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Multiculturalism: The new beauty inspiration

Posted by Ria, 18 Sep

multicultural beautyThere was a time when the beauty of a woman was defined by the Caucasian woman – Cindy Crawford, Kate Moss… Every woman and every teenage girl did all in their power just to look like them.

But with interracial dating and interracial marriages came the Kim Kardashians, the Halle Berrys. And with these mixed race women came a redefinition of beauty. And today, women are looking for a more exotic look … Jennifer Lopez’s look, Shakira’s look, Beyoncé Knowles' look, – darker skin tones, fuller lips, sultry curves, warm hair tones … the look that is associated with women of African, Asian and Latina decent.

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Before people who had plastic surgeries went for thinner lips, smaller eyes – but looking at the past decade, people want those broader noses they used to diss, people want fuller lips, darker skin. More Caucasian women desire these 'exotic' features. And according to psychologist Dr. Nancy Etcoff, this shift in perception of beauty depicts an appreciation for multiculturalism. "Our standards of beauty are changing and ethnic women are at the forefront today," she said. "It emulates our growing sense of cultural awareness."

Looking at the beauty industry today, ethnic women are setting the trends. And using the words of Us Weekly fashion director Sasha Charnin Morrison, "The use of curvier, more rounded figures looks refreshing." For instance, larger behinds are being promoted by celebrities (Beyoncé Knowles, Jennifer Lopez) and media. Larger, rounder behinds are now sexy...a trait that was once seen as unattractive. This has inspired the ‘Booty Pop panties’ a padded underwear that gives women the illusion of a larger bottom.

Most men appreciate the exotic appeal that adorns ethnic women. And its not just about bottoms and bosoms – it’s also about rich brown skin which has inspired and boosted the sales of skin-tanning products.

This means the younger generation is more open to diversity. And individuality is now transforming beauty standards. All this is as a result of changing demographics in the US – the growing population of immigrants and mixed-race individuals. Beauty today is a reflection of culture – a blend of various cultures – America’s melting pot.

Some people think that these standards of beauty are a bit blurry. According to Sasha Muradali, a 25-year-old working woman of South Asian descent, the current standard of beauty is still a bit “skewed and contradicting” and that “we are subtly staying in the past.” She feels “... we are all raging about the curves of Beyonce and Kim Kardashian, but at the same time the media is telling girls that they need to be a size zero."

Are we living by the past standards of beauty all the while sugar-coating it with multiculturalism? Does this mean standards of beauty always have to be pegged on race and attitudes about beauty that exist amongst races?

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21 responses to "Multiculturalism: The new beauty inspiration"

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  1.   serenity33 says:
    Posted: 19 Oct 10

    Multi culturism is alive and well in the USA…OK…and a new standard of beauty, definitely. I had many conversations with people I marriage counsel that made me realize how distorted, influential & destructive the media portrays those of mixed heritage, curvy booties & exceptional beautification professionals. It is better to be multicultural out of compatibility rather than fetishes and looks.

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    • serenity33 says:
      Posted: 20 Oct 10

      Multi culturism is alive and well in the USA…OK…and a new standard of beauty, definitely. I had many conversations with people I marriage counsel that made me realize how distorted, influential & destructive the media portrays those of mixed heritage, curvy booties & exceptional beautification professionals. It is better to be multicultural out of compatibility rather than fetishes and looks. I am all for being multicultural in attitude towards individuals but when it becomes the same old looks consciousness that makes men and women feel insecure about how they look, then I am against that. Every race should be happy with how they look and every individual from mixed races should be happy with how they look and not let Cosmo and other sources make them feel bad about how God created them to look. We are the number one country for anorexia and bulimia and we don't need to spread that around to the rest of the world as studies show is happening.

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  2.   serenity33 says:
    Posted: 18 Oct 10

    Multi culturism is alive and well in the USA…OK…and a new standard of beauty, definitely. I had many conversations with people I marriage counsel that made me realize how distorted, influential & destructive the media portrays those of mixed heritage, curvy booties & exceptional beautification professionals.

