Young Thais embrace diverse beauty standards, rejecting biases

In Thailand, many young people are changing how beauty is viewed. They are challenging the long-held belief that fair skin is the ideal. For years, dark skin has been linked to poverty and a low status in society. Media often portrays dark-skinned people in negative ways. Many celebrities have light skin, and advertisements for skin-whitening products are common. Phrases like “scared of dark skin” are still often heard. In Isaan, a region with many farmers, skin color is a way for the wealthy to look down on the poor. However, attitudes are shifting. The internet and new stars with darker skin are helping to drive this change. Young Thais are becoming more open-minded and are ready to challenge the views of older generations. Thai singer Rasmee emphasizes the importance of rejecting “someone else’s idea of perfection.”