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The construction of beauty standards : from Pre-Raphaelites to beauty pageants
Beauty, art, and society : who decides what is beautiful ?
Throughout history, art has played a powerful role in shaping how people see beauty. Paintings, sculptures, photos, and advertisements often show what society considers “ideal”, but these ideals change over time and often reflect the values and beliefs of a specific era.
In the 19th century, for example, the Pre-Raphaelite painters created images of women with pale skin, long red hair, and soft, romantic expressions. These images were admired and copied, helping define what beauty should look like in Victorian society. But this vision of beauty was also very limited ; it often excluded diversity and pushed unrealistic standards.
Today, media and pop culture continue to influence how beauty is seen and judged. Models, actors, and influencers often present a narrow image of perfection, thin bodies, smooth skin, symmetrical faces. These standards can make people feel like they are not “good enough,” especially if they don’t match what they see in the media. At the same time, society is starting to question these norms. Movements and organizations fight to redefine beauty, make it more inclusive, and show that every body is valuable.
Pageants and protest : two sides of the beauty debate
In the United States, beauty pageants such as Miss America became popular in the 20th century. At first, they celebrated a very traditional, limited version of beauty, mostly young, white, slim women. Winners became national symbols, and the competition helped reinforce strict standards of femininity.
But not everyone agreed with these ideals. In 1968, the feminist group National Organization for Women (NOW) protested the Miss America pageant. Activists saw the event as sexist and superficial. They argued that women were judged like objects, based only on appearance. During the protest, women threw bras, makeup, and magazines into a “freedom trash can” to show their rejection of these beauty standards.
Since then, both beauty pageants and the public have evolved. Some contests have tried to change their rules, accepting contestants of different body types, ethnicities, and talents. Simultaneously, more artists, influencers, and campaigns promote diverse beauty : natural hair, disabilities, scars, or aging are now more visible in the media.
These shifts show that beauty is not a fixed truth, it is a social construction. Art, media, and protest can either reinforce narrow ideals or open space for new, more inclusive ways to see ourselves and others. But as a whole we notice that diverse beauty is celebrated with the aim of reassuring self-representation.
