As Christina Aguilera bravely reminds us, "You are beautiful, no matter what they say. Words won't bring us down, so don't you bring me down today." In a culture surrounded by media, it is difficult to imagine one, concrete definition for beauty. Of course, when we think 'beauty', some of us automatically assume people, models, athletes, celebrities, or maybe even people in our own lives. With this whirlwind of emotions, do we ever stop and think what makes things beautiful? Or why is beauty portrayed a certain way?

It is perfectly recapped by a timeless Twilight Zone episode: "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder." Has it ever crossed our minds what beauty looks like in our eyes, in the eyes of our society?

Today, men and women are subjugated to a singular stereotype of what attractiveness looks like. For men, that archetype is tall, muscular, and with a perfectly symmetrical facial appearance. For women, the beauty standard revolves around a nearly impossible physique that is perfectly curvy yet thin. Additionally, women are supposed to have the same symmetrical facial expressions, and to always "look nice" with their hair, makeup, outfit, etc. Have we ever asked ourselves what is wrong, or right, with these broad characterizations?

Do we get stuck with society's perspective of beauty, encompassing us through magazines, advertisements, movies, TV, etc., that we forget our own? Do we lose track of what we find attractive, which most times, does not agree with what society tells us? Do we realize that the media surrounding us can only portray what lies on the outside, not the inside.

Surely, there must be more than these stereotypes, there must be a deeper meaning to all of this, to all of us. Beauty has to encompass more than just how you appear walking down the street, or across your campus, or at your job. Beauty must be what you provide and contribute to a greater community, and how you communicate that positivity and love towards others.

It is also important to recognize that society's beauty standard changes throughout time. The perfectly curvy physique that is praised today amongst our current celebrities and popular culture icons was not the norm for women a couple decades ago. Not only are times and standards changing, but a greater awareness and recognition of different body types is entering our culture.

We are surrounded by popular body-positive campaigns, such as the Dove Self-Esteem Project and the #LikeAGirl movement. These movements not only incorporate all different types of women and body types but also encourage others to appreciate their own bodies and differences. It is powerful movements like this which encourage us to love ourselves and create a stronger, more confident generation. These movements call for the destruction of societal's limited beauty standards, allowing new, beautiful and powerful leaders to arise.

So, it is important for us to unite, not just as women or men, girls or boys, but rather as people of the world, to demolish the standards of beauty which decrease our self-esteem and confidence. It is time for us to create a different narrative, set a different standard that has no limit to weight, physique, size, symmetry, or anything on the outside which dehumanizes the beautiful ideas, strengths, and talents we have to offer. Let us come together to realize that we all have a beauty, a different beauty. It is now up to the world, our beholder, to appreciate it.