The Ugly Truth Behind The Most Outrageous Beauty Standards Around The World

Chuvic - March 2, 2025

People risk everything for beauty – even their lives. Throughout history, humans have squeezed into corsets, swallowed parasites, and painted themselves with poison just to look good. While today’s beauty standards might make us raise our eyebrows (or, in some cultures, connect them), they’re nothing compared to what our ancestors did.

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Ethiopian Lip Plates in Mursi Culture

The Mursi women take facial decoration to striking levels with their clay or wooden lip plates. Young girls pierce their lower lips before puberty, slowly stretching them to hold discs up to 12 inches wide. A larger plate carries social weight. It often determines a bride’s value in cattle during marriage negotiations. This tradition serves as both a beauty marker and a practical measure of social standing. The community’s skilled craftsmen create these specialized plates.

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Teeth Blackening in Ancient Japan

Japanese beauty once favored black teeth over pearly whites through a practice called ohaguro. This surprising trend did more than just alter appearances. The iron-based dye actually protected teeth from decay. Married women especially embraced this look as a sign of maturity and beauty. Though Western influence ended this practice in the 19th century, you can still spot blackened teeth in traditional Japanese performances.

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Victorian Corset Culture

Victorian women squeezed themselves into impossibly tiny corsets, chasing the perfect 16-inch waist. These whalebone contraptions reshaped bodies into extreme hourglass figures, often damaging internal organs in the process. Medical professionals warned about crushed ribs and breathing difficulties, yet fashion-conscious women continued this dangerous practice well into the 20th century’s early years.

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Lead-Based Beauty in European History

White faces once ruled European beauty standards, leading aristocrats to dangerous extremes. The most popular product, Venetian ceruse, mixed lead and vinegar into a toxic face paint. Queen Elizabeth I famously caked this mixture onto her skin, eventually losing her hair and damaging her complexion. The wealthy literally poisoned themselves to maintain ghostly pale complexions that proved they never worked outdoors. Local merchants made fortunes selling these deadly cosmetics.

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Mauritanian Force-Feeding Traditions

Girls in Mauritania face intense pressure to gain weight through “leblouh,” a force-feeding practice that celebrates larger body sizes. Young women consume massive amounts of camel milk and porridge daily to achieve the desired plump figure. Communities particularly prize stretch marks as beautiful proof of successful weight gain. This tradition links physical size directly to perceptions of wealth and fertility. Local mothers often oversee this rigorous feeding process personally.

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West African Scarification Art

Traditional scarification transforms skin into intricate artwork across West African tribes. The Karo and Dinka people cut detailed patterns using razors or thorns, then rub ash into the wounds to create raised scars. Without anesthesia, this painful process marks both beauty and bravery. These permanent body modifications tell stories of identity, courage, and cultural belonging. Skilled practitioners pass down their techniques through generations of artists.

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Modern Western Tanning Obsession

Sun-kissed skin revolutionized Western beauty after Coco Chanel accidentally got bronzed during a 1920s yacht trip. This chance event flipped centuries of pale-skin preference upside down. Today, people risk skin cancer in tanning beds or spray themselves orange to maintain year-round color. The shift proves how quickly beauty standards can change with celebrity influence. Tanning salons now populate nearly every shopping center in Western countries.

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Unibrow Beauty in Middle Eastern Culture

Across Tajikistan and Iran, connected eyebrows signal youth and attractiveness. Women use a plant called usma to darken and join their brows naturally. Local folklore ties this feature to marriage prospects and overall beauty. Unlike Western trends of precise brow separation, these cultures celebrate the natural connection between eyebrows. Traditional herbalists carefully cultivate usma plants specifically for this beauty practice.

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Maasai Extended Earlobes

The Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania prize dramatically stretched earlobes as symbols of wisdom and beauty. Both men and women begin the stretching process young, using increasingly heavy jewelry to extend their lobes over decades. The length and decorations often indicate social rank within the community. Skilled craftspeople create intricate beaded earrings specifically for these modified earlobes. Traditional methods still prevail today.

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Mangbetu Elongated Heads

The Mangbetu people of Congo once practiced head binding to create elongated, cone-shaped skulls considered incredibly beautiful. Parents wrapped their babies’ heads tightly with cloth, starting just days after birth. This reshape process continued throughout early childhood development. While the practice has largely disappeared, historical photographs showcase this distinctive cultural beauty standard. Local historians preserve records of this tradition.

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Indonesian Teeth Filing Traditions

In Bali, filed teeth mark a significant coming-of-age ritual called “potong gigi.” Young adults undergo this transformative process to smooth their teeth’s sharp edges, believing it tames negative emotions like greed and anger. Hindu ceremonies accompany this permanent modification, with skilled practitioners using small files to reshape the teeth carefully. Families often save for years to afford this important cultural milestone. Local spiritual leaders oversee these sacred ceremonies.

