Why do Teen Girls Want to be Beautiful?

About 89% of teenage girls are likely to wake up and compare their looks to someone online. If this has ever been you, realize that there is a large chance someone is comparing their looks to yours as well. Because you are more vulnerable at this age, you may feel that to be “accepted” into society, you need to live up to a certain standard. 

The beauty expectation has become very specific to adolescents in the past decade. Girls tend to be influenced by their peers, desiring similar features or clothing as those around them. This negatively affects their perception of themselves, as a feeling of never being good enough settles in. Abby Marino, a sophomore at Ridgewood High School, stated that, "because you see all these influencers on social media and you see they have things you want, you usually want what they have instead of being happy with what you currently have.” Social media has some of the greatest effects on young girls, especially those who compare themselves to others on a daily basis. The constant perception of an unattainable lifestyle leaves young girls believing they must follow false advice to become the best versions of themselves.

Another influential aspect of desiring to be "beautiful” is caused by this stage of a young woman’s life, when puberty is most prevalent. Puberty causes your hormones to change, causing pimple growth, body hair, and mood swings. If you were to look at another person and see that they do not have any of these things, that person would be characterized as perfect. Thinking of others as better than yourself not only damages your image of your own body but lowers your self esteem greatly.

Avoiding thinking poorly of your own features begins with finding the beauty in them. Everyone’s features are unique and that is what makes them exquisite both inside and out. Remember that beauty shines from within, and your best version emerges through treating others as you would like to be treated.