Imagine a glass panel filled with mirrors. Inside the glass an image appears, slowly and steadily as it transforms into a shape. This shape is of a young woman, a young woman gazing intently into the mirror. Her body language clearly shows she is not amused. She appears to be fidgeting as she gazes deeper. Tears are trickling down her cheeks and forming small puddles upon her face. Tissues are shredded around her, as her lips quiver trying to hold in her cries. Something she has been taught to do, to hold it in and create an almost façade of who she is.

This young woman represents numerous women who suffer from the unrealistic idea of beauty. A beauty ideology that one has set for themself and that often has been influenced by society. There’s this idea that there is an ideal beauty mold that each woman should possess and strive to be. That if this ideal beauty standard is not met, then there must be a problem with that woman. Something that too many women seem to believe, they believe that they are not beautiful. For this ideal beauty standard is not the definition of beauty.

The connotation of beauty in itself implies splendor, magnificence and exquisiteness. Many perceive these connotations as a reference to physical beauty. In turn, the true definition of beauty is often lost or overlooked. It has become materialized into this idea that beauty is only skin deep. That you’re only beautiful if your hair curls, you have the perfect brows, your skin is flawless or that your teeth are perfectly white. This is not what makes a person beautiful. To be beautiful there are no guidelines. One’s assets cannot define beauty, for the beauty of the mind, heart and soul defines beauty. And with that, there is nothing else one needs.

While yes we all want to be the belle of the ball and then be whisked away by our prince charming, take advice from Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.” Prince Charming will come, but will fall in love with the beauty of your mind, heart and soul.

The key is to remember to be beautiful and that there are no rules. Be beautiful for yourself not for others and let your beauty shine through. Let it emirate through your very mind, heart and soul. Let others perceive your beauty, for you’re the very definition of beauty. Define your beauty and let it be captured by others so that they may define theirs. For beauty is your own definition and you are beauty.

Back to the glass panel filled with mirrors, is the young woman. She still stares intently into the mirror, but with a fearlessness that was not there before. The tissues are thrown away and her lip no longer quivers. She wipes her tears away and turns around, she becomes clear through the glass and one may realize that they recognize her and that she is indeed beautiful.