Over the years, beauty standards have remained a constant topic of conversation, especially among Black women. Yet, these standards continue to shift, often leaning towards what feels unreachable for the majority of us. The scale is broken; what was once considered ideal has changed dramatically.

We have gone from size zero to slim curves to extra curvy, and now we are chasing after defined cheekbones, plump lips, and lighter skin, only to change our minds yet again. But throughout all these shifts, the beauty industry tirelessly pushes us to keep up, ensuring we remain hooked on this ever-evolving ideal.

As the beauty industry evolves, the pressure to conform intensifies, not just in the realm of face and figure, but even in the most private areas of our bodies. Take labiaplasty, for example, a procedure once celebrated for offering women the “Barbie vagina” by trimming and flattening women’s genitalia.