By Ufuoma Okodili
“Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.” This timeless phrase has been repeated across generations, from ancient philosophers to modern poets, from artists to everyday conversations. Yet, what does it truly mean? Does beauty belong to the person being observed, or does it live in the heart and mind of the one doing the beholding?
Beauty has always been a subject of fascination, debate, and endless reinterpretation. From Cleopatra, whose charm was said to move empires, to the global obsession with flawless Instagram filters today, humanity has continuously tried to define, measure, and immortalize beauty. But one reality remains constant: beauty is never absolute; it is subjective, deeply personal, and shaped by culture, time, and individual perception.
The story of beauty, therefore, is not just about what we see but about who is looking. The beholder brings their history, biases, desires, and emotions into the act of perceiving. This interplay between the beautiful and the beholder makes beauty not just a static quality, but a dynamic relationship.
Cultural Perceptions — When the Beholder Defines Standards
Across societies, what is considered beautiful often varies widely. In Renaissance Europe, plumpness was praised as a symbol of wealth and health. In Japan, for centuries, pale skin was seen as the epitome of elegance, while in some African cultures, fuller figures and scarification markings were celebrated as symbols of status and identity.
In modern times, the globalization of fashion, entertainment, and media has created a more uniform standard of beauty: slim figures, symmetrical faces, flawless skin, and a curated lifestyle to match. Yet, even with such widespread influence, beauty still resists total standardization. What is “perfect” in New York may be “ordinary” in Lagos; what is captivating in Rio might be overlooked in Cairo.
The beholder’s cultural lens becomes the filter through which beauty is interpreted. A simple example can be found in food and body image: while Western magazines may idolize size zero, in many African societies, fuller figures are still admired as signs of fertility, prosperity, and attractiveness. Beauty, therefore, is not universal—it bends to the eye that gazes.
Personal Perception — When Love Changes the Lens
On a more intimate level, beauty often defies the standards of society. A man may find the curve of his wife’s smile more beautiful than any model on a billboard. A mother may see unmatched beauty in the wrinkled hands of her aging father. A child may think their battered teddy bear is the most beautiful toy in the world.
Here, beauty is born from emotion, memory, and attachment rather than flawless features. It explains why people often say, “love makes everything beautiful.” The beholder’s feelings shape their vision. What might seem ordinary to the world could appear extraordinary to someone who sees with affection rather than judgment.
This is where beauty transcends the superficial. While the fashion industry might crown the “most beautiful woman alive,” personal experience shows us that beauty cannot be monopolized or mass-produced. For every individual, the essence of beauty is shaped by stories, bonds, and experiences that only they can feel.
Redefining Beauty in a Superficial Age
In today’s digital age, where photo-editing apps and filters have created an obsession with artificial perfection, the phrase “the beauty and the beholder” becomes even more relevant. People are constantly confronted with images that redefine beauty as an unattainable standard, leading to insecurities and unhealthy comparisons.
Yet, in the midst of this, there is a growing movement reminding the world that real beauty is diverse and inclusive. Campaigns celebrating natural hair, body positivity, and aging gracefully are shifting the narrative away from rigid ideals. The beholder, once conditioned by magazines and television, is now beginning to embrace authenticity, imperfection, and individuality as beautiful.
Ultimately, beauty is a conversation between the object and the observer. It cannot exist without someone to recognize it, and it cannot be standardized without losing its meaning. The true magic of beauty lies not in perfection but in perception—the way a song, a face, or a sunset resonates with the soul of the beholder.
To understand beauty, therefore, is to understand humanity itself: diverse, subjective, ever-changing, yet always longing to be seen. And so, in every face, in every form, in every fleeting moment of wonder, beauty waits—not just to be displayed, but to be beheld.
