Beauty trends are as fleeting as smoke floating through the air. Since time immemorial, women have followed fads to make themselves more attractive, even if it resulted in deformity and discomfort. Among the craziest came from 10th Century Tang Dynasty, China, and transcended many dynasties until its’ decline in the early 20th Century. To make themselves seem more beautiful and prestigious, women in China would slow the growth of their feet through a painful process of foot-binding. At first, this practice was done mainly to girls of the upper classes to distinguish themselves from everyone else. Eventually, the lower classes caught on to the trend and started doing this too, as a way to improve their social standing.

So here’s how it was done. Usually around the age of five, a day was chosen on the calendar where prayers and offerings would be offered to the Tiny-Footed Maiden Goddess. As we see in a lot of cultures, the ritual was carried out by older women in the family or by a professional foot-binder (That was a real profession). The big toe was the only digit spared, as it was left facing forward, while the four other toes were bent under the foot and tightly bound using long strips of cloth. The bent toes were broken in the process and the tightly wrapped cloth would restrict the foot from further growth. As you may have guessed, the women were left immobile and depended on servants to carry out daily tasks. Despite the pain and inconvenience, it was a necessary process to find an upper-class husband. In a way, foot-binding could be an obstacle or a catalyst, depending on the lens you look through.

Woman with bind feet

Image taken from allthatsinteresting.com

Western societies never caught on to the trend of foot-binding, however, 21st Century western societies have our portion of trends that will have future generations questioning our sanity.

With the growth of social media, there is the pursuit of exoticism, the ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians’ type that is centered around whiteness with black features. Tan skin, full lips, thick thighs and pronounced derrieres are now being desired by women to seem more attractive. Even Black women who were born with these natural features pursue avenues to have them enhanced through costly and sometimes life-threatening procedures. Millions of people get procedures done every year, and despite battling with Coronavirus, the demand for cosmetic surgeries did not decline in 2020. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons President, Dr. Lynn Jeffers said, “Across the country there has been some pent-up demand. Our statistics show that people are still interested.” For those who can afford them, among the most commonly sought-after procedures are breast augmentation, breast lifts, tummy-tuck and Botox injections. However, perhaps the most desired among Instagram influencers is the Brazilian Butt Lift, also known as BBL. A BBL procedure involves fat taken from other areas of the body, such as the tummy, and is used to enlarge and improve the shape of the buttocks.

For women who desire to achieve this look without undergoing surgery or breaking the bank, there are the options of laxative teas, appetite suppressing lollipops, waist trainers, diet plans, among others. Additionally, the need for exoticism gave rise to a new trend called Blackfishing. This is where women of other races change their features in an attempt to pass as Black women. With the launch of her Adidas, Ivy Park clothesline in December, Beyonce came under pressure for posting a promotional photo of two white Russian women who were passing themselves off as Black women. The women sported darkened skin, plump lips, huge afro hair and posed in styles that are said to be representative of the Black community.

Photo of Emma Hallberg who is accused of pretending to be Black

Photo taken from abcnews.go.com

Interestingly, before blackfishing became a trend, beauty was in the eyes of the colonizers. European or Caucasian beauty was the standard, although it still is in some parts of the world. In countries like Jamaica and India, skin whiteners are widely used to reduce the production of melanin in the skin. The more closely aligned a person is to white skin, blond hair, blue eyes, thin lips and straight nose, the more beautiful they are seen. Let us not forget the requirement of a size 4 body. So engrained in our consciousness was the desire for whiteness that in 1943 when Clark and Clark conducted the doll test with 253 Black children in America, the results were very telling. The children were shown two dolls; one Black and the other White, when asked to choose the beautiful doll, about two-thirds of the children chose the White doll, although they themselves were Black.

With the constant change of trends, societal beauty expectation is an unhealthy and unachievable goal.

Social media influencers and celebrities go to great lengths to airbrush away their imperfections, and in reality, look nothing like what they want the masses to believe. A former editor of the Cosmopolitan Magazine admitted that many of the models suffered from eating disorders, dull, thinning hair, spots and dark circles under their eyes that were removed by airbrushing. This is why I don’t agree with the phrase, ‘Looks don’t matter.’ What is perpetuated in the media as glamourous gives many girls and women the wrong idea that a certain body type is achievable, resulting in females risking their lives to follow the trend. Many self-esteem issues were created by what is seen in the media.

Subjective beauty trends come and go, and what is considered beautiful today, may not be trendy tomorrow. Love yourselves, take care of yourselves, and always remember that not even Kylie Jenner looks like Kylie Jenner. On days when you don’t feel beautiful, look in the mirror and tell yourself that you are still valid.