What is beauty to you?

[Bini]

And I'm not referring to one's inner beauty but outer beauty.

I started thinking about this after watching NatGeo's Taboo "Body Perfect". This particular episode was based on the question of: How far would you go to match your culture's ideal of beauty? It was interesting to see how different cultures perceive beauty. Some of which are perhaps overlooked. One example being western culture putting braces on their youth for straighter and more attractive teeth. Another, at least in Asia, women with dark skin tend to be less desirable. The lighter and the whiter you are - the better. I felt this pressure growing up overseas but once I moved to the US, it seemed that everyone wanted a tan. Then you get cultures that adore MORE of you, literally. The larger you are, the more beautiful you are. For some of us, this might be a hard concept to grasp because in our society, thin is in.

So. What makes a person beautiful in your eyes? Is your idea of physical beauty influenced by cultural background, the media or both? How far have you gone to "match" your culture's ideal of beauty? Maybe it's something so common you don't even realise?

[BenRaines]

Personally I don't worry about what anyone else thinks. I do it for me. If it makes me feel good, if i feel I look better for it then I do it.

Workout hard, have a nice tan. Shaved head. Those things. I dress nice but I do that for me not for anyone else.

Ben Raines

[Dravin]

Is your idea of physical beauty influenced by cultural background, the media or both?

The media is a significant part of culture, I'm not sure, at least in the US, that they can be separated.

How far have you gone to "match" your culture's ideal of beauty?

I lost ~120 lbs. Now it isn't solely vanity, there is something to be said for not being massively overweight even when you ignore such, but vanity did and still does play a significant role in my weight loss. I'm also embarrassed by my chipped teeth, you probably wouldn't notice in most interactions with me but I do every time I brush my teeth and if effects how I smile (I tend towards minimal tooth being shown). I will probably at some point get them repaired.

Edited October 29, 2009 by Dravin

[ryanh]

Then you get cultures that adore MORE of you, literally. The larger you are, the more beautiful you are.

Mataba is maganda! Couldn't fully grasp that one because of the culture that I grew up in.

In short, symmetry of features.

[Traveler]

And I'm not referring to one's inner beauty but outer beauty.

I started thinking about this after watching NatGeo's Taboo "Body Perfect". This particular episode was based on the question of: How far would you go to match your culture's ideal of beauty? It was interesting to see how different cultures perceive beauty. Some of which are perhaps overlooked. One example being western culture putting braces on their youth for straighter and more attractive teeth. Another, at least in Asia, women with dark skin tend to be less desirable. The lighter and the whiter you are - the better. I felt this pressure growing up overseas but once I moved to the US, it seemed that everyone wanted a tan. Then you get cultures that adore MORE of you, literally. The larger you are, the more beautiful you are. For some of us, this might be a hard concept to grasp because in our society, thin is in.

So. What makes a person beautiful in your eyes? Is your idea of physical beauty influenced by cultural background, the media or both? How far have you gone to "match" your culture's ideal of beauty? Maybe it's something so common you don't even realise?

Without question in all my travels Asian people are without question the most beautiful - I also believe they are about the most interesting people on the planet. Sadly I think Americans are the ugliest – including myself and excluding my wife.

The Traveler

[Vort]

Sadly I think Americans are the ugliest – including myself and excluding my wife.

Wow. I'm disappointed to hear that, Traveler.

Imagine the disgust that would be generated by someone offering the opinion, "I think that Nigerians (or Mexicans, or Greeks, or Mongolians) are the ugliest people in the world." Is there a person on this list that would not be appalled at such a proclamation?

Sometimes, it's better to keep your opinions to yourself -- as I keep having to relearn.

In any case, I certainly won't be volunteering my own dear, beloved, and thoroughly American family up for your viewing judgment. Nor do I care to hear your opinions about the appearance of our Church's general leadership, surely some of the most beautiful (in any meaningful sense) people on the earth, and the great majority of whom are Americans.

