The dictionary defines beauty as a very attractive or seductive looking woman. When you ask society to define beauty, we get images of people who are skinny, pale and have long hair. Beauty sometimes is just a seed that hasn’t grown into a blossoming flower yet, but everyone is beautiful. You just have to realize it, it is not define by your size, skin tone or your features. Know that we all are beautiful because we are all unique and different. God created us and made us to be different, unique and unforgettable. He made us in his image and that is perfect. Now if you listen to society, they will plaster someones image that is suppose to represent beauty, but who truly determines what beauty is? The media? Societies definition of beauty will change with culture and time. People with big lips in the past was consider to be deformed, but now people with big lips are sexy. Same thing happened in Africa, women who had long necks was more desirable , but that is not the case anymore. So be happy with who you are, because while you are changing yourself to fit into the crowd, you lose the things that made you unique in the first place. People are beautiful, because beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Now Salma Hayek said some thing that is so true, she stated, “The most liberating thing about beauty is realizing that you are the beholder.” You have to believe that you are beautiful inside and out. People love to see confident, strong and happy people. People that know that true beauty is within and learned to shine past their imperfections. Be positive and try to find the best outlook out of all situations. Remember that being unique is a great thing, it’s what set you apart from everybody else. Know that your are a strong woman and you can accomplish anything you set your mind too. To us beauty is not just skin deep, it is your whole being that is beautiful.  I like to share a poem that I believe captures what true beauty is:

True Beauty

Appearing to be beautiful is easy

Actually being beautiful is hard

And nobody will ever realize your true beauty

If you don’t realize that you’re beautiful

Just the way you are!

Because beauty is relative

And you are its closest kin

Therefore, you will never be without beauty

If your beauty is within

Because outer beauty ages

But inner beauty is ageless

A beautiful face can be bought

But a beautiful heart is what sustains it

So what good is being the apple of the worlds eye

If your own eyes can’t appreciate it?

A chandelier is only beautiful

Because of the light that illuminates it

Otherwise, it’s just a nice decoration hanging from a ceiling

So why dim your true beauty to a flashlight

When your true beauty is meant to light up a building?

Appearing to be beautiful is easy

Actually being beautiful is hard

And nobody will ever accept your true beauty

If you don’t appreciate that you’re beautiful

Just the way you are!

Because beauty is not just a look

It’s a confidence

It’s the reward of the assertion

That you are beautiful without consequence

The truthfulness with self

The acceptance of your flaws

The appreciation of your value

The understanding of your cause

The purchase of your self-assurance

The selling of your insecurity

The humbleness of your compliments

The faith in your uncertainty

Appearing to be beautiful is easy

Actually being beautiful is an art

Because artificial beauty is in the eye of the beholder

But true beauty is in the heart!

By Karness Turner