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  3.   serenity33 says:
    Posted: 16 Oct 10

    Multi culturism is alive and well in the USA…OK…and a new standard of beauty, definitely. I had a conversation with my oldest nephew (19) that made me realize how distorted, influential & destructive the media portrays those of mixed heritage, curvy booties & exceptional beautification professionals.

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  4.   serenity33 says:
    Posted: 15 Oct 10

    Yes multiculturalism is only causing people, especially women to become more looks conscious and the divorce rate only climbs due to increased looks consciousness in females. They should change it from the new beauty inspiration to the new beauty indoctrination.;-) Good time for everyone to become divorce lawyers because that is where the money is out as far as being a lawyer nowadays.;-)

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  5.   serenity33 says:
    Posted: 12 Oct 10

    Hey Soltis, this is what I was trying to say that you agreed with pretty much and they sure hate it coming from a white man sad but true. The media itself is corrupt and using sex to sell as usual. One should stop looking at what the media says because it is changing all the time and is only out for itself. It doesn’t care about real people or their psychological health or well-being. That’s why it sends conflicting messages that everyone has to be thin yet curvaceous And all guys should all be thin yet buffed. Plastic surgery is booming and everyone scrambles to look perfect and the stars have the money to do it. And the divorce climbs higher and higher as people base relationships more and more on looks consciousness and money. Find someone you are compatible with in your personality and forget external beauty because it is all association and nothing innate in us. Our standard of beauty is all environmentally determined by cultural brainwashing. Don’t be a brainwashed. Fight the system, marry for love and compatibility and be happy and let the media go to hell and don’t spend tons of money on things based on sex and looks. Save your money for more important things in life not related to looks consciousness and free yourself from the shackles of society if you are strong enough. Otherwise you might as well go with the flow and take the easier path. Boy we have a lot of cowardly haters on here who will thumbs down a person without presenting an alternative viewpoint. That really is the coward's way out and I am still looking for someone with enough guts to come up with a counterproposal to what I have said rather than being chicken and not saying anything. If you are going to not like something, please make sure you have something to say as an alternative statement rather than just dissing what they said. That is what mature and rational people would do.

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  6.   serenity33 says:
    Posted: 11 Oct 10

    Hey Soltis, this is what I was trying to say that you agreed with pretty much and they sure hate it coming from a white man sad but true. The media itself is corrupt and using sex to sell as usual. One should stop looking at what the media says because it is changing all the time and is only out for itself. It doesn’t care about real people or their psychological health or well-being. That’s why it sends conflicting messages that everyone has to be thin yet curvaceous And all guys should all be thin yet buffed. Plastic surgery is booming and everyone scrambles to look perfect and the stars have the money to do it. And the divorce climbs higher and higher as people base relationships more and more on looks consciousness and money. Find someone you are compatible with in your personality and forget external beauty because it is all association and nothing innate in us. Our standard of beauty is all environmentally determined by cultural brainwashing. Don’t be a brainwashed. Fight the system, marry for love and compatibility and be happy and let the media go to hell and don’t spend tons of money on things based on sex and looks. Save your money for more important things in life not related to looks consciousness and free yourself from the shackles of society if you are strong enough. Otherwise you might as well go with the flow and take the easier path.

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  7.   serenity33 says:
    Posted: 09 Oct 10

    Hey Soltis, this is what I was trying to say that you agreed with pretty much and they sure hate it coming from a white man. The media itself is corrupt and using sex to sell as usual. One should stop looking at what the media says because it is changing all the time and is only out for itself. It doesn’t care about real people or their psychological health or well-being. That’s why it sends conflicting messages that everyone has to be thin yet curvaceous And all guys should all be thin yet buffed. Plastic surgery is booming and everyone scrambles to look perfect and the stars have the money to do it. And the divorce climbs higher and higher as people base relationships more and more on looks consciousness and money. Find someone you are compatible with in your personality and forget external beauty because it is all association and nothing innate in us. Our standard of beauty is all environmentally determined by cultural brainwashing. Don’t be a brainwashed. Fight the system, marry for love and compatibility and be happy and let the media go to hell and don’t spend tons of money on things based on sex and looks. Save your money for more important things in life not related to looks consciousness and free yourself from the shackles of society if you are strong enough. Otherwise you might as well go with the flow and take the easier path.

