about the project
In our society, beauty has become a brand. It’s sexy. It’s skinny. It has flawless skin.
If you’ve watched a movie, read a magazine, or listened to the radio in the past decade, this isn’t new information. You’ve passed the magazines and billboards of digitally altered women, and clearly heard the message,
“You’ll never be quite good enough.”
For a long time I have criticized myself against this impossible standard, questioning in my heart if I was beautiful. I’ve spent years feeling insecure, dissatisfied with the way God created me, because I don’t measure up to this standard.
But in the past year I have realized something, the standard is wrong. Beauty isn’t something that can be airbrushed or photo shopped. It’s not a certain look or body type. It’s much more than that.
The goal of this project was to highlight a different type of beauty, a kind you won‘t find in magazine. It’s a confident, strong, creative, and unique. It’s found in womans' heart and it shines through her eyes. It glorifies the Creator.
These women exemplify this beauty and have graciously shared their hearts on the subject. I hope you enjoy their wisdom and realize that
you are beautiful.
Rachel
Rachel is a junior in high school. She is very creative and expresses her creativity through her unique fashion sense and free spirit. She is an LJ3 leader and enjoys shopping, going to the park, and hanging out with friends.
What do you think beauty is?
“I think it’s God’s love and personality shining through us.”
When do you feel beautiful?
“I feel beautiful when I help people and they appreciate it.”
How has our culture’s definition of beauty effected you?
“Sometime’s I get self conscious, but one of my friends told me to just be God conscious, and think of how He sees you. He says we are fearfully and wonderfully made. That helps me.”
What do you wish women knew about real beauty?
“God made you how you are and that’s how your suppose to look and be. Don’t try to be other people because there is no one like you.”
Darla
Darla is a high school junior and an LJ3 leader. She enjoys doing “girly things,” like drinking tea and having picnics.
What do you think beauty is?
“I think beauty I what comes out of you. Beauty is genuine, it’s what is in you, your character.”
Do you think your beautiful?
“In the morning you can wake up and say, ‘I am so ugly,’ but you need say, ‘It’s me and it’s how God made me, and I am beautiful like this.’ I can’t try and be other things, I am who I am and if I am myself, I am beautiful.”
When do you feel beautiful?
“When I wear a cute little spring dress, a skirt with a nice top, or certain jewelry, I feel that I am, in a way, wearing treasure, and that it’s a prized possession. It makes me feel special.”
How has our culture’s definition of beauty effected you?
“I think it use to effect me more than it does now. I use to think they (girls in magazines) are so skinny, they have the best tans, they have the nicest hair, the cutest clothes, everything. But now I think, ‘Whatever!’ God made me and I don’t have to impress a guy or other people, because God has everything planned out; who I am going to marry, who I am going to be friends with, my entire future. So I can just be me.”
Chelsea
Chelsea is in 7th grade. She is very busy and involved in many activities including swimming, karate, and music.
What do you think beauty is?
"Beauty is much deeper than your outside appearance; it focuses more on who you are on the inside. Pretty and hot are used to describe your outer appearance, but beauty holds more meaning."
Do you think your beautiful?
"Yes, I do. I know I am because my Father says I am. He sees the me no one else sees sometimes; not the girl with frizzy hair. I am beautiful in His eyes, and that’s all that matters."
When do you feel the most beautiful?
"I feel the most beautiful right after I wake up in the morning. I feel refreshed and better than I do when I am all dressed up."
What do you think God finds beautiful in a woman?
"I think God finds being in a relationship with Him beautiful. The closer you are to Him and the more you know Him, the more beautiful you are."
What do you think beauty is?
The Bible says that "A happy heart makes the face cheerful" (Proverbs 15:13). I think that couldn't be stated better. Inward peace with God creates outward beauty.
When do you feel the most beautiful?
I feel most radiant when I am at peace with God. There have been times when I was serving overseas and hadn't showered in three days but still felt beautiful because I was at peace with God. There were other times when I spent enormous amounts of time on my appearance but felt less attractive than ever because my trust was in the wrong places.
What do you wish woman knew about real beauty?
That beauty cannot be bought, fabricated, or applied in front of a mirror.
What do you think God finds beautiful in a women?
Above all, a pure heart.
Sherry
Sherry has been married for almost 22 years and is the mother of three children. She is a high school teacher at Calvary Christian Academy, where she coaches the varsity cheerleading squad. She loves shopping, coaching, and eating junk food.
What do you think beauty is?
“Beauty comes from within. Someone that has a kind a heart, a sweet spirit, is easy to be entreated, is not afraid to show their faults and failures, is beautiful. They aren’t trying to be beautiful, it’s just who they are.”
Do you think your beautiful?
“I want to be beautiful, but I don’t think of myself as beautiful. I like myself and I am beautiful because God says so, but not necessarily according to what the worlds standards are. He made me and He made me specifically. Each feature was designed specifically, so because I’m His creation, I’m gorgeous. I’m learning how to accept what God has done, because living in this world it’s a temptation for women to compare themselves with one other, models on TV, and what the world says beauty is. The closer I get to the Lord, the more I can appreciate who I am and that if I weren’t here, there would be a big hole in this world.”
What do you wish women knew about real beauty?
“I wish that women knew that they are beautiful because God created them and they are unique for a reason. There is nobody else like them and they don’t have to compare themselves to anybody else. If they tried to be somebody else, we would miss out on who they are, and the impact that God intended in having them here.”
Jewell
Jewell is currently a student at Montgomery community college, where she is studying to be a graphic designer. Jewell enjoys being creative, photography, working with computers, and being with her friends.
What do you think beauty is?
“Beauty comes from inside. Integrity is something I find very beautiful in a person. Someone who is able to act right and be themselves around other people and has the same personality when other people aren’t looking. It’s hard to find these days.”
Do you think your beautiful?
“I think I am beautiful because I like who I am. I’ve noticed that I can make people happy very easily. I seem to bring out the best in people, and I like that.”
When do you feel the most beautiful?
“I feel the most beautiful when I am with my friends. They know me inside and out, and I can just be myself around them. They laugh at everything I say. When I am around them and see they are happy because of something I did or said, it makes me feel really good.”
What do you wish women knew about real beauty?
“I wish women realized it’s really not about being beautiful on the outside. You can take the most outwardly beautiful person, but if they are snobby and immature, it just makes them look ugly. I wish people realized how you act and how you present yourself makes you beautiful or ugly.”
Lydia
Lydia is in 10th grade at Calvary Christian Academy. She enjoys playing sports and spending time with her friends and family.
What do you think beauty is?
“Beauty is your heart and what you do to glorify God, because God looks at your heart.”
Do you think your beautiful?
“Yes, because God created everything beautiful.”
When do you feel the most beautiful?
“When I am thinking about how God made us, how He made us beautiful, I feel the most beautiful then. Or when I am really dressed up.”
What do you wish women knew about real beauty?
“That God is looking at your heart and you should just do everything to glorify Him. Because that’s what’s most beautiful to Him. That’s all that matters.”
