A lot of the time, the beauty world makes us think that you need to wear specific clothes, makeup, and present yourself in a certain way in order to be considered beautiful. However, a Romanian photographer named Mihaela Noroc wanted to change that. She wanted to show just how different beauty is all over the world. Her goal was to help people realize that everyone is beautiful in their own way.
Reykjavik, Iceland
When someone talks about Iceland, the first thing that pops into your mind is most likely beautiful women. This picture is of a woman that was taken in the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik. It most definitely is what people expect.
Icelandic women are known for their blonde hair, pale skin, and clear blue eyes. They’re considered to be incredibly beautiful all around the world. Thorunn is a definite beauty. This woman is, of course, so much more than her appearance. She currently runs an online community that helps bring women together in Iceland.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
There’s a very good chance that you haven’t really given much thought to how life is in Mongolia. However, it might surprise you to know that women there have a very high quality of life.
They’re considered to be noble and part of high society. This allows them the chance to focus on their own goals and chase their dreams. This woman is seen wearing her traditional dress in the photo. She looks like she knows exactly what she wants in life. Not to mention, she obviously looks beautiful as well.
Kathmandu, Nepal
As we’ve already seen, women from Nepal are absolutely beautiful. This picture is of another woman from the same country. She has definitely proved that she is stunning in pretty much every way.
When the photographer came across this woman, she was talking to her little son in Nepalese. While she didn’t speak English, her son did. And so, the photographer asked him if she would be okay with having her picture taken. When the mother asked him why the photographer wanted her photo, the photographer replied: “Because she’s beautiful.”
Berlin, Germany
The world is so full of amazing women who display their diverse heritage each and every day. That’s certainly the case for this woman. While making her way around Berlin, Germany, the photographer stumbled across this beautiful young woman who happened to wear bright traditional clothing that showed off her heritage.
Since Anais has both French and Malian roots, this allowed her to feel like she’s a part of two very different communities. She also loves showing off her diverse heritage through her style and clothing.
Paris, France
Paris is one of the most popular cities in the world. It’s safe to say that it’s also full of amazing men and women who are looking for ways to change the world and make their mark on the planet.
One of those people is Imane. She loves rocking her natural red hair and her freckles. She has roots from both Europe and Africa, proving that you don’t have to conform to normal beauty standard to love yourself. She hopes to prove this point by opening up an art gallery of her own.
Wakhan Corridor, Afghanistan
For a long time now, Afghanistan has been run and dominated by men, and men alone. However, that doesn’t mean that there are no strong women trying to make their mark on the country at the same time.
With her stunning eyes, this woman from the Wakhan Corridor most definitely has some fight in her eyes. While she’s taking a break from working in the fields, she’s posing for the photographer who wants to show off another beautiful woman.
Bucharest, Romania
Lots of people find themselves in difficult circumstances that suddenly change their entire lives. Magda found herself in a situation just like that when she was involved in a car crash over ten years ago.
This accident meant that she will be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. However, she isn’t letting that get the better of her. Instead, she’s using her time to help put an end to the discrimination of those in wheelchairs and to give them more freedom and confidence.
Zurich, Switzerland
Do you ever walk down the street and marvel at the fact that there are so many incredibly beautiful people in the world? Well, that’s just what this photographer was doing as she made her way through Zurich Central Station. She couldn’t help but stop and stare when she came across these two sisters.
With their bright red hair, freckles, and bright blue eyes, they are the epitome of beauty. There’s no doubt about the fact that their appearance made people turn their heads as they walked by. Beauty is subjective, after all.
Omo Valley, Ethiopia
There’s a good chance that the country you live in requires people to wear clothes. It’s considered somewhat strange and inappropriate not to be in most of the world. However, this isn’t the case everywhere.
In Ethiopia, in the Omo Valley, there are several tribes who decided to beat the hot weather by simply taking their clothes off. This is also the case for the women of the Daasanach tribe. This woman, specifically, chooses to wear clothing. Of course, she looks stunning.
Havana, Cuba
If you’ve ever been to Havana or Cuba in general, you might know that some people there struggle with their place in society. This can be especially difficult for women. However, that’s not stopping some of the strongest and most beautiful women in the country.
With her intense stare, it’s clear to see that this breathtaking woman knows just what she wants and that she has her sights set on her future. Her future involves finished her education and becoming a fully-qualified nurse.
