4. Straight, perfect pearly whites

Having a gap or teeth that are crooked is totally normal. Not all human dental anatomy is the same, after all, and there’s no one-size-fits-all dental standard. A crooked or gapped smile can be beautiful — never be ashamed to hide your smile or keep a closed mouth in photos because you don’t think it’s good enough. That just perpetuated these harmful societal beauty standards. 

5. A sharp jawline

Facial features like jawlines are another beauty standard that people are forced to conform to. While we think that a baby face with softer features can be just as stunning and charming, a strong jawline is often more coveted. Getting surgery to change your chin or cheeks shouldn’t be a replacement for self-worth.

6. Bounce-back culture

This toxic trend refers to the societal expectation for new moms to return to their pre-baby bodies and looks as quickly as possible. It’s unsafe for new moms to prioritize their looks over their emotional and physical health, especially at a time when their bodies are going through so much. Everybody is different and heals differently.  Instead, we should be celebrating new mothers for being as resilient and strong as they are. That in itself is a thing of beauty.