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Student Captures What Happens When People Are Told They Are Beautiful
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How would you react if someone told you that you’re beautiful? 18-year-old Shea Glover, a highschool student from Chicago, conducted a social experiment to find out. She posed people in front of her camera and then told them “I’m taking pictures of things I find beautiful.”
The responses are touching. “I conducted an independent project which evidently turned into a social experiment regarding beauty,” Glover writes on YouTube. “I want to clarify that my intentions were not to get a reaction out of people. I was simply filming beauty and this is the result.”
More info: YouTube (h/t: aplus)
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What do you think ?
MarySaslow 9 years ago
I'm 73 years old. From my vantage point all of these faces are very beautiful. They are of young people, full of life. Please enjoy your young beauty. When you are older you will find photos of yourself in your twenties and thirties and you will see for the first time how beautiful you were. Maybe no one told you then and you did not know. Maybe your sister was the beautiful one, or an actress or actor, or someone "popular" in your school. Don't fall for that. You will regret it later, when you are not as beautiful (but still active and presentable :-) ) and you wish you had known
EvanCreem 9 years ago
Mary - You are still beautiful and full of life! Age is beauty. The oldest trees...beautiful. The well worn rocks and ancient monoliths on beaches...beautiful. Age has no bearing on beauty. But your statement is also beautiful. Have a lovely day!
Load More Replies...
CindyBurnham 9 years ago
I am 63, and I had the same reaction. They are every one so so beautiful. And everyone - even perhaps our older selves - are always more beautiful when we believe we are seen, and appreciated as our best self.
ReniMcCormick 9 years ago
Mary, you're not old! You are living your second teenage! full of life, beauty and joy!
guess 9 years ago
Miss... may I send you a virtual hug? You just about made me cry in school! -(;w;)- This comment and entire post is a great testament to true beauty, and I thank you for your kind words.
Surly 9 years ago
Mary, I'm 51 and I've thought the exact same thing so many times. I wish I'd known, in my 20s and 30s, how pretty I actually was. Time really does go by SO fast. What I wouldn't give to be able to go back and tell my 20 yr old self "you're beautiful"...and to actually believe it!
Davew. 9 years ago
Totally agree, Mary. I am 51 years old, and though I never called anyone ugly, I regret ever envelope thinking it. And I regret how thinking of someone as ugly might have affected the way I'd related to them, or ignored them. Now, I am astounded at how beautiful all people are, and I'm ashamed it took me so long to see it! Great project!
LindseyNash 9 years ago
But Mary, and all women here stating they feel the same way, with this kind of attitude, we will be in a constant state of looking back at what we had and wishing we had appreciated it more, instead of appreciating what we have now. You have so much now, still. My mother is 52, and she has always been beautiful to me, a constantly changing beauty that comes with age. Beauty is not limited in youth. However, I do get the message of what your saying. Us younger folks need to learn to appreciate what we have now!
NoraGoode 9 years ago
may I copy and paste you comment on to my fb page please? It is such a profound thing to say and even I at 52 know the value of your wise words. I see photos of myself; younger, slimmer versions of myself and know I had nothing to worry about and so with that in mind try to enjoy what I still have now (not looking too bad, overweight and menopausal but still attractive) but is is a struggle in this image obsessed world to always feel it. I work with young people and do my best to be positvie about my image, not be hung up on it but as an ex anorexic with low self esteem I have to have more of an 'I don't care' attitude to convince myself but I know deep down it is true .. beauty is really only skin deep, true beauty is more obscure than a face cream, make up etc... I try to teach them about life as in our world and the beauty that is out there, that being a kind person is what really makes the world a better place not the next selfie....
YasmineVine 9 years ago
Dont fall for it now either. You are beautiful now too Mary! You didnt see it back then, see it now! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. dont fall for what society says.You didnt see it then for many reasons and now you dont for a new reason. See your beauty now.
