Society has been obsessed with beauty for thousands of years. But the more I learn about beauty standards throughout history, the more I realize: the features that our modern society idealizes haven’t always been the epitome of beauty. Many of the “flaws” society pushes on us are actually insecurities that were the beauty standard at other points throughout history.
I used to believe that I had been born in the wrong era because my beauty wasn’t as appreciated in the 21st-century as it might have been in other time periods. But this list of insecurities that were once the beauty standard should inspire each of us to remember just how subjective beauty really is. This isn’t meant to shame anyone who has or doesn’t have these characteristics, but to remind us that it’s up to each of us to learn to appreciate our own beauty and help create a world where we can all feel beautiful.
5 Insecurities That Were The Beauty Standard Throughout History:
1. Unibrows
Many modern women use painful waxing, plucking, and other methods of hair removal to sculpt and shape their natural brows. But in many ancient cultures in Greece, Rome, and Egypt, a unibrow was seen as the epitome of beauty. In Ancient Greece, a thick unibrow was seen as a sign of beauty and intelligence. Women who weren’t naturally blessed with bushy brows would draw on a unibrow with soot and other dark powders to adhere to this beauty ideal.
Modern unibrow inspiration: Sophia Hadjipanteli (pictured above), Scarlett Costello, and Sharareh Siadat
2. Stomach Rolls
Most of us have rolls and folds in our stomachs when we sit and bend over, even those in thin bodies. Statues of Aphrodite and Venus, the Ancient Greek and Roman goddesses of love and beauty, are a great example of this modern flaw that was once seen as the beauty standard. These sculptures were meant to represent the height of female beauty at the time. And yet, Aphrodite and Venus are often pictured with the soft stomachs and belly rolls that so many modern women have been taught to hate about themselves.
Modern soft tummy inspiration: Megan Jayne Crabb (pictured above), Sarah Nicole Landry, and Bree Lenehan
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3. Large Noses
More than 220,000 rhinoplasties are performed in the US every year. Nose jobs have become so normalized, it’s hard to imagine a time in history when women weren’t shamed for their large or hooked noses. But to the Ancient Mayans, a big, beaked nose was seen as the ideal. Many Mayans with smaller noses would actually wear an artificial nose bridge to give their nose the bold shape that was desired.
Modern large nose inspiration: Radhika Sanghani (pictured above) and Anna Van Ravenstein Cleveland
4. Flat Chests
21st century beauty standard’s idealize thin, curvy bodies with large chests. But the ideal body type looked much different in the 1920s when skinnier, “boyish” figures were in fashion. The straight-cut fashion of the time was meant to fit and flatter smaller chests. Many larger breasted women resorted to minimizing undergarments, including one known as the Symington Side Lacer which flattened a woman’s chest to create a less busty silhouette.
Modern small chested inspiration: Clara Dao (pictured above) and Lisa Banks
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5. Round Faces
Modern women use all kinds of techniques to make their faces appear smaller and “snatched” – from contouring to controversial buccal fat removal surgery. But in the 17th and 18th centuries, round faces were all the rage. André Félibien, a French chronicler in the 1600s, wrote “The head should be well rounded… The cheeks should have a degree of plumpness… The chin, of a moderate size, soft and agreeably rounded”. Double chins were also in, as they were a sign that a woman was wealthy enough to afford good food. Would these soft beauties have felt pressure to slim their faces to conform to our beauty standards if they were alive today?
Modern round face inspiration: Rachel OCool (pictured above) and Rosey Beeme
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Do you have any of these insecurities that were the beauty standard at other points throughout history? Maybe it’s a great reminder that we don’t need to be insecure about these traits after all. When the beauty standard keeps changing how are we ever supposed to keep up? Maybe it’s a great reminder that each of us is beautiful in our own way and deserve to feel amazing in our own skin no matter what time period we live in.
Can you think of any other insecurities that were the beauty standard in other cultures or times throughout history? How have you learned to love your own unique features? Let us know in the comments below!
Sending all my love,
I absolutely love this post! I’m a big history buff and love learning about things like this and I definitely can relate to the stomach rolls, especially after 3 kids lol. I have learned to love and accept it as a badge of honor. Thanks so much for writing this!
Interesting read, it’s alarming how fast beauty trends are changing and causing insecurities we then spend money and time trying to fix. You make a good point. That it’s always changing and was different at various times in society so we shouldn’t worry about what’s in at a point in time and focus instead on being healthy and happy! Thank you for sharing!
It’s amazing to see just how things have changed, and no doubt will again! It’s hard when things are pushed onto us by the media of how we all “should” be, when that standard can change so fast! Thank you for sharing this!