7 Inspiring Stories of Overcoming Beauty Stereotypes

In the contemporary world where social media and traditional media play an important role in defining beauty standards, it can sometimes be quite a limited concept. It may cultivate unrealistic expectations and take a toll on a woman’s self-esteem, making them feel worthless. However, it is essential to note that, some unique heroes come with Exceptional physical features contrary to these mentioned molds, actively advocating for diversity, inclusion, and self-acceptance. Through these messages, we want to encourage people to be themselves and accept who they are and also make people realize that beauty is way more than the physical exterior. Below are the seven feel-good stories of beauty stereotypes that have been turned on their head and are riding the cutting edge of what beauty really is.

Photo: Alexandru Zdrobău/Unsplash

Winnie Harlow: Beauty Redefined through Vitiligo

Winnie Harlow better known as Winnie, is a Canadian model and a spokesperson who has changed how the fashion world through her striking deficit and advocacy of vitiligo. Sterling was born with vitiligo, and, starting at the age of four, suffered from bullying and poverty in her childhood. This skin disease results in pale, white, or light patches of skin and thus gives the disease a very distinctive feature.

However, Harlow stood out, unlike other girls who succumbed to the societal pressure and beauty standards set by the industry. After auditioning for the audition of America’s Next Top Model, she got famous all across the globe. She further turned into the muse for various other renowned fashion clips which enabled her to feature on the covers of most leading fashion magazines including Vogue, Elle, and GQ. Winnie Harlow has not only become a successful model but also made a great change in the world by setting an example for those people who have vitiligo as well as letting the whole world open their eyes to the fact that now it is normal to embrace imperfections.

Her life is much richer; modeling is not the beginning and end of Winnie’s experience. Currently, she has become a voice for anti-bullying campaigns focusing on acceptance of self regardless of color. She confidently defends her decision and becomes an inspiration to women of any age, race, and size, advocating for the fact that beauty is far from what we perceive and is as deep as the skin we wear.

Ashley Graham: Embracing Self-Love and Body Acceptance

This is the name that you can hardly mention without relating it to the Body Positivity campaign. Knowing what it is like to struggle, Ashley is one of the beautiful plus-size models who managed to find their place in the world of fashion that was initially dominated by skinny models. Ashley Graham For many years she was rejected and faced high barriers for this reason because she did not fit the beautiful model. Yet, she persevered.

In 2016 she made yet another giant leap of achieving recognition by appearing on the cover of the Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue as the first plus-sized model. This was an important stage not only for Ashley but for the Fashion Industry as a whole, as aspirations became diverse. In her TED Talks, book, “A New Model: A firm supporter of body positivity, she has delivered speeches, such as “What Confidence, Beauty, and Power Really Look Like,” and has graced many stages for motivational speaking.

She released her clothing collections and worked with other leading companies that helped her come up with fashionable apparel appropriate for plus-size women. It is important to note that the entire career philosophy claimed by her is designed to debunk the conventional ideals of beauty and to vastly encourage people to embrace the body-positive movement. Ashley Graham’s story would be rewarding to watch as she battles conventional norms and campaigns for the acceptance of Plus-sized women in the fashion and media industries.

Huda Kattan: Overcoming Beauty Barriers through Makeup

Huda Kattan who created Huda Beauty together with her sisters is more than just a cosmetic mogul; she is an influencer who does not take the common conventional norms of beauty for granted. When Huda Almas was growing up as a young girl in the United States, Iraqi parents dictated norms and culture in the households which were significantly different from the American women’s; her beauty business attempted to address politics that doubted the beauty of Middle Eastern beauty.

Huda began as a beauty blogger and a YouTube personality who posted makeup videos that weren't only for women but for men as well. This focus on representation and the possibility of identifying with a character was a prospect that soon drew her out from the crowd. When she decided to start Huda Beauty, she methodically decided that the line of must-have products would fit every skin tone and type, which the beauty industry still lags behind.

It also seems that Huda’s ideas are not limited to the production of cosmetics products only. READ ALSO: 10 famous people who returned to ordinary jobs The girl openly shares her beauty issues, thoughts about plastic surgery, and low self-esteem with her millions of followers. That is why, despite all odds, she was able to prove that beauty is diverse and that every woman should be confident in herself and her appearance.

Adam Rippon: Challenging Gender Expectations in Figure Skating

Figure skating is a field especially a figure skating sport often associated with gender roles, and mainstream traditional gender roles however, Adam Rippon defied all these gender roles and came out as one of the most accomplished figure skaters and an icon. Specifically, Adam was a gay man and a figure skater, and to this, he experienced many adversities or prejudices in his professional life. Nonetheless, the tenacity and talent that he has embraced have caught a raw eyeball in the sporting fraternity.