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South Korean Heart-Shaped Face Ideal

South Korea’s beauty standards have sparked a surgical trend for V-shaped jawlines. People spend thousands on jaw reduction procedures to achieve this delicate heart-shaped face structure. The trend exploded alongside K-pop culture, with stars showcasing this coveted facial contour. Makeup artists have developed intricate contouring techniques to create this effect without surgery. Specialized clinics now focus exclusively on jaw reshaping procedures.

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Global Blue Eye Obsession

Blue eyes captivate imaginations worldwide despite their natural rarity. In countries like India and Brazil, where less than 1% of people have naturally blue eyes, colored contact sales have skyrocketed. This fascination stems from centuries of Western cultural influence. Contact lens manufacturers now offer dozens of blue shades to meet this persistent demand. Local opticians report blue as their most requested color for non-prescription lenses.

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Apatani Nose Plug Custom

Women of India’s Apatani tribe historically wore large wooden plugs in their nostrils. This practice began centuries ago in Arunachal Pradesh, initially to protect women from kidnapping by making them less attractive to rival tribes. The procedure started with bamboo piercing the nostrils during adolescence. While younger generations increasingly skip this tradition, elderly women still wear their distinctive nose ornaments.

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Himba Red Ochre Beauty

Namibia’s Himba women maintain a striking appearance using otjize paste, a mixture of red ochre and fat. They apply this vibrant coating daily to skin and hair, creating their signature rust-colored glow. Beyond beauty, the paste serves practical purposes, protecting skin from harsh desert sun and insect bites. Each region produces slightly different red hues based on local ochre sources. Traditional mixing techniques pass through generations.

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Maori Facial Tattoos

The Maori people’s ta moko facial tattoos go beyond simple decoration, carrying deep cultural significance about lineage and status. Traditional artists once used bone chisels to carve unique designs into the skin, with each pattern telling a specific story about the wearer’s ancestry. Though colonial influence nearly erased this practice, modern Maori youth have revived it using contemporary tattoo machines. Master artists now blend ancestral patterns with modern techniques.

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Ancient Maya Head Shaping

Maya nobles transformed their infants’ heads into sloping shapes that mimicked their maize god’s profile. Parents bound their babies’ skulls with wooden boards just days after birth, continuing the process for several months. Archaeological discoveries reveal these elongated skulls in elite burial sites across ancient Maya cities. The practice marked social status and divine connection. Local artisans crafted specialized binding materials.

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Ancient Egyptian Hair Removal

Ancient Egyptians took body hair removal to extreme levels using wax and bronze razors. Both men and women, especially priests and nobles, removed all body hair to maintain ritual purity. After thorough hair removal, they applied luxurious perfumed oils to their smooth skin. Archaeological finds include elaborate bronze razors and oil containers in noble tombs. Temple records detail specific hair removal rituals.

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Royal Thai Yellow Skin Tradition

Thai nobility once prized golden-yellow skin tones achieved through turmeric and saffron applications. This distinctive coloring set royalty apart from sun-darkened commoners working in fields. The tradition required daily application of carefully prepared herbal pastes. Royal beauticians guarded their special formulas for generating the perfect golden hue. Modern Thai beauty products still incorporate these traditional spices.

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Khoisan Physical Ideals

The Khoisan people of Southern Africa traditionally celebrated pronounced hips and buttocks as signs of beauty and fertility. This physical characteristic, known as steatopygia, appears in ancient artifacts like the Venus of Willendorf. Communities passed down stories about this celebrated body type through generations. Local artists captured these beauty ideals in elaborate cave paintings and sculptures. Traditional dances emphasized these physical features.

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Karo Tribe Waist Training

The Karo tribe of Ethiopia embraces an intense form of waist modification using traditional leather and beaded bands. Young girls begin wearing these constrictive bindings early, gradually tightening them to create an extremely narrow waist. The practice contrasts deliberately with the tribe’s preference for broad shoulders in men. Local craftswomen create these specialized bands using techniques passed down through generations. The community views this physical transformation as essential to feminine beauty.

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Imperial Chinese Long Nails

Chinese aristocrats, like Empress Dowager Cixi, grew their fingernails to extraordinary lengths reaching six inches or more. These lengthy nails, often protected by golden sheaths, broadcast their elite status by showing they never performed manual labor. Servants attended to all their basic needs since the nails made simple tasks impossible. Special nail artisans created intricate protective covers. Court records detail elaborate nail care routines.

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Renaissance High Foreheads

Renaissance Europe’s noble women plucked their hairlines dramatically backward to create fashionably high foreheads. Queen Elizabeth I exemplified this trend, which people viewed as a sign of superior intellect and aristocratic refinement. Women endured painful hair removal sessions to maintain this unnatural hairline. Special combs and tools helped achieve the desired effect. Court painters captured this distinctive look in countless portraits.