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  8.   serenity33 says:
    Posted: 07 Oct 10

    Hey Soltis, this is what I was trying to say that you agreed with pretty much and they sure hate it coming from a white man. The media itself is corrupt and using sex to sell as usual. One should stop looking at what the media says because it is changing all the time and is only out for itself. It doesn’t care about real people or their psychological health or well-being. That’s why it sends conflicting messages that everyone has to be thin yet curvaceous And all guys should all be thin yet buffed. Plastic surgery is booming and everyone scrambles to look perfect and the stars have the money to do it. And the divorce climbs higher and higher as people base relationships more and more on looks consciousness and money. Find someone you are compatible with in your personality and forget external beauty because it is all association and nothing innate in us. Our standard of beauty is all environmentally determined by cultural brainwashing. Don’t be a brainwashed. Fight the system, marry for love and compatibility and be happy and let the media go to hell and don’t spend tons of money on things based on sex and looks. Save your money for more important things in life not related to looks consciousness and free yourself from the shackles of society.

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  9.   serenity33 says:
    Posted: 04 Oct 10

    Well spoken and well said. That is what I have been trying to say the entire time. I hope people will listen better to you than they do me which I am sure they will since they don't like hearing that type of thing come from me but will accept it more coming from a Black woman.:-)

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  10.   Soltis says:
    Posted: 04 Oct 10

    Multi culturism is alive and well in the USA...OK...and a new standard of beauty, definitely. I had a conversation with my oldest nephew (19) that made me realize how distorted, influential & destructive the media portrays those of mixed heritage, curvy booties & exceptional beautification professionals. My nephew & his friends had gone out and came back wondering where were the girls who look like the ones on tv or in magazines. Now, my first reaction was to tilt my head and blink several times, hoping for a jokie-jokie. I looked at him and his friends and decided to go online to people.com. They have their infamous stars without make-up (no airbrushing) articles reality is a great teacher =) After viewing & discussing what we had seen the hardest question came rolling off my tongue. What did you look like when you woke up or dressed up to hit the club today & where the heck does Boris Kodjoe types hang out most...lmao

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    • serenity33 says:
      Posted: 05 Oct 10

      Hey Soltis, this is what I was trying to say that you agreed with pretty much. The media itself is corrupt and using sex to sell as usual. One should stop looking at what the media says because it is changing all the time and is only out for itself. It doesn’t care about real people or their psychological health or well-being. That’s why it sends conflicting messages that everyone has to be thin yet curvaceous And all guys should all be thin yet buffed. Plastic surgery is booming and everyone scrambles to look perfect and the stars have the money to do it. And the divorce climbs higher and higher as people base relationships more and more on looks consciousness and money. Find someone you are compatible with in your personality and forget external beauty because it is all association and nothing innate in us. Our standard of beauty is all environmentally determined by cultural brainwashing. Don’t be a brainwashed. Fight the system, marry for love and compatibility and be happy and let the media go to hell and don’t spend tons of money on things based on sex and looks. Save your money for more important things in life not related to looks consciousness and free yourself from the shackles of society.