LisaMcLaughlinNuzzo 9 years ago
I was just saying this the other night. My son took a picture of me for his photography class and all I saw were wrinkles and I thought, omg, I can never go back to the way I was. Then I said "I wish I would have appreciated and enjoyed my beauty when I had it"! My kids just looked at me, lol
AshleyStringham 9 years ago
I guarantee your children think you are beautiful. My mom always puts herself down about her body and every single time I look at her I see nothing but beauty. Her beautiful silver hairs that she constantly dyes (which I for some reason cannot wait to have grow on me), her ageing jowls that I can't see at all (and I think she's making it up) whatever weight she has gained (I can't see either) because I am blinded by how beautiful she is. Don't pay attention to your physical "faults" embrace them. You are ageing (just as everyone does), yet you are ageing gracefully. Every single part of you is beautiful ma'am. Don't ever forget that. And don't think that your physical "faults" are what your children see. They know how beautiful you are. :)
MuhammadHasan 9 years ago
Explaining beauty is being beautiful. Your little article is as beautiful as the video above...thank you for this.
NadiaHiltbrand 9 years ago
Mary, thanks for your words, your are still and forever beauty full in and from your heart. Have a joy full day!
ChelseaAnthony 9 years ago
Thank you so much Mary, I needed to hear that. You are truely beautiful inside and out
JoyceWatts 9 years ago
Mary you are spot on...I am 55 and didn't understand the real concept of beauty until I got older. Our media promotes beauty in it's own twisted way. Beauty is expressing authentic words and feelings to yourself or others in order to promote a positive self image. Beauty is kindness and respect in yourself and others. Mary when you feel beautiful you can share beauty with others. Have a beautiful day :)
CraigOshima 9 years ago
"Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine." http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-schmich-sunscreen-column-column.html
DeannaMoomjian-Gjovik 9 years ago
I totally thought the same thing, Mary! They are all so young and beautiful and full of promise! Yes, we are beautiful as our "older" selves, but we never appreciate what we have, when we have it. I don't have many regrets in my life cause I don't believe it's productive to live with regrets, but I do wish I had "appreciated" my youthful beauty when I had it!
NicoleBerhta 9 years ago
Mary you are beautiful!!! You were beautiful then you are beautiful now. The difference, your beauty has evolved. :)
DariaB 9 years ago
Mary, I am still 26, but I thought the same thing. Of course, my experience is nowhere near as yours, but I clearly feel how older I am getting and how cute the adolescents and first year univ. students are to me. They're like little sparrows jumping and flying around. But I find that feeling of mine beautiful too. The very fact that it makes me smile, shows to me that I've found one more of the simple little things to appreciate in this world.
JohnWilliams 9 years ago
I wonder how they told that redhead while keeping a straight face. I can't even do that one.
EllaLink 9 years ago
made me cry seeing most of them smile and made me cry to see the sadness in some of others' eyes. you can tell they were maybe never told that.
KevReed 9 years ago
exactly. society these days makes so many people feel guarded, unless they are extremely conformist and look like how the mainstream portray beauty. note how most of these people have created their own identity outside of that. we need to shift away from the corporate owned medias slant on the world and indoctrination and hypersexulisation of the minds youth, it is destroying us
Load More Replies...
ShaimunNakib 9 years ago
hard to believe when no one says that to you on a normal basis. Only like the top 1% of good looking people probably get compliments like everyday they are at social environments.
JoannaDeJong 9 years ago
Ironic that below these posts there's an ad for "grandma's wrinkle trick" with some gimmick to iron out your wrinkles!
LukeCage 9 years ago
The one girl who got angry, kind of hit home for me. Sometimes you come from a hard place and when you actually do receive a compliment on how you look or something you do, you think it's another form of ridicule.
NiamhMcKinney 9 years ago
That's exactly what I would do. I dot know why I don't think someone would actually genuinely compliment me like that girl did
Load More Replies... 
LoriMcKinnon 9 years ago
Yes, I also identified with the girl who got angry. When someone tells me I'm "beautiful," I know they're full of garbage and it seems like ridicule to me. I'm instantly suspicious and defensive. It's sad, I know, but that's just my reaction, and I totally understood the angry girl's reaction and empathized with her. Her reaction, more than anyone else's, made me cry.
