Every time you turn on the TV or flip through a magazine, you are met with picture perfect celebrities. They have perfectly shaped bodies and are impeccably dressed. They have wonderfully done up hair and precisely applied makeup. We are influenced by these images and begin to form our perceptions of beauty based on what is shown all around us. We believe that the reason stars are popular and well loved are based on how they look - or how they are made to look. Ideal beauty, as Wikipedia defines, is, “An entity which is admired, or possesses features widely attributed to beauty in a particular culture, for perfection.” Beauty can thus be seen as a social construct. What society decides is beautiful is thrust upon us. We are forced to feel that we must conform to these standards of perfection in order to be seen as beautiful.

In the fashion, film and music industry, your face is your paycheck. However, it is interesting to see how celebrities are using their platform and image to demonstrate alternate definitions of beauty.

On May 31, 2016, Alicia Keys initiated her #nomakeup movement. The no makeup movement began the day Alicia Keys attended a photoshoot for her new album. Keys recalls that she had just come from the gym and was as “natural” as a person can be after working out. Coming onto set she expected to immediately have her makeup done but her photographer proposed another idea. Her photographer discussed how her new album and new music portrayed a “raw and real” image of herself and perhaps she should demonstrate the same with her photos. After the photoshoot, Keys decided to go makeup free for all events, shows and performances, documenting these moments with the #nomakeup tag. In an article on Lena Dunham’s online feminist newsletter, she describes how freeing this experience has been for her. She describes how image conscious she had become. Worried that someone might take a picture of her and post it online she would never leave her house without makeup on. With the no makeup movement, she decided she no longer wanted to conceal her natural beauty. More than that, she states how she“didn’t want to cover up anything anymore.” Not her face, mind, soul, struggles or emotional growth. She urges others to find beauty in the uncovered and unconcealed version of themselves.

Canadian singer and songwriter, Alessia Cara is using her platform and outreach to redefine beauty as well. In her music video for “Scars To Your Beautiful”, she addresses body image issues that people struggle with every day. In her song, she aims to contradict the concept of conforming oneself to fit societies boxes. She argues that instead of everyone adhering to the same rules perhaps the rules of society should change. Flaws are what make us unique. And our uniqueness makes us beautiful.

From a very young age, we're conditioned to hide our imperfections in as many ways as we can. We are rewarded with positive stimulus as we shed our flaws and adhere to societies' cookie cutter shape of ideal beauty. What we must understand is that beauty is not solely based on size, color or shape. Beauty comes in several different forms and presents itself to us in many different ways. It is our duty to inculcate a positive environment and support these different forms of beauty. Alicia Keys and Alessia Cara are encouraging us to feel confident in our own skins and to love our imperfect selves.