Adam Rippon rose to prominence in 2018 after participating in the Winter Olympics where he clinched a bronze medal. He successfully entered the history books as the first-ever gay male Winter Olympian in the United States, as well as effectively creating a change in the movement for LBGT+ acceptance in sports.

Apart from cycling, Adam/Trans is a staunch supporter of equal rights for LGBT+ people and women’s rights. The truth about masculinity, homosexuality, and fitness are at the center of political correctness, a topic that Okoye confronts fearlessly while being proud of his Physique. In the story, Adam displays characteristics of a strong character even though his boldness is personified by his fearlessness in presenting himself in a way that other male characters are not willing to present themselves Touchwood case shattered many societal norms and presented dreams as achievable goals as long as one does not hide their true selves.

Tess Holliday: Promoting the Body Positivity Movement

Tess Holliday, a plus-size model, and body positivity are quite famous for their campaigns that include people of all sizes and different self-images. Tess was born different from most models who are slim and with light skin standards set by the fashion industry but she has not lacked discrimination and criticism throughout her career.

Nonetheless, Tess has had a very impressive performance and even is the first plus-size model who received a contract with a leading modeling agency. She has worn the outfits of many reputable brands and magazines including Cosmopolitan UK magazine and has been involved in fashion campaigns and acting as a plus size model whose pictures show that women of larger size are beautiful as are those with thin body structures.

Tess also helped carry out the awareness creations from the modeling world. By posting pictures, and speaking against the faker beauty, she has helped many people and given them motivation to make the first step and start to think that their bodies are perfect as it is. She understands that women all around the world need to be empowered when It comes to body issues and has embraced her role of inspiring people.

The story of transformation that can be seen in Tess’s journey demonstrates the significance of representation and its potential to help those experiencing it as well as society as a whole. Breaking barriers and normalizing inclusiveness, Tess Holliday has inspired millions of women, similar to plus-sized fashion model, Iskra Lawrence, and set the fashion and beauty industries on a better path.

Jillian Mercado: Beauty Redefined through disability

One such inspiring personality is Jillian Mercado, a fashion model as well as a disability activist, who has recently started modeling and has been creating waves with her fashion statements and her inspiring journey that she shares for people to see. Born with Muscular Dystrophy at a young age, Mercado benefited from the opportunities granted to her to fight social norms and expectations of disability and beauty.

Notwithstanding the challenges that she has encountered along her way, Mercado has appeared in on-location shoots in some of the world’s most reputable magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Vanity Fair as well as become the face of some distinguished brands. Not only does her success defy the stereotype that hinders talented women from entering and succeeding in the entertainment business but also empowers differently-abled people and shows the beauty of life and the strength of our spirits.

However, it’s not only the fashion industry benefiting from Mercado’s advocacy, he is constantly working towards creating great changes in other areas as well. Turning to the issue of inclusiveness, she has been an advocate for disabled persons, the use of her voice in cancellation to rating greater representation of disabled persons, and the need for the acceptance of disabled persons. She has encouraged and empowered people through her popular message, of how one should embrace oneself no matter the physical appearance one has or the body type one possesses.

Chella Man: Changing the Definition of Masculinity and Disability

Chella Man has been one of the pioneers of working to celebrate masculinity and capability contrary to conventional ideas. Chella, a gay, trans man who was born deaf, was born with significant uncertainty in his life, and the reality he leads ever since has only added to this problem.

However, one has to note that Chella’s’ desire and tenacity has which make him an advocate for the underprivileged. He has been photographed in the global leading magazines including Vogue and i-D, and was used in advertisement campaigns for such giants as Gucci and Apple.

In addition to his modeling and artwork, Chella has taken up activism as a major part of his life fighting for the deaf, transgender, and disabled groups. He has used his powers to speak for the discrimination faced by bisexual men and women and for people to be true to their genuine selves.

Chella’s journey was inspiring and her discovery of self-love as well as representation from other people proved to be significant. As a homosexual man who wears makeup and embraces femininity in addition to his Asian features, Chella Man has broken barriers that others dare not cross and he has set free those who society has ensnared in an unreal world that is devoid of value.

Winnie Harlow, Ashley Graham, Huda Kattan, Adam Rippon, Tess Holliday, Jillian Mercado, and Chella Man’s stories prove that people can achieve great things and they should be appreciated for their talents and achievements. These people have inspired picturing beauty in a different way fighting for their bright future and leaving behind all the difficulties and obstacles. It will do us all great service to remember that these young women’s journeys prove that beauty is not skin-deep, and that finding it starts within every individual as a celebration of the uniqueness that we each carry.

We further hope that through retelling these success stories one can accept her or his deviation from the norm, shun the society set beauty standards, and acknowledge that there is beauty in diversity. Collectively, we are here for it, and let us make the world a better place where each and every one of us can be free to be who we are meant to be — the beautiful, strong, and creative souls that we are.