TED Talks that change how you see beauty

Beauty is something we’re constantly being taught to define – through the media, the culture, and how we compare ourselves to others. From an early age, we’re constantly absorbing messages about what is considered to be ‘beautiful’. Over time, these messages become internalised without us even noticing. They impact how we see ourselves, how we compare and evaluate others.

But beauty has never just been one thing. It shifts across cultures, across lived experiences and across generations. So, what happens if we try and stop fitting beauty into one definition?

Here are some fantastic TED Talks that help to start dismantling that and invite you to see beauty a different way. Because beauty should never just be one thing.

Redefining Beauty as We Know It | Jade Hodge | TEDxSaintAndrewsSchool

How I define beauty | Winnie Harlow

Model and activist Winnie Harlow says she finds beauty in everything, from photos on Instagram to the sheen on a shiny bald head. In this short talk, she explains how living with vitiligo helped her reject societal standards of beauty and define it on her own terms.

Looks aren’t everything. Believe me, I’m a model | Cameron Russell

How to live passionately—no matter your age | Isabel Allende

We love that these talks remind us that confidence, ageing, individually and lived experiences are all part of what makes someone energetically and visually beautiful. It’s all about how you see yourself, and that’s special.