Beauty Within B

Beauty is a tyrant. And when it comes to it, criticism is unavoidable. One is either too tall, short, fat, or skinny. What’s appealing one day is unsightly the next, and everyone who had to live with yesterday’s contempt continues in confusion.

The aesthetic value of something has long been a topic of interest for humans. Our discerning eyes enjoy picking out what we believe is good from the bad and uplifting what we think sightly. This belief has held us for thousands of years. In the modern day, it manifests itself in beauty pageants.

The debate continues about the usefulness of such contests. Who do they serve, and what do they accomplish? The mother-daughter team of beauty queens Mel Hubahib Martinez and Khatrina Martinez weigh in on the matter.

Mel believes that beauty pageantry is misconceived. “I see pageants as a way to feel beautiful, a way for me to remember to be presentable and take care of myself,” she expressed. When she joined beauty pageants, her purpose was to fulfill her dream of dressing up like a princess. For her, it was plain fun.

Her daughter Khatrina grew up hearing about beauty pageants and eventually tried them. However, she felt drained after the competitions. She is well aware of the rigid standards set by society. According to her, she disliked that the contestants were judged mainly by their appearance. It might be considered archaic, especially in a world where women are encouraged to be just who they are. “I felt like I just wanted to shine on my own,” said Khatrina.

With media and social media at the forefront of people’s lives, unrealistic expectations are placed on today’s youth. “I use [social media] for work, and I am active on it, but I don’t like how it pressures people to feel a certain way,” she explained. Khatrina believes social media is often harmful, especially to people seeking validation.

“True beauty radiates when there is self-love,” she expressed. “A person glows differently when there is self-love—a lady who knows her worth. They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I believe that true beauty does not come with validation from others.”

Both mother and daughter share one imperative belief: Beauty manifests in kindness. “You have to be kind to people and have to be mindful of others,” Mel explained. “I believe that there are so many ways to help those who are in need.”

Mel has a soft spot for street children and orphans. She visits and helps out in the orphanage. “I encourage everyone to do small acts of kindness, and in general, just be kind. Because the world needs it the most. If you have beauty but don’t have a heart, you are not beautiful. I believe that the beauty of the body is incomplete without the beauty of the mind and heart.”

Khatrina, on the other hand, loves animals. She spends her free time helping displaced animals find homes. She compares actions of kindness with the butterfly effect. “Essentially, the butterfly effect focuses on how every tiny action influences the course of the rest of our lives.

We cannot control the repercussions of events from our past. Because it will inevitably bleed into the present. But even with this said,” she continued, “we can take action to make things right by simply always choosing to be kind. I also believe that our tongues have power. What we say has the power to build up or tear down. Together our small acts of kindness can amplify into better.”

Even though these two beauty queens are from different generations with varied viewpoints, Khatrina and Mel still promote tranquility despite their dissimilarities. Regardless of their good looks, their beauty emanates from within. Their nature is what makes them truly wonderful.

Mel Hubahib Martinez