Being Beautiful, Inside And Out

Source: Manila Bulletin
By MA. GLAIZA LEE
March 6, 2010, 11:12am

When someone tells you that “you’re beautiful,” what does it really mean?

Does it insinuate that you have a model-like svelte figure, or perhaps a curvaceous body with ample bosom and hips? Or maybe it’s about your flawless, zit-free face? Does being beautiful entail fair complexion, slim silhouette, and everything aesthetically physical?

When it comes to beauty, is it really in the eye of the beholder? Are there objective criteria for the evaluation of beauty?

Even before civilization started, human beings already have the concept of beauty. They possessed the ability to realize that some things are pleasing and attractive than others. But through time, the concept of beauty changed and even became more abstract.

Women have endeavored to change their body to conform to what society dictates to be beautiful. Each culture has different beauty ideals. What may be considered beautiful to one might be appalling to another.

Take for example the Kayan and Padaung tribes from the border region of Myanmar and Thailand. Since their early childhood, the women wear brass coils, or neck rings, to elongate their necks. The more elongated the neck, the more beautiful the woman is.

In the late 19th century, the voluptuous and round-figured women were the standard of beauty. While in the 1920s, super thin flappers (new breed of young women during that era) were “in.” Curvaceous pin-up girls were in vogue during the 1940s to 1950s. Super-thin models made a comeback during the 1960s. Nowadays, although women still aspire to be skinny, the standard of beauty emphasizes on being healthy and toned. And it doesn’t help that most product advertisements have shifting messages about what is beautiful.

Dove Philippines has helped shape the concept of beauty in its own way… in a good way, that is. For the past ten years, it has embarked on a serious and deliberate mission to inspire women to take another look at themselves as creations of natural and real beauty.

It has launched several campaigns such as “Dove Moments” which instilled the habit of reflecting on beautiful femininity, the “Bukod Tanging Filipina” that proved that a woman of worth is someone who is beautiful from within, and the “Campaign for Real Beauty” which debunked the myths and misconceptions of what makes women beautiful, among others.

“As Dove celebrates a decade of empowering women to feel comfortable in their own skin, we hope to continue to inspire women to see themselves as unique and beautiful individuals who are not defined by the hue of their skin, or the gloss of their hair, or the measurements of their body parts. We want every woman to see and feel real,” says Paul Katimbang, Dove marketing manager for skin.

Cindy Melocoton, marketing manager for deodorant, added: “A Dove woman embraces her own beauty, and celebrates her imperfections as part of her uniqueness and beauty. She is grounded and confident with her beauty despite what the world incessantly hypes.”

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Dove Philippines recently launched the “Dove at Ten: Totally Beautiful” campaign, in relation to the introduction of Dove deodorant product line.

“There’s something about the underarm that liberates a person. Underarms are just small patches of skin, often hidden and overlooked. But they somehow can make or break a woman’s confidence,” said Melocoton. So, how do you pamper your underarms? Take care of the underarms the same way you take care of your face. Then again, there’s pitticure!

Cliché it may seem, but the best advice: Just love your body, no matter what its shape or size, and your body will love you back.