is golden
EVERY SKIN TONE W
hat is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about the concept of beauty? You may envision your idea of society’s standards, but that visual will likely be different from the person next to you, and the person next to them. The reality is that the answer isn’t quite so simple, and has evolved frequently throughout the decades. As we have entered a new era of social change, the meaning of “pretty” has also been redefined. In 2020, beauty is diversity. The world is embracing and advocating for different body shapes, hair textures, and skin tones to represent women and people everywhere. We are living in an era that is promoting inclusivity for all, which is powerful in and of itself; the beauty industry is reflective of this. Part of the fight for diversity is the movement to defend people of different ethnicities. The media and the beauty industry have contributed to this movement by including individuals of different backgrounds to help combat racism and prejudice among various mediums. Similar to a rainbow, humanity is wonderfully diversified. We find beauty in rainbows and their range of shades; each color is equally as important as the others because if one is missing, there is no glorious sight to behold. As fashion icon Michael Kors mentioned in a 2017 issue of Vogue: “What feels fresh and modern is a sense of surprise, like when you’re in the city, watching all kinds of people go by on the streets. What eye candy!” In that respect, every skin tone adds excitement and depth to our world. We no longer have to aspire to look a certain way to be considered physically worthy, but rather begin to embrace the skin we’re in. As we establish that every skin tone is golden, we are moving closer to a representative society in its truest form. When we as a people begin to change our ideals, such as our beliefs of what beauty is, it can cause a ripple effect in other realms. Regardless of political beliefs, it is imperative to a peaceful world that we as people support the racial diversity that makes up our world. Let’s make a change together. Get to know someone significantly different than you. Reflect on your idea of beauty, and take into consideration the ideals other people may have. We are stunning in our differences, no matter what skin tone, shape, or other physical features. We are all golden in our own right.
ASHLEY ALVARADO
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