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  11.   serenity33 says:
    Posted: 03 Oct 10

    The media itself is corrupt and using sex to sell as usual. One should stop looking at what the media says because it is changing all the time and is only out for itself. It doesn’t care about real people or their psychological health or well-being. That’s why it sends conflicting messages that everyone has to be thin yet curvaceous And all guys should all be thin yet buffed. Plastic surgery is booming and everyone scrambles to look perfect and the stars have the money to do it. And the divorce climbs higher and higher as people base relationships more and more on looks consciousness and money. Find someone you are compatible with in your personality and forget external beauty because it is all association and nothing innate in us. Our standard of beauty is all environmentally determined by cultural brainwashing. Don’t be a brainwashed. Fight the system, marry for love and compatibility and be happy and let the media go to hell and don’t spend tons of money on things based on sex and looks. Save your money for more important things in life not related to looks consciousness and free yourself from the shackles of society. Be truly free and happy.

    Like or Dislike: or 0 (0)
    Reply to this comment
    • serenity33 says:
      Posted: 04 Oct 10

      The media itself is corrupt and using sex to sell as usual. One should stop looking at what the media says because it is changing all the time and is only out for itself. It doesn’t care about real people or their psychological health or well-being. That’s why it sends conflicting messages that everyone has to be thin yet curvaceous And all guys should all be thin yet buffed. Plastic surgery is booming and everyone scrambles to look perfect and the stars have the money to do it. And the divorce climbs higher and higher as people base relationships more and more on looks consciousness and money. Find someone you are compatible with in your personality and forget external beauty because it is all association and nothing innate in us. Our standard of beauty is all environmentally determined by cultural brainwashing. Don’t be a brainwashed. Fight the system, marry for love and compatibility and be happy and let the media go to hell and don’t spend tons of money on things based on sex and looks. Save your money for more important things in life not related to looks consciousness and free yourself from the shackles of society. Be truly free.

      Like or Dislike: or 0 (0)
      Reply to this comment
      • serenity33 says:
        Posted: 04 Oct 10

        The media itself is corrupt and using sex to sell as usual. One should stop looking at what the media says because it is changing all the time and is only out for itself. It doesn’t care about real people or their psychological health or well-being. That’s why it sends conflicting messages that everyone has to be thin yet curvaceous And all guys should all be thin yet buffed. Plastic surgery is booming and everyone scrambles to look perfect and the stars have the money to do it. And the divorce climbs higher and higher as people base relationships more and more on looks consciousness and money. Find someone you are compatible with in your personality and forget external beauty because it is all association and nothing innate in us. Our standard of beauty is all environmentally determined by cultural brainwashing. Don’t be a brainwashed. Fight the system, marry for love and compatibility and be happy and let the media go to hell and don’t spend tons of money on things based on sex and looks. Save your money for more important things in life not related to looks consciousness and free yourself from the shackles of society.

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  12.   Jan says:
    Posted: 28 Sep 10

    Check out Mahogany, a 70's movie starring Diana Ross

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  13.   serenity33 says:
    Posted: 26 Sep 10

    The media itself is corrupt and using sex to sell as usual. One should stop looking at what the media says because it is changing all the time and is only out for itself. It doesn’t care about real people or their psychological health or well-being. That’s why it sends conflicting messages that everyone has to be thin yet curvaceous And all guys should all be thin yet buffed. Plastic surgery is booming and everyone scrambles to look perfect and the stars have the money to do it. And the divorce climbs higher and higher as people base relationships more and more on looks consciousness and money. Find someone you are compatible with in your personality and forget external beauty because it is all association and nothing innate in us. Our standard of beauty is all environmentally determined by cultural brainwashing. Don’t be a brainwashed. Fight the system, marry for love and compatibility and be happy and let the media go to hell and don’t spend tons of money on things based on sex and looks. Save your money for more important things in life not related to looks consciousness and free yourself from the shackles of society. Be truly free and happy. And if anyone has a different opinion, I would like to hear it rather than just having my comment poorly rated because no one is offering any alternatives to what I am saying. They are just disliking what I am saying. It seems like people want to be shallow and looks conscious and hedonistic but too cowardly to put an opposing idea out there which I would be interested in hearing.