ShalaneClark 9 years ago
Lori anyone saying you're beautiful isn't full of garbage! I just looked at your picture, and you are a beautiful lady! You've got an awesome sense of style, and you're rockin that haircut, I love it!
ElizabethWilkinson 9 years ago
I was trying to understand that. She's probably never had anyone say that to her before. Maybe she's watched herself and realized that she is beautiful.
MarySaslow 9 years ago
I'm 73 years old. From my vantage point all of these faces are very beautiful. They are of young people, full of life. Please enjoy your young beauty. When you are older you will find photos of yourself in your twenties and thirties and you will see for the first time how beautiful you were. Maybe no one told you then and you did not know. Maybe your sister was the beautiful one, or an actress or actor, or someone "popular" in your school. Don't fall for that. You will regret it later, when you are not as beautiful (but still active and presentable :-) ) and you wish you had known
EvanCreem 9 years ago
Mary - You are still beautiful and full of life! Age is beauty. The oldest trees...beautiful. The well worn rocks and ancient monoliths on beaches...beautiful. Age has no bearing on beauty. But your statement is also beautiful. Have a lovely day!
Load More Replies... CindyBurnham 9 years ago
I am 63, and I had the same reaction. They are every one so so beautiful. And everyone - even perhaps our older selves - are always more beautiful when we believe we are seen, and appreciated as our best self.
ReniMcCormick 9 years ago
Mary, you're not old! You are living your second teenage! full of life, beauty and joy!
guess 9 years ago
Miss... may I send you a virtual hug? You just about made me cry in school! -(;w;)- This comment and entire post is a great testament to true beauty, and I thank you for your kind words.
Surly 9 years ago
Mary, I'm 51 and I've thought the exact same thing so many times. I wish I'd known, in my 20s and 30s, how pretty I actually was. Time really does go by SO fast. What I wouldn't give to be able to go back and tell my 20 yr old self "you're beautiful"...and to actually believe it!
Davew. 9 years ago
Totally agree, Mary. I am 51 years old, and though I never called anyone ugly, I regret ever envelope thinking it. And I regret how thinking of someone as ugly might have affected the way I'd related to them, or ignored them. Now, I am astounded at how beautiful all people are, and I'm ashamed it took me so long to see it! Great project!
LindseyNash 9 years ago
But Mary, and all women here stating they feel the same way, with this kind of attitude, we will be in a constant state of looking back at what we had and wishing we had appreciated it more, instead of appreciating what we have now. You have so much now, still. My mother is 52, and she has always been beautiful to me, a constantly changing beauty that comes with age. Beauty is not limited in youth. However, I do get the message of what your saying. Us younger folks need to learn to appreciate what we have now!
NoraGoode 9 years ago
may I copy and paste you comment on to my fb page please? It is such a profound thing to say and even I at 52 know the value of your wise words. I see photos of myself; younger, slimmer versions of myself and know I had nothing to worry about and so with that in mind try to enjoy what I still have now (not looking too bad, overweight and menopausal but still attractive) but is is a struggle in this image obsessed world to always feel it. I work with young people and do my best to be positvie about my image, not be hung up on it but as an ex anorexic with low self esteem I have to have more of an 'I don't care' attitude to convince myself but I know deep down it is true .. beauty is really only skin deep, true beauty is more obscure than a face cream, make up etc... I try to teach them about life as in our world and the beauty that is out there, that being a kind person is what really makes the world a better place not the next selfie....
YasmineVine 9 years ago
Dont fall for it now either. You are beautiful now too Mary! You didnt see it back then, see it now! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. dont fall for what society says.You didnt see it then for many reasons and now you dont for a new reason. See your beauty now.
