Opinion/2 mins/Lagos

Who Set These Beauty Standards You're Trying Hard to Meet?

Stop trying to fit in but reclaim your individuality by defining what beauty means to you.

By ForKulture • May 13, 2026

Who? Is there a name? Anybody? Who the hell set these beauty standards?

I did not deliberately choose to be a not-so girly girl. I only liked my simplicity too much and didn't realise I wasn't paying attention to many beauty standards all along.

Lashes. Heavy makeup. Wigs. Polished Nails. They never really meant anything to me and why should they? As someone is easily overwhelmed, these 'beauty maintenance' standards meant torture-one I wasn't ready to subject myself to.

As a woman, I have always hated conformity, so I often find myself questioning standards, patterns and systems.

Why must I wear makeup to feel beautiful?