative efforts, such as that between Fractl and OnlineDoctor.SuperDrug.com, delved further into the topic and revealed large differences in beauty ideals across 18 countries. From the Philippines to Venezuela, interpretations of beauty differed significantly across regions, highlighting the subjective nature of aesthetic preferences. This experiment underscores the importance of recognizing and appreciating the rich tapestry of beauty standards that exist around the world and demonstrates the complex interplay between culture, society, and individual perception.
Like language, beauty is subjective and varies around the world. It became popular in 2014. Journalist Esther Honig gained international attention when she sent a photo of herself to graphic designers asking her to look “beautiful”.
Others were influenced by this style, such as Priscilla Yuki Wilson, who is multiracial, and Marie Southward, who added: “plus size”. A comparable effort involved a 2014 collaboration between Fractl, a content marketing agency, and OnlineDoctor.SuperDrug.com, an online medical service based in the United Kingdom. Frac conducted a study on the differences in beauty in 18 countries by sending a stock image of a lady in her underwear to graphic designers in the UK and Syria.
In terms of beauty criteria, the results varied widely.
Philippines
Darker hair and thinner skin embody the ideal of true beauty in the Philippines.
USA
In their view of beauty, the US has decided that having a thigh gap, a flatter stomach, and an extremely sculpted face are the obvious choices.
See also: Model at 71: Rosa Saito shatters all age and beauty stereotypes and sparks the fashion industry
China
China produced the most edited photo, claiming the model weighed roughly one hundred pounds. The face, hair, underwear, and whole body were changed.
Colombia
Colombians continued to see beauty as a curvier shape, with minor modifications such as more hair and less orange skin.
Egypt
he gave the model black hair, a narrow waist, and an orange shade.
Italy
they produced a version that was almost as slim as the Chinese one while changing the color of the shoes and underwear to reflect a completely different idea of ​​beauty.
Netherlands
The woman had slimmer legs, and lighter hair, and was wearing a pink bikini and boots.
Peru
Peru focused on slimming the model’s arms and stomach in addition to tweaking her eyes when judging the beauty.
Romania
it turned orange and lost inches all over its body.
See also: The depressing truth about child beauty pageants
Serbia
he spoke to the face and figure of the model.
Africa
showed a taller, slimmer version of the vehicle.
Spain
retained a graceful aspect, unlike other nations.
See also: World’s first makeup-free beauty pageant won by a dental nurse
Mexico
gave the woman’s brown hair and tan a more realistic look.
Syria
it resulted in a transformation that looked a little out of place.
United Kingdom
The model got a significantly slimmer body and the UK kept the background simple with white.
Ukraine
she tried to significantly adjust the figure of the model and add more volume to her hair. Her shoes and underwear colors also changed.
Argentina
the model raised her breasts and simulated a tummy tuck.
Venezuela
he gave her beautiful black hair that was wavy and lightened her skin tone.
“Some designers in North, South, and Central American countries have created an exaggerated hourglass figure,” noted the Fract team, while “others in Europe and Asia have chosen to make it extremely skinny.” The variety of beauty standards shown in these images highlights how arbitrary beauty standards are around the world.
When it comes to the sense of beauty, individuals seem to have different perspectives.
When you compare them all, you will realize how completely the original image has been changed with a few Photoshop adjustments to match the beauty standards of the area. China made the lightest, Spain the heaviest and China the thinnest of all submissions.
A diverse range of edited images from different countries sheds light on the subjective nature of beauty standards around the world. From the Philippines to Ukraine, interpretations of beauty vary greatly from region to region, reflecting cultural norms, ideals, and perceptions. This experiment highlights the arbitrary nature of beauty standards and serves as a reminder that beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. Despite the differences in interpretations, one thing remains clear: beauty knows no boundaries and manifests itself uniquely all over the world.