Nasir al-Mulk, Iran
Iran is a stunning country, and it’s safe to safe that the architecture is like nothing we’ve seen before. This photo proves it. It was taken in a traditional mosque that can be found in Shiraz. Those colors are so beautiful!
While the mosque itself is beautiful, there’s no denying that the woman is the main focus of the image. Her clothes are truly one-of-a-kind. Not to mention, her face is beautiful as well. It looks like she’s gazing into the distance and wondering how she can excel more in the future.
Korolyov, Russia
All across Russia, there are millions of women, and the is just one of the beauties that live there. Nastya calls Korolyov her home. The city is filled with large buildings, stores, and factories. In fact, this gorgeous woman owns her very own store.
When she isn’t posing for a photographer, she’s taking photos herself. Aside from taking passport pictures during her working hours, when she’s off, she dreams of becoming a landscape photographer.
San Francisco, USA
If you’ve ever been to San Francisco, you know how the place is beautiful, cultural, and diverse. While a lot of people think they know what people in San Francisco look like, it seems like that isn’t the case.
This woman is absolutely stunning. However, not many people would believe that she’s the typical beauty in this area. All the same, her red hair, freckles, and piercing blue eyes have allowed people to look at this picture in a new way.
Pokhara, Nepal
While Nepal might be far away from your own home, there’s no doubt about the fact that this picture perfectly captures the beauty of this Nepalese woman. The entire photo is so serene and peaceful.
In this country, women are known for having fair skin and incredible features. It’s safe to say that their intricate and delicate clothing brings out these qualities even more. You can clearly see this in the photo. This woman is making her way across Phewa Lake.
Baltic Sea, Finland
If you happen to have been in Finland, then you’ll know that’s one of the world leaders when it comes to gender equality. Men and women are treated in the same exact ways. Not to mention, they’re all given the same opportunities.
It’s no surprise that it’s also one of the happiest places to live in the world. We have a feeling this woman is very happy to be surrounded by the Baltic Sea. With the typical blonde hair and blue eyes, she is truly a vision of beauty.
Lisbon, Portugal
While each county has its origins that can be traced back hundreds of years, there’s no doubt that many countries are now diversifying more. This is probably thanks to the technology that allows people to travel further more easily.
This woman is a perfect example of that. While this photo was taken on the streets of Lisbon in Portugal, she has both Portuguese and Angolan heritage in her veins. This diversity created a beautiful young woman who clearly stands strong when anything happens to stand in her way.
Ethiopia
We live in such an incredible world, and while this woman’s beauty is obvious, it’s her personal life that shows the true beauty of those in Ethiopia. This woman’s best friend is one who follows a different religion than her.
Despite their different beliefs, the two have managed to overcome their differences and see each other for their personalities and beauty underneath. We can understand why she looks so content and beautiful with her natural hair and clothing.
Milan, Italy
People in Italy are known for their dark features, but that doesn’t mean they always have dark eyes. This mother and daughter duo definitely stand out with their stunning gray eyes. There’s no doubt about the fact that they’re related.
Caterina is on the right. She dreams of becoming a professional ballerina. On the left is her mother, Barbara, who is her biggest fan and supporter. We hope all her dreams will come true and she will become the dancer she always wanted to be.
Maramures, Romania
A lot of the women who live in Romania love focusing on their traditional roots. This is especially true when it comes to their traditional clothing. As you can see from this young woman, these outfits are not only comfortable, they’re bright and bold.
With a floral kerchief and an embroidered shirt, she looks gorgeous and strong in her outfit. She looks very confident and strong. There’s no doubt that she knows her true place in the world, which only makes her more attractive.
Amazon Rainforest
While you might not know many people who happen to live in the Amazon Rainforest, there’s no doubt that it’s full of men, women, and children who love living in the simplicity of the forest and being in nature.
The people live off the land and keep away from modern life. It’s even been said that women in the Amazon used to bath in the water under a full moon to keep them young. The women here also wear traditional clothing. This is an example of a woman’s wedding outfit.
Tbilisi, Georgia
There are plenty of people all around the world who need to work part-time jobs in order to fund their dreams. This beauty from Tbilisi is one of those people. The Gerogian native works in a coffee shop during her free time, but spends most of her time studying Law.
This is due to the fact that Natia dreams of becoming a lawyer or criminologist. She want to work for the biggest law enforcement agencies in the world one day. This picture was taken while she was on a break in the coffee shop she works at.