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  14.   serenity33 says:
    Posted: 25 Sep 10

    The media itself is corrupt and using sex to sell as usual. One should stop looking at what the media says because it is changing all the time and is only out for itself. It doesn’t care about real people or their psychological health or well-being. That’s why it sends conflicting messages that everyone has to be thin yet curvaceous And all guys should all be thin yet buffed. Plastic surgery is booming and everyone scrambles to look perfect and the stars have the money to do it. And the divorce climbs higher and higher as people base relationships more and more on looks consciousness and money. Find someone you are compatible with in your personality and forget external beauty because it is all association and nothing innate in us. Our standard of beauty is all environmentally determined by cultural brainwashing. Don’t be a brainwashed. Fight the system, marry for love and compatibility and be happy and let the media go to hell and don’t spend tons of money on things based on sex and looks. Save your money for more important things in life not related to looks consciousness and free yourself from the shackles of society. Be truly free and happy. And if anyone has a different opinion, I would like to hear it rather than just having my comment poorly rated because no one is offering any alternatives to what I am saying. They are just disliking what I am saying.

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    Reply to this comment
  15.   serenity33 says:
    Posted: 24 Sep 10

    The media itself is corrupt and using sex to sell as usual. One should stop looking at what the media says because it is changing all the time and is only out for itself. It doesn’t care about real people or their psychological health or well-being. That’s why it sends conflicting messages that everyone has to be thin yet curvaceous And all guys should all be thin yet buffed. Plastic surgery is booming and everyone scrambles to look perfect and the stars have the money to do it. And the divorce climbs higher and higher as people base relationships more and more on looks consciousness and money. Find someone you are compatible with in your personality and forget external beauty because it is all association and nothing innate in us. Our standard of beauty is all environmentally determined by cultural brainwashing. Don’t be a brainwashed. Fight the system, marry for love and compatibility and be happy and let the media go to hell and don’t spend tons of money on things based on sex and looks. Save your money for more important things in life not related to looks consciousness and free yourself from the shackles of society. Be truly free and happy.

    Like or Dislike: or 0 (0)
    Reply to this comment
  16.   serenity33 says:
    Posted: 19 Sep 10

    The media itself is corrupt and using sex to sell as usual. One should stop looking at what the media says because it is changing all the time and is only out for itself. It doesn't care about real people or their psychological health or well-being. That's why it sends conflicting messages that everyone has to be thin yet curvaceous And all guys should all be thin yet buffed. Plastic surgery is booming and everyone scrambles to look perfect and the stars have the money to do it. And the divorce climbs higher and higher as people base relationships more and more on looks consciousness and money. Find someone you are compatible with in your personality and forget external beauty because it is all association and nothing innate in us. Our standard of beauty is all environmentally determined by cultural brainwashing. Don't be a clone. Fight the system, marry for love and compatibility and be happy and let the media go to hell and don't spend tons of money on things based on sex and looks. Save your money for more important things in life not related to looks consciousness and free yourself from the shackles of society. Be truly free and happy.

    Like or Dislike: or 0 (0)
    Reply to this comment
    • serenity33 says:
      Posted: 22 Sep 10

      The media itself is corrupt and using sex to sell as usual. One should stop looking at what the media says because it is changing all the time and is only out for itself. It doesn’t care about real people or their psychological health or well-being. That’s why it sends conflicting messages that everyone has to be thin yet curvaceous And all guys should all be thin yet buffed. Plastic surgery is booming and everyone scrambles to look perfect and the stars have the money to do it. And the divorce climbs higher and higher as people base relationships more and more on looks consciousness and money. Find someone you are compatible with in your personality and forget external beauty because it is all association and nothing innate in us. Our standard of beauty is all environmentally determined by cultural brainwashing. Don’t be a clone. Fight the system, marry for love and compatibility and be happy and let the media go to hell and don’t spend tons of money on things based on sex and looks. Save your money for more important things in life not related to looks consciousness and free yourself from the shackles of society. Be truly free and happy.

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