[prisonchaplain]

Maybe insteading of changing how I look to fit my culture, I should shop around for a culture that value's my look? Aye, but what happens when I reach the end of life's journey and realize no such society exists??? :::sigh:::

[deseretgov]

Without question in all my travels Asian people are without question the most beautiful - I also believe they are about the most interesting people on the planet. Sadly I think Americans are the ugliest – including myself and excluding my wife.

The Traveler

I have to agree with that.

But personally I think mixes tend to be the most attractive.

[hordak]

Without question in all my travels Asian people are without question the most beautiful - I also believe they are about the most interesting people on the planet. Sadly I think Americans are the ugliest – including myself and excluding my wife.

The Traveler

Like this

or this

or this

http://thm-a01.yimg.com/image/be9a90ec679ac5fc

or this

or this

orhttp://thm-a01.yimg.com/image/18dbfbf839d8f838

Your comparing an broad ethnicity to a county. A county that is made up of every ethnicity there is.

Americans are as different Noureen DeWulf and Kim Bassinger. Eva Longoria to Lucy Lui or Pam Grier.

What makes American ugly?

[Maxel]

I got braces while I was younger (and THANK GOODNESS, because my teeth were horrible crooked beforehand...), and when I'm at a better place in life I'll be working out every day. I've never cared much about having a good tan, but I go into the sun enough to avoid being a pasty white boy.

As far as my opinions on others' looks- I haven't travelled much. I find that much of the concept of beauty in America revolves around sexuality- even otherwise conservative girls can be seen sporting too-tight and too-revealing clothing, and guys are often seen wearing symbols of darkness or irreverence.

Personally, I think that beauty is found in dressing modestly and grooming neatly. People who take good care of their bodies, be they heavyset or thin, and who wear modest clothing are always more attractive than those who go to extremes.

[Moksha]

What makes American ugly?

When this expression has been used in the past, it has been to describe both a sense of arrogance and lack of manners.

----------------

Beauty is a hard thing to pin down, is it not? It has been used to describe so many things - from physical appearance to the philosophies of men, describing beauty as truth and equating it with an idealized state.

----------------

:)

[Lost_one]

I'm quite an ugly man, so without going for plastic surgery, there's not much I can do. What I can do something about is my body and try my best to be as fit as I can be. Making the best of what I have, rather than doing something drastic seem's to be my thing. That is also what I find most attractive in a girl. If she is making the best of herself, then that get's me hooked. Being ugly myself, I don't judge someone on looks.

With that being said. To be totally superficial. I like latino girls. The more characterful there features the better. Eva Longoria and Shakira are pretty, But look alittle to Western European to me. I also like African girls for the same reason.

[justaname]

For me, I dont know you can truly separate physical beauty and personality from one another. When I started dating my wife, she was definitely attractive by typical standards. Long brown hair, huge eyes, a great figure, and the greatest smile you've ever seen. 10 years and 3 kids later, she still has a pretty similar appearance, but I dont think I could ever express how much more beautiful she is now than she was on our first date. There is something about getting to really KNOW her that makes her more beautiful. And yes, I am still talking about physical beauty. There are other women that are really attractive, because of their lifestyle and the lengths they go to cover their inadequacies, I dont find them even remotely beautiful.

[Tarnished]

I think there are beautiful people in every nationality and culture. I will admit that I think Asians are probably most beautiful to me, but I have seen gorgeous people of every ethnicity. I think that is one of the wonderful things about America is that you can walk down the street and see people of every sort of ethnicity. I think that is probably why I find all types of people beautiful, because I am used to seeing all types.

I know our society goes for the thin figure, the tan skin, white smile, straight teeth, and basically a perfection of physical form. But I have seen gorgeous heavy set people, and ugly thin people. I think what really makes a beautiful person is symetry (sp?) of features.

[annamaureen]

Putting aside personality and inner beauty, I've done my share of traveling and I think many Italian men are gorgeous.

