Why the Idea of Universal Beauty Has Never Been Universal

The concept of universal beauty suggests that there is a single aesthetic standard shared across cultures, histories, and identities. Yet beauty has always been shaped by shifting forces such as technology, power, and cultural influence. What one society views as ideal may carry completely different meaning elsewhere. The idea of universal beauty becomes even more complicated in the age of algorithms, where digital tools repeat and amplify narrow visual patterns that flatten individuality.

This project examines the tension between imposed beauty standards and the diverse realities of human appearance. By questioning the foundations of universal beauty, the work invites viewers to consider how identity, culture, and personal experience shape our understanding of what is beautiful. Rather than accepting a singular aesthetic, the project encourages a return to nuance, difference, and self defined representation.

In a world increasingly influenced by digital aesthetics, challenging the myth of universal beauty becomes essential. It opens space for more inclusive visual narratives and allows beauty to be understood as something expansive rather than restrictive.