She just wants to be beautiful
She goes unnoticed, she knows no limits
She craves attention, she praises an image
She prays to be sculpted by the sculptor
Oh, she don’t see the light that’s shining
Deeper than the eyes can find it
Maybe we have made her blind
So she tries to cover up her pain and cut her woes away
‘Cause cover girls don’t cry after their face is made
But there’s a hope that’s waiting for you in the dark
You should know you’re beautiful just the way you are
And you don’t have to change a thing, the world could change its heart
No scars to your beautiful, we’re stars and we’re beautiful
Oh-oh, oh-oh
And you don’t have to change a thing, yhe world could change its heart
No scars to your beautiful, we’re stars and we’re beautiful
She has dreams to be an envy, so she’s starving
You know, covergirls eat nothing
She says beauty is pain and there’s beauty in everything
What’s a little bit of hunger?
I could go a little while longer, she fades away
She don’t see her perfect, she don’t understand she’s worth it
Or that beauty goes deeper than the surface
Oh, oh
So to all the girls that’s hurting
Let me be your mirror, help you see a little bit clearer
The light that shines within
There’s a hope that’s waiting for you in the dark
You should know you’re beautiful just the way you are
And you don’t have to change a thing, the world could change its heart
No scars to your beautiful, we’re stars and we’re beautiful
Oh-oh, oh-oh
And you don’t have to change a thing, the world could change its heart
No scars to your beautiful, we’re stars and we’re beautiful
No better you than the you that you are (no better you than the you that you are)
No better life than the life we’re living (no better life than the life we’re living)
No better time for your shine, you’re a star (no better time for your shine, you’re a star)
Oh, you’re beautiful, oh, you’re beautiful
And there’s a hope that’s waiting for you in the dark
You should know you’re beautiful just the way you are
And you don’t have to change a thing, the world could change its heart
No scars to your beautiful, we’re stars and we’re beautiful
Oh-oh, oh-oh
And you don’t have to change a thing, the world could change its heart
No scars to your beautiful, we’re stars and we’re beautiful
“Scars to Your Beautiful”, Alessia Cara
There is much conflict about the way people all around the world see beauty. Women should not have body hair, men must be muscular, girls can’t be strong? There is this thing called perfection but it should be called fear. We fear that people will judge, look at us differently or we won’t accept ourselves even. So if fear doesn’t exist because its just the thoughts in our own heads then perfection can’t exist. Perfection is this perceived goal that we have to reach, thats when we will look beautiful or pretty or handsome but you cannot reach a goal of something that doesn’t even exist.
Alessia Cara’s song “Scars to Your Beautiful” delivers a powerful message about self-acceptance. The song is directed at females as she describes the desire of a girl who wants to be beautiful but she already is, she just does not see it. Alessia Cara feels that both men and women are directly and indirectly told they should be unhappy about the way they look and feel. She feels that there is such a problem with the standards of beauty in the modern world and I personally relate with her. Beauty comes in more then one size, shape, colour and look. People should recognise that each and everyone of us has this small spark of beauty that is lit from the inside out. Forms of beauty are endless, that is something that everyone should know.
“Scars” is a metaphor for the imperfections that we each all have, but it is those things that are part of our beauty and should not be encouraged to be hidden. In our heads we have instilled this idea that everyone will look and stare at the flaws and only think of us as that tiny scar on her face or the way his teeth aren’t quite straight. This song contradicts this idea and is telling us that “you don’t have to change a thing, the world has to change its heart”. Everything that you have should be allowed to be on show. If you change for the world then the world will have satisfactory but its you that needs to be satisfied. Being yourself is the best kind of you. I remember when I was younger, about ten, I had something wrong with my eyes so I eventually got a pair of glasses. Suddenly wearing glasses is a big change for a young girl and a change for all the people around her. I was called “Harry Potter, “four-eyes” and all these other weird names. I know name calling can’t physically hurt me but I began to think that I was ugly or that I was unusually different to all the other kids in my class. This just couldn’t be the case, it was the start of me having something unique. Of course lots of people have glasses but it was me that had to wear them this time. The world around me just had to get used to it. Six years on people now tell me how I suit glasses or that I look different with them on or off but in a good way. It is something that makes me who I am.
If anyone ever tells me they are not unique I will completely disagree. Obviously we all have different biological make ups. You know half mum, half dad, a possible 8 million plus arrangement of chromosomes but I am not really referring to that. No one ever really tells you that you have a nice smile or your laughter is cute or the way you have an old soul. The little things count. I personally believe that others should recognise those small things because it shows that person how unique they are. If we appreciate our uniqueness, we appreciate real, true beauty. Imagine if every single person was the same. How could we love anyone else if we were constantly surrounded by what seemed like a clone of yourself. People will always have a funny story to go with that cheeky smile or this hidden sense of humour. Because what is behind those silly little unique quirks are the personalities and stories of someone who is human, who is true and real, who is beautiful. “No scars to your beautiful. We’re stars and we’re beautiful.
I am passionate about this topic of beauty and the way the world consistently tells us that we should be unhappy with ourselves both directly and indirectly. A song like this will have touched many people’s hearts and minds to challenge this change, of the way we portray and show beauty. “Let me be your mirror, help you see a little bit clearer”, Alessia says this in her song and I feel that she is that mirror to many people. It is the idea of a “mirror” or a role model to show us clearly how the world can be. We can be who we are and we should be able to do that carefree. Words can show us the world through another’s eyes, which can change our own perceptions of things for the better.

Join the conversation! 1 Comment

  1. A good response, Madi. Lots of personal involvement and reflection of specific quotations in the text – Well done.

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2.9 Personal Responses, Writing