The Hidden Cost of Beauty Standards: South Asian Women, Media, and Mental Health Struggles
We don’t often talk about it openly, but the truth is heavy and urgent: South Asian women are paying a devastating price for the beauty standards imposed by our media. The relentless celebration of fair skin and slim bodies is more than just a cultural preference—it’s a source of pain, shame, and silence for millions.
If you’ve ever felt invisible because your skin was “too dark” or your body “too big,” you know what I mean. This isn’t just about looks—it’s about mental health, identity, and the daily battle to feel worthy in a world that keeps redefining what “beautiful” means.
When the Mirror Lies: Media’s Role in Shaping Self-Worth
Turn on the TV or open a magazine, and the message is clear: if you don’t look a certain way, you don’t belong. South Asian media—be it Bollywood films, Indian and Pakistani dramas, or even digital content—has built an empire on these impossible standards.
Shows like Dhai Kilo Prem and Meri Bhavya Life have tried to challenge the narrative by putting plus-size women front and center. But the journey is complicated. Even when these shows highlight strength and resilience, the undercurrent is often about “changing” or “fighting against” one’s natural self to be accepted.
It begs the question: why do women have to change to be loved? Why can’t the story be about loving as is?
Bollywood and Pakistani Dramas: Glamour at What Cost?
Movies like Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani and Shaandaar flirt with progress but often get stuck reinforcing the same old scripts—fair skin is beauty, slim bodies are success. Shaandaar’s attempt to use humor around a plus-size heroine sometimes feels like laughing at rather than with her.
Pakistani dramas like Pyari Mona and Oye Moti bravely dive into the mental and emotional fallout. Mona’s story isn’t just about body size—it’s about fighting societal rejection, family pressure, and the crushing internal voice that tells her she’s not enough.
These aren’t just stories on screen—they’re lived realities for many women.
The Mental Health Toll: More Than Skin Deep
The damage goes beyond self-esteem. The relentless pressure to conform has sparked widespread anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and deep emotional scars. When media keeps selling one narrow ideal, it sends a crushing message: You’re not okay the way you are.
Young girls grow up terrified to be themselves, caught in a cycle of shame and self-doubt. Women face daily microaggressions and overt judgments. The emotional weight is exhausting—and often invisible.
We Need a Revolution in Representation
Representation isn’t just about ticking boxes or showing diversity superficially. It’s about telling stories that respect the full humanity of women—of every shade and shape. It’s about media that stops reinforcing pain and starts healing.
Shows like Meri Bhavya Life and Pyari Mona are sparks of change. They show us what’s possible when stories refuse to give in to stereotypes. But one show, one movie, or one drama isn’t enough. We need a flood of stories, characters, and voices that shatter these destructive molds.
To Every Woman Feeling Invisible…
You are seen. You are valued. You are beautiful beyond the standards forced upon you.
And to the storytellers, creators, and audiences—let’s demand better. Let’s refuse the harmful scripts and champion stories that empower and heal.
Because the true cost of beauty standards isn’t just on the surface. It’s inside the hearts and minds of women who deserve so much more.