Beauty is defined as a combination of qualities—such as shape, colour, or form—that please the aesthetic senses. As the saying goes: beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Each individual has their own definition of beauty. For some it’s physical; for others it’s abstract.
Regardless of what an individual defines as beautiful, a standard of it has been set by society. Societies are made of individuals, so it might not be a stretch to define a standard as something favored or agreed upon by several individuals. At its core, that is what a beauty standard constitutes: a certain physical or abstract aesthetic that pleases the majority.
Though scant aspects of beauty are universal, there are as many ‘beauty standards’ as there are cultures. Multiple factors contribute to building and installing such standards. They’re accepted by a large chunk of society, transitioning to an expectation when up for scrutiny. Perhaps that is exactly what draws all the negative light to beauty standards; they become an expectation for everyone. If not met, the expectation turns to disappointment and inevitably leads to discrimination or resentment. This is, however, becoming increasingly less common given that an equally large—if not larger—chunk of society has come to believe that perfection is an unattainable standard. Once again, this is subjective because something may be perfect to one person and flawed in the eyes of another.
While the idea of ‘no standards’ is somewhat acceptable in everyday society, celebrities seem to be an exception. Most of us, if not all, look up to at least one celebrity. That may be in terms of their personality, their career, as well as their appearance. Perhaps subconsciously, we may begin to imitate it. Celebrities become trendsetters, role models, and more, which puts them in a position that is expected to belong to a perfect being when they are only human. The same thing applies to beauty standards; people turn to their stars because they deem them beautiful.
While viewing someone or something as beautiful is subjective, that changes when opinions pile up. If positive opinions outweigh the negatives, the said person is ‘beautiful’ in the eyes of society. If the scales are balanced or have little difference, the person is labeled ‘average’. However, if the negatives outweigh the positives, a person is deemed ‘ugly’. While average people tend to strive to become ‘beautiful,’ the ones labeled ‘ugly’ fall into a pit of self-doubt, holding themselves up for scrutiny in an attempt to be accepted by society. Humans are social beings, hence they naturally want to be accepted by others of their kind.
Beauty standards don’t simply affect people’s personal and social lives, they also affect society as a whole. Stereotypes develop and nearly everyone is forced into one of the molds, expected to fit into it perfectly. This, in turn, influences opportunities that individuals may be given, how they might be perceived, and even how they are treated by others.
Taking the music industry as an example, there are numerous artists that have faced harassment over their looks and have been told that they would never make it in the industry despite acknowledging their capabilities, simply because they don’t fit the ‘beauty standard’ of their scrutinizer. On the basis of ‘beauty’ alone, they were denied the opportunity to pursue their passion almost immediately.
On several occasions, idols have been criticized over clothing or accessories depending on how the item makes them look whether that be at the airport, on stage, or on V-Live. BTS are no exception, having had their more-than-fair share of criticism and praise alike when it comes to beauty standards in the music industry.
Early on in their career, RM received a ton of criticism for not fitting the Korean beauty standard for idols. He was previously an underground rapper and was criticized by his peers for wearing makeup, at the start of his idol career
In 2016, Jimin went through a period of extreme dieting to fit what he thought was the ideal beauty standard. Not only did this affect how he saw himself, it also took a toll on Jimin’s health and performance.
On the flip side, several admire V’s unique fashion sense and set that as an ideal for their own.
Over the years, the members seemed to have found the balance between standards they’re expected to fit as idols and who they are. Fans and non-fans alike seek the band’s skincare regimes, the items they wear, and use. Acknowledging their influence as idols, BTS members maintain their professional personas, without falling prey to superficial beauty standards or losing sight of their own identities. As such, they are their own standard.
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Written By: LP
Edit By: Ash
Checked By: Esma
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