The Oxford dictionary defines beauty as, "a combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight" or "a beautiful or pleasing thing or person, in particular". If we would use this definition to define a woman or young girl's beauty, what are we really saying? It seems like we're saying that in order to be beautiful, you have to look beautiful. This definition also implies that in order to look beautiful, you have to be "pleasing to the eye". So let me ask you this, who are we to say that someone is not beautiful? Also, who are we to label beauty as something that we find visually satisfying?

For generations our perception of beauty has been based on what we see on television and social media. We forget that beauty means more than just "looking good". Beauty can be found on the inside as well. The most beautiful people are the ones that express kindness, joy, and love. They are everyday women taking care of their children, working long hours, and accomplishing the impossible. They are not models, celebrities, or luxurious housewives. They are women who are often forgotten, yet they possess stunning internal beauty. Shape, color, appearance, or clothing, has little to do with true beauty. True beauty comes from within, and it does not have a single definition.

The perfect person does not exist, yet television and social media has created the perfect person that everyone wants to look like. It is the woman with the perfect body, the perfect hair, and the perfect facial features. However, when did we become experts in perfection? Beauty is confidence, beauty is strength, beauty is kindness, and beauty is what is on the inside. Beauty has no definition and it is not perfection. Everyday we are being told what beauty is from people who only look at one thing; appearance. We are not being seen, because seeing someone and looking at someone are very different concepts. You are looking at me because you choose to look at my surface. You see me whenever you get to know me. So I challenge a lot of you to SEE the women around you. We are all beautiful, and no one has the right to tell us differently.