The original post has some Christian dialogue, I've copied only the secular bits below but feel free to read the whole article, [linked here!](https://www.thetrumpet.com/867-farewell-feminine-beauty)

I think it's probably redundant for most of us here, but it's nonetheless a lovely and refreshing read <3

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What is beautiful? Attractive? Sexy? What appeals to the modern male? Popular culture has its answer.

With the mainstreaming of the pornographic underworld, pop culture has redefined our perception of beauty. From Victoria’s Secret commercials to Christina Aguilera music videos, sex appeal is not what it used to be.

In place of an innocent smile, vulnerable eyes, soft body language, many of today’s women—models, singers, dancers, actresses—exude the very opposite to be sexually appealing. Their beauty is cold eyes, no smile, brazen body language—it’s sweaty, dirty, tattooed and pierced. They seek only to excite, arouse or, at the very least, shock. Modern society has traded the natural, cosmetic-free Ivory girl for Pamela Anderson, and transformed the phrase “girl next door” into a seedy marketing gimmick.

Models portray the latest lingerie in commercials with shady lighting and grunged-out background music. Pop music icons, like Aguilera, who think they are “beautiful in every single way” show it off in every single way they know how, prodded by the executives for whom they are making millions. In a world where pornography is bigger than major league baseball, these marketing geniuses do what they can to have their girls keep up with the pace.

Aguilera and rival Britney Spears, once teen idols, eventually had to shed their young-girl appeal and define themselves as “women.” What ensued with both was a massive shift in the subject matter of their lyrics, and in their hair, makeup, attitude, dancing and wardrobe, toward increased immorality. (And despite this attempt to make the “woman” upgrade, the young pre-teen audience has stayed on board—wanting nothing more than to dress like Christina and dance like Britney.)

Is this what society thinks it means to break the shackles of teenagehood to become a beautiful adult woman? That it means trading clothing for body piercings? Does it mean taking on the persona of a porn star or street walker? Is true womanhood measured by an ability to get an audience aroused or appalled?

These trends reveal an increasing ignorance about the nature of true feminine beauty.

To become a woman means to become someone who embodies true feminine beauty—whose kindness, grace, polish, positivity and humility emanates from her eyes, her smile and her body language. This kind of woman exemplifies proper health and fitness, and adorns her body in stylish clothes [...] yet with modesty so as not to foster lust in other men.

Beauty, attractiveness and femininity have never been so twisted. These are true values that, if deeply understood, would bring incredible joy and excitement to our lives.