[Generally_Me]

Someone who is a healthy weight (not excessively Hollywood-thin, or grossly obese) has thumbs up in my book.

I have a lot of scarring, and when the accident happened I was told I should stay out of the sun because of it. So I am a pasty white, scarred woman who is overweight by many people's standard. But I'm OK with it. I can dress up nice, and my husband loves my big butt; so I guess all is well.

That being said, if I had a fantasy body (MMORPG anyone?) I would be very tall, muscular, natural dark skin tone with long dark hair. Brazilian. But, then I'd be taller than hubby; we fit together pretty well right now.

[Bini]

Hm. Yes it's hard to base beauty solely on one's race. I would have to agree that biracial people are the most attractive because of their unique traits they get from both parents. A good friend of mine is Eurasian and she's absolutely stunning to look at. She doesn't look all Caucasian and she doesn't look all Asian either. But it's that exotic appeal that gets heads turning.

OK if we're going to get gender specific, I would have to disagree with annamaureen and say that American men are by far the most attractive. But then again, I'm very biased because I married one. Though, aren't Americans a product of the melting pot? Surely they have some of the most beautiful people.

On just a general basis of most people, I would also agree that physical symmetry is easy on the eyes. And I'm not just talking about one's facial symmetry but one's body proportions as well. I guess this ideal comes from both our society and the media.

[Vort]

When bodybuilders own dogs:

[Vort]

When bodybuilders own cattle:

[Vort]

When bodybuilders own people:

[Moksha]

For me, I dont know you can truly separate physical beauty and personality from one another.

Consider the case of being born without sight. Even for the sighted there are cultural differences in the consideration of what is physically beautiful. On an extraterrestrial basis, the difference can be extreme. The run off between Miss Earth and Miss Enish-go-on-Dosh would be based largely upon your preference for blue, brown or pink skin and whether you prefer arms to tentacles.

:)

[Bini]

Consider the case of being born without sight. Even for the sighted there are cultural differences in the consideration of what is physically beautiful. On an extraterrestrial basis, the difference can be extreme. The run off between Miss Earth and Miss Enish-go-on-Dosh would be based largely upon your preference for blue, brown or pink skin and whether you prefer arms to tentacles.

:)

That's an interesting point. You'd assume that the blind are much more "genuine" people than those with sight. I mean, there's no judging by looks but rather by character.

And, Vort.. The last image is especially disturbing!

[hordak]

When bodybuilders own people:

weak.

on a side note this guy is "real"

http://thm-a03.yimg.com/image/88dd7673a4147f44

assuming taking copious amounts of steroids is real

[Vort]

And, Vort.. The last image is especially disturbing!

That's rather unkind to make fun of me like that.

It's the Speedo, isn't it? I told my wife I shouldn't wear the Speedo, but she insisted.

[SMG]

So. What makes a person beautiful in your eyes? Is your idea of physical beauty influenced by cultural background, the media or both? How far have you gone to "match" your culture's ideal of beauty? Maybe it's something so common you don't even realise?

What makes a person beautiful has almost nothing to do with how they physically appear. I've met TONS of "pretty people" who acted so ugly that I wanted to barf. That being said, tend to appreciate clear, healthy pale skin and symmetrical features the most. I associate tans with painful sunburns and find pale skin to be more appealing.

I gave up trying to match my "culture's" ideal of beauty, because it is an unobtainable and unhealthy standard. It caused me quite a few issues and vast amounts if anguish as I was growing up. I suspect that it was a factor in my depression a few years ago, but not the only, or even the major, cause. There's no way I can grow to be any taller than my current 5 feet 3 inches, and I have health issues that make weight loss a harder-than-normal feat to accomplish.

That being said, I take measures to take good care of my skin, hair and teeth. I don't tend to show much of my teeth when I smile because my front teeth are slightly crooked. I try my best to exercise, provided I'm not too exhausted from work or classes. Normally, I walk or jog for a couple miles every other day.