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Edo Period Face Painting

Japanese geishas created striking contrasts by painting their faces tan while keeping their necks stark white. They achieved this dramatic look using oshiroi powder for neck whitening and specialized face makeup. The style perfectly complemented traditional kimono necklines. Apprentice geishas spent years mastering these complex makeup techniques. Each geisha house developed its own signature application methods.

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Heian Period Eyebrow Art

Noble women in Japan’s Heian period completely removed their natural eyebrows, drawing new ones high on their foreheads using charcoal paste. These cloud-like eyebrows gave faces a distinctive, doll-like appearance that symbolized refined beauty. Artists carefully smudged the drawings to create the desired effect. Court ladies competed to create the most elegant eyebrow shapes. Traditional beauty manuals detailed proper application techniques.

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Middle Eastern Henna Artistry

Henna artists create intricate temporary tattoos that transform hands and feet into living canvases of cultural expression. Brides receive the most elaborate patterns, often sitting through hours-long application sessions before their weddings. The reddish-brown dye gradually darkens over several days, lasting about two weeks. Master artists develop their own signature patterns, passing down traditional motifs through family lines. Local herbs enhance the dye’s natural color.

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Modern Japanese Crooked Teeth

Japan’s fascination with yaeba, or crooked teeth, flips conventional dental standards upside down. Some young people visit dentists specifically to create artificial snaggleteeth, viewing them as endearing and youthful. This beauty trend connects deeply with kawaii culture, which celebrates imperfect charm. Specialized dental procedures carefully misalign teeth to achieve the desired look. Fashion magazines regularly feature models with this distinctive smile.

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Persian Calf Aesthetics

Historical Persian culture admired well-developed calf muscles in women as signs of vitality and grace. Poetry from the era praised sturdy legs gained from walking in mountainous regions. Women wore specially designed clothing to highlight this attractive feature. Local tailors created garments specifically to showcase shapely calves. Traditional dances incorporated movements to display this prized physical attribute.

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Ancient Chinese Foot Binding

Small feet symbolized femininity in ancient China, but the price was steep. Starting as young as age four, girls endured excruciating foot binding to achieve the coveted three-inch “lotus feet.” The practice gained momentum among elite women in the 10th century, as tiny feet became a status symbol. Despite leaving many women unable to walk properly, this tradition persisted until the early 20th century when it was finally outlawed.

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Face Piercings of the Padaung

Metal studs puncture cheeks and chins among women in Myanmar’s Padaung communities. These remarkable adornments transform facial landscapes, telling stories of personal and cultural identity. Intricate piercings mark transitions from childhood to womanhood, creating visual statements that capture attention. Delicate metalwork reflects deep-rooted traditions, though younger generations increasingly move away from these practices that once defined beauty standards.

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Stretched Nostrils of the Fulani

West African Fulani women transform their facial features through remarkable nostril modifications. Starting in childhood, wooden and metal rings gradually expand nostril openings, creating dramatic aesthetic transformations. Each insertion represents a rite of passage, showcasing personal endurance and cultural pride. Complemented by intricate facial tattoos, these modifications communicate complex narratives of beauty, status, and personal history within their communities.

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Neck Rings of the Kayan People

Women of the Kayan tribes turned heads with their distinctive brass neck coils. While many assume these rings stretch the neck, they actually compress the collarbone downward. Girls start wearing these adornments at age five, gradually adding more rings until they carry up to 20 pounds of brass. The practice stems from ancient tiger-attack prevention myths and remains alive today, though tourism has influenced its cultural significance.

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Green-Tinted Skin of Rajasthan

Desert tribes in Rajasthan once celebrated skin adorned with subtle green hues. Herbal pastes and carefully mixed plant dyes created this distinctive coloration, signaling strength in harsh environments. Copper-infused preparations transformed skin tones, connecting individuals to their landscape’s raw beauty. Warriors and community members saw this tinting as more than decoration. It represented resilience and connection to ancestral traditions.

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Tooth Extraction in Nuba Tribes

Sudanese Nuba tribes consider tooth removal a powerful form of personal expression. Adolescents undergo this challenging procedure, creating distinctive gaps that mark cultural identity. Sharp tools carve out front teeth without modern pain management, transforming smiles into statements of courage. Each extracted tooth tells a story of belonging, marking individuals as members of their tight-knit community.

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Painted Teeth of Ancient Vietnam

Historical Vietnamese elites decorated their teeth with vibrant red and gold hues. Sophisticated lacquers and plant-based dyes transformed smiles into works of art. Connected to betel nut traditions, these colorful dental decorations signaled social status and personal refinement. Colonial influences gradually eroded this practice, leaving behind intricate artistic representations that whisper stories of a complex cultural heritage.

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Conclusion

These beauty practices might seem bizarre to modern eyes, but they tell us something important about human nature. Every culture creates its own definition of beauty, often pushing people to painful extremes to achieve it. While many of these traditions have faded into history, they remind us how powerfully beauty standards shape our lives – and how what we consider beautiful today might puzzle future generations just as much.

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