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Body of Lies
- Beth Perry
- Apr 1
- 3 min read
From the moment we are born, we are shaped by the world around us. Society, the media, and even the people closest to us imprint ideas about beauty, success, and self-worth onto us before we’re even old enough to question them. These ideas become so ingrained that we mistake them for our own truths—when in reality, they were never ours to begin with.
For decades, the media has dictated what is considered beautiful. From airbrushed magazine covers to the rise of filters and cosmetic procedures, we have been fed a very narrow, highly edited version of reality. Before social media, it was Hollywood and fashion magazines setting impossible standards. Now, we carry these standards in our pockets, endlessly scrolling through curated perfection designed to make us feel like we’re not enough.
And why? Because insecurity is profitable. Industries thrive off our self-doubt. We are sold creams to reverse aging, diets to shrink us, makeup to “fix” us, and fashion to make us feel relevant. The underlying message is clear: who we are naturally is never quite enough.
Growing up, I attached my worth to my appearance. The better I looked, the more I believed I would be accepted, desired, and successful. Maybe it was because I struggled academically and felt overlooked in areas where I had talent. Maybe it was because the world reinforced the idea that beauty was a form of currency, especially for women. Whatever the reason, I spent years chasing an illusion—believing that if I could just reach this unattainable standard, I would finally feel whole. But the truth is, the goalpost always moves.
No matter how much we “improve” ourselves, there will always be a new trend, a new flaw to fix, another way to fall short.
It took time, but I started to wake up. I questioned where my beliefs about beauty and success actually came from. Were they mine, or were they something I had been conditioned to believe? As I unlearned these deeply embedded ideas, I began to see the bigger picture. The way we view ourselves isn’t just personal—it’s systemic. Social media algorithms manipulate what we see, playing on our insecurities to keep us engaged. Wealth and power dictate the narratives we consume. The more I questioned, the more I realized that so much of what I had accepted as “truth” was actually carefully crafted to benefit those in control.
The more we strip away ideas and beliefs that have been fed to us but don’t align with our core values, the more liberated and free we become. And the more free we become, the healthier we are—mentally, emotionally, and even physically. True self-acceptance isn’t just about rejecting unrealistic beauty standards.
It’s about reclaiming our ability to think critically, to challenge the stories we’ve been sold, and to redefine our own worth. It’s about stepping outside the system that profits from our self-doubt and deciding, once and for all, that we are enough—exactly as we are.
I’m still on this journey myself. But one thing I know for sure? The more we unlearn the lies, the closer we get to real freedom.
Check out my new limited edition print collection TENACIOUS—bright, energetic, and playful mixed media collages that carry a little backlash to the beauty industry and any narrative we hold in our bodies that isn’t true. This collection is all about reclaiming our power and celebrating who we really are.
Explore the collection now and reserve your print before it’s gone. Find out more here.
Beth x
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