The War on Beauty

Sara Milliken, a 23-year-old plus-sized model, has recently been crowned Miss Alabama, igniting a fierce debate that stretches far beyond the confines of a single beauty pageant. While Sara celebrated her victory in the National American Miss pageant over Memorial Day weekend, her joy was soon overshadowed by a deluge of online abuse.

Online critics derided her appearance, calling her an “unhealthy embarrassment” and questioning whether such a look is considered attractive in Alabama. Although abuse of this nature is never warranted, and Milliken should never have been personally targeted (she was just a contestant, after all), the criticisms reveal much about society’s struggle with the concept of beauty—a concept that was once uncontroversial. 

The rise of the fat acceptance movement, which seeks to challenge conventional beauty standards and promote body positivity, is undeniably a contentious issue. Many rightly argue that it glorifies unhealthy lifestyles (like the one embraced by Milliken) and normalizes obesity, which poses numerous health risks. However, this phenomenon cannot be examined in isolation. It is merely one battle in a larger cultural war over what constitutes beauty in America and beyond. And this war is not limited to our bodies; it extends to the very fabric of our built environment, our media, and our cultural products.

We are surrounded by a lack of beauty. 

Consider the state of architecture in the United States. Our cities are increasingly filled with ugly, utilitarian buildings that prioritize cost and efficiency over aesthetic value. The result is a landscape of soulless structures that contribute to a sense of alienation and disconnection from our surroundings. Gone are the days when architecture was an art form that sought to inspire and elevate the human spirit. Today, we are bombarded with visual assaults in the form of bland office parks, monotonous housing developments, and grotesque commercial buildings. These structures are not just eyesores; they are a reflection of a deeper malaise in our society—a loss of appreciation for beauty and a failure to recognize its importance in our daily lives. 

The FBI Building in Washington, D.C., is a great (or grotesque) example. Often criticized for its brutalist design, the J. Edgar Hoover Building is seen by many as a stark, severe fortress. Its heavy, concrete facade and lack of windows contribute to an oppressive atmosphere that contrasts sharply with the neoclassical beauty of nearby landmarks like the Capitol and the White House. Similarly, Boston City Hall is another example of truly awful architecture. Its drab, concrete design and lack of warmth make it a prime example of how architectural choices can impact public perception and interactions. 

The decline in the quality of written journalism further underscores this war on beauty. Once a profession full of thoughtful analyses and investigative reporting, the field of journalism has been overrun by clickbait headlines and shallow content designed to generate maximum online traffic with minimal intellectual engagement. This shift toward sensationalism and superficiality has eroded the public’s trust in the media and contributed to a culture of misinformation and cynicism. 

In place of nuanced discussions and in-depth reporting, we are left with a barrage of meaningless soundbites and fleeting trends. Take BuzzFeed, for example. Although it has produced some noteworthy investigative journalism, it is more widely known for its “listicles” and quizzes, which prioritize entertainment value over substantive reporting. Articles such as “27 Hilarious Dog Memes That Will Make You Laugh” exemplify this rather troubling, tiresome trend. Long gone are the days when investigative reporting by journalists like Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein reigned supreme. 

The music industry, too, has not been spared. Auto-tuned voices and formulaic beats dominate the airwaves, drowning out the creativity and authenticity that once defined the industry. The homogenization of popular music has created a cultural landscape where genuine talent and artistic expression are often overlooked in favor of marketability and mass appeal. This is not merely a matter of personal taste; it is indicative of a broader societal trend toward valuing superficiality over substance, ugliness over artistic beauty.

Philosophically, beauty has long been associated with truth, goodness, and harmony. The ancient Greeks understood this, believing that beauty was not merely about physical appearance but about a deeper connection to the world and each other. Beauty was seen as a reflection of the divine, a way to transcend the mundane and connect with something greater than ourselves. In 2024, however, it seems we have betrayed these ideals in favor of something more superficial and emptier, something that prioritizes shock value over substance.

The relentless pursuit of newness and novelty has led us to a point where we are more concerned with what is trending than with what is true. This shift in values is evident in every aspect of our culture, from the way we build our cities to the way we consume media and entertainment. We have lost sight of the importance of beauty as a guiding principle; and in doing so, we have lost a part of our humanity. We are uglier, both inside and out.

As is clear to see, this war on beauty is not just about aesthetics; it is about the soul of our society. It is about our ability to connect with each other and the world around us in a meaningful way. When we prioritize ugliness, whether in our bodies, our buildings, or our cultural products, we create a world that is less compassionate, less thoughtful, and less connected. We become more isolated, more cynical, and more disconnected from the things that truly matter.