For generations, beauty has been all about a slender build but with an ample bosom and a narrow waist. The jawline has to be defined, the cheekbones high and sharp. The lips have to be full but not distractingly so. The eyes, ideally blue or green, are supposed to be large and bright. Hair needs to be thick, long and flowing. Symmetry is desired. This has been the standard from the earliest days when beauty was codified and commercialized in various women’s magazines.
However, over time, the definition of beauty has continued to expand, making room for women of color, obese women, bald women, women with gray hair and wrinkles, etc. We are now moving towards a culture of inclusivity and diversity in beauty. One in which everyone is welcome. Everyone is beautiful. How did we see the shift? Well, we have become more accepting because people have demanded it, protested for it, and used social media to shame beauty’s gatekeepers into opening the doors wider.
Rosetta Qadhi is one businesswoman, life coach, motivational speaker and author who has redefined the ideas of beauty by helping women become confident in their own skins. She is the CEO of the Think and Grow Rich Caribbean Institute (Life Redesign), and helps individuals redesign their lives by using the power of their minds.
She believes in creating your own beauty standards instead of falling prey to the socially accepted beauty standards of skinniness, youthfulness and skin tone. “Our culture embraces women of certain skin and silhouettes. I realized that my discomfort around myself and my body exists because of these images that I saw every day did not allow space for multiple ways of being beautiful. As women, we must be able to feel our own beauty on our own terms. We are beautiful, regardless of our physical condition. Accepting ourselves is the self-love we have and is the first step for others to do so too,” shares Rosetta.
In 2020, she released her book ‘Mirror Mirror: Women’, a compilation of stories from women who changed their personal perspectives for a better standing in society.
The book focuses on how society has taught us that the road to happiness is changing ourselves and covering up any ‘imperfections’ that don’t fit in with their standards. Women generally accept less than what they deserve, whether it’s in their careers, love relationships, or life in general. Instead of spending so much time trying to change yourself, keeping up with the joneses, or begging someone to love you, wouldn’t it be much more comfortable and healthier to create your own beauty standards and invest time in loving yourself? The first step is to change our perception, which can be done through self-love. The second step is to accept yourself for who you are because if you love and accept yourself, only then you will be able to make others do so as well.
“Who says that plump women, short women, women with scars, women with skin blemishes etc. cannot stand confident? Why resort to farce? Why shouldn’t we build our own beauty standards as per our traits and not mere appearances?” questions Rosetta.
She further adds, “I am glad how women are coming out of that superficial cloud full of vanity to enjoy high self-esteem. They want excellent health, both physical and emotional. This will also lead to decreased cases of depression and anxiety when women start becoming more confident about their appearances. It means change, and little by little, society begins to put aside prejudices and insecurities to craft a beauty standard that raises your bar.”
‘Mirror Mirror: Women’ is for women of all body types, shapes, sizes, backgrounds, cultures, faith and gender identities who want to develop a healthier relationship with their bodies so that they can feel worthy and confident in their own skins. This book will help change your perception of how you see yourself and help you find peace in your mind, body, and soul.
Since the book’s release, it has impacted many women, helping them to become more confident about themselves. Hence they are doing better in their personal and professional lives. With the book fast picking up pace, it is not a surprise that it will soon become a bestseller, making Rosetta a best-selling author globally. With her positive outlook and valuable life lessons, she has been changing perceptions across the world and making women break their barriers to shine bright.
Beauty comes in various forms, and self-confidence is one of them. The key to feeling beautiful inside out is to have inner peace, confidence and security. Rosetta Qadhi helps you understand these standards and implement them in your lives so that you can live your life to the fullest at all moments and situations.
