I think it’s useful to analyze the example of Jennifer Miller to examine the often rigid standards of beauty we have in our culture today. Jennifer is a woman in a very unconventional way, and though it can sometimes be uncomfortable to see and hear her story because her situation is not common, I think she is really courageous for defying the standards of what a traditionally “beautiful” woman is supposed to be. Women are held to many unrealistic standards about appearance, and that includes removing body hair that is otherwise natural on the female body. We fuss and fret over shaving and plucking to fit in to a conventional definition of “normal”. But Miller’s refusal to change her appearance to adhere to societal standards and her emphasis on being a woman with a beard, rather than a bearded lady, reaffirms her confidence in herself and strength as a person. I think that is a true act of true beauty.
On a different note, there is an old episode of the show America’s Next Top Model in which the ladies in it have to pose as characters from a circus show, which I thought was remarkable because the images of the circus “freaks” they are supposed to represent directly contradicts with the traditional images of beauty that the show often represents. I find it an interesting juxtaposition. Here is the link of the video that shows the pictures of these women as these characters.
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