LisaMcLaughlinNuzzo 9 years ago
I was just saying this the other night. My son took a picture of me for his photography class and all I saw were wrinkles and I thought, omg, I can never go back to the way I was. Then I said "I wish I would have appreciated and enjoyed my beauty when I had it"! My kids just looked at me, lol
AshleyStringham 9 years ago
I guarantee your children think you are beautiful. My mom always puts herself down about her body and every single time I look at her I see nothing but beauty. Her beautiful silver hairs that she constantly dyes (which I for some reason cannot wait to have grow on me), her ageing jowls that I can't see at all (and I think she's making it up) whatever weight she has gained (I can't see either) because I am blinded by how beautiful she is. Don't pay attention to your physical "faults" embrace them. You are ageing (just as everyone does), yet you are ageing gracefully. Every single part of you is beautiful ma'am. Don't ever forget that. And don't think that your physical "faults" are what your children see. They know how beautiful you are. :)
MuhammadHasan 9 years ago
Explaining beauty is being beautiful. Your little article is as beautiful as the video above...thank you for this.
NadiaHiltbrand 9 years ago
Mary, thanks for your words, your are still and forever beauty full in and from your heart. Have a joy full day!
ChelseaAnthony 9 years ago
Thank you so much Mary, I needed to hear that. You are truely beautiful inside and out
JoyceWatts 9 years ago
Mary you are spot on...I am 55 and didn't understand the real concept of beauty until I got older. Our media promotes beauty in it's own twisted way. Beauty is expressing authentic words and feelings to yourself or others in order to promote a positive self image. Beauty is kindness and respect in yourself and others. Mary when you feel beautiful you can share beauty with others. Have a beautiful day :)
CraigOshima 9 years ago
"Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine." http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-schmich-sunscreen-column-column.html
DeannaMoomjian-Gjovik 9 years ago
I totally thought the same thing, Mary! They are all so young and beautiful and full of promise! Yes, we are beautiful as our "older" selves, but we never appreciate what we have, when we have it. I don't have many regrets in my life cause I don't believe it's productive to live with regrets, but I do wish I had "appreciated" my youthful beauty when I had it!
NicoleBerhta 9 years ago
Mary you are beautiful!!! You were beautiful then you are beautiful now. The difference, your beauty has evolved. :)
DariaB 9 years ago
Mary, I am still 26, but I thought the same thing. Of course, my experience is nowhere near as yours, but I clearly feel how older I am getting and how cute the adolescents and first year univ. students are to me. They're like little sparrows jumping and flying around. But I find that feeling of mine beautiful too. The very fact that it makes me smile, shows to me that I've found one more of the simple little things to appreciate in this world.
JohnWilliams 9 years ago
I wonder how they told that redhead while keeping a straight face. I can't even do that one.
EllaLink 9 years ago
made me cry seeing most of them smile and made me cry to see the sadness in some of others' eyes. you can tell they were maybe never told that.
KevReed 9 years ago
exactly. society these days makes so many people feel guarded, unless they are extremely conformist and look like how the mainstream portray beauty. note how most of these people have created their own identity outside of that. we need to shift away from the corporate owned medias slant on the world and indoctrination and hypersexulisation of the minds youth, it is destroying us
Load More Replies... ShaimunNakib 9 years ago
hard to believe when no one says that to you on a normal basis. Only like the top 1% of good looking people probably get compliments like everyday they are at social environments.
JoannaDeJong 9 years ago
Ironic that below these posts there's an ad for "grandma's wrinkle trick" with some gimmick to iron out your wrinkles!
LukeCage 9 years ago
The one girl who got angry, kind of hit home for me. Sometimes you come from a hard place and when you actually do receive a compliment on how you look or something you do, you think it's another form of ridicule.
NiamhMcKinney 9 years ago
That's exactly what I would do. I dot know why I don't think someone would actually genuinely compliment me like that girl did
Load More Replies... LoriMcKinnon 9 years ago
Yes, I also identified with the girl who got angry. When someone tells me I'm "beautiful," I know they're full of garbage and it seems like ridicule to me. I'm instantly suspicious and defensive. It's sad, I know, but that's just my reaction, and I totally understood the angry girl's reaction and empathized with her. Her reaction, more than anyone else's, made me cry.
ShalaneClark 9 years ago
Lori anyone saying you're beautiful isn't full of garbage! I just looked at your picture, and you are a beautiful lady! You've got an awesome sense of style, and you're rockin that haircut, I love it!
ElizabethWilkinson 9 years ago
I was trying to understand that. She's probably never had anyone say that to her before. Maybe she's watched herself and realized that she is beautiful.
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