Jodhpur, India
If you’ve ever been to India, you might know that trains are crucial to the locals. Aside from transporting goods, the trains are also an important mode of transportation for millions of people all around the country.
When the photographer made her into a train station in Jodhpur, she couldn’t help taking this picture of this gorgeous woman. When the train was stopped, she even went up to the window to speak to her and learn a little about her life.
Medellin, Colombia
When thinking of women who come from Colombia, you might be thinking of women who spend a large amount of time making sure their hair, makeup, and outfits are as bright as they can get. However, it seems like that’s simply something the media wants us to believe.
This picture shows another side to the women who live in Medellin and focuses on a young woman. She has natural hair, makeup, and a totally natural persona. We hope that this will show people that stereotypes are not always correct.
Baku, Azerbaijan
The world is undoubtedly filled with incredibly strong women, and the photographer behind the camera was able to capture a lot of them in a beautiful and stunning setting. How gorgeous is this woman?
When the photographer made her way to Baku in Azerbaijan, she came across this woman named Fridan. As one of the many women in the country who’s fighting for gender equality, Fridan makes sure only to date men who respect her.
Timișoara, Romania
Plenty of women all over the world don’t get the chance to attend high school when growing up. However, this woman defeated all the odds and made it through high school. After that, she went through college as well!
With her cap and gown, she posed for the camera as she stood in front of her house in Timișoara, Romania. You can clearly see the determination in her eyes. She has her whole future ahead of her, so it’s no wonder she looks like she’s ready to take on the world.
Riga, Latvia
If you’ve ever visited Latvia, you must know just how stunning that country is. However, there’s no doubt that it isn’t as advanced in gender equality as other countries all over the world are nowadays.
Naturally, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any women in Latvia who are trying to change this. This beautiful woman is doing everything she can to make sure she can live a fruitful and independent life.
Myanmar
Coming from a tribe which is a sub-group of well-known Padaung, the women who wear those heavy brass rings around their necks are known as the “long-neck” or “giraffe tribe. This is a practice that is not only believed to make women more attractive, but it’s also a signifier of family wealth.
It might seem like a very painful experience to elongate the neck, but these brass rings simply create a visual illusion that makes the neck look longer than it actually is. All the same, those rings tend to be rather heavy.
Tehran, Iran
During the 20th and 21st centuries, plastic surgery has become a way for people all over the world to enhance their beauty. Not to mention, it allows them to improve features on their body that they don’t find attractive.
In Iran, women tend to flaunt nose jobs instead of hide them. They do this by wearing bandages longer than they would need for the procedure to fully heal. In fact, some women even wear bandages without getting a nose job in the first place.
Auckland, New Zealand
The Maori people from New Zealand are most known for their iconic chin tattoos. However, what isn’t as known is the fact that Maori women take part in this practice as well, not just the men.
The sacred tattoo tradition, known as Ta Moko, is used to show the person’s family and tribal affiliation. On top of that, it’s used to show their social status within their tribe. Each tattoo is different. What’s interesting is that women consider the lower lip tattoo to be a beauty enhancer since it makes the lips look more full.
Seoul, South Korea
Despite the fact that women in America will spend hours on the beach or in a tanning bed to get that bronze, tanned skin, women in South Korea and Asia avoid the sun at all costs. They do so to keep their skin as pale as possible.
It’s not uncommon to see women of all ages walking outside with huge “ajumma visors” to keep the sun from hitting their faces. Women also make sure to wear long sleeves, no matter what the temperature is outside.
India and Middle East
In India and all over the Middle East, the practice of decorating hands, arms and feet with temporary tattoos, aka Henna, is a way to enhance a woman’s beauty during special occasions. This means weddings and all kinds of festivals.
Aside from that, women tend to heavily accessorize along with their Henna by adding gorgeous jewelry. Anything from heavy earrings, nose rings, and more. While this tradition originated in those regions, Henna has since spread all over the world.
Marseille, France
France is considered to be one of the homes of modern style and beauty by many people, so it’s somewhat surprising that throughout a lot of the European country, a natural approach is the most appealing in terms of beauty.
This means that you’ll walk the streets of cities like Marseille and Paris and see beautiful women wearing high-end clothing. Yet, they will be wearing little to no makeup on their faces. It’s also common to have an approach for natural hair.
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
The entire country of Brazil is known for its beautiful women, and for good reason. One interesting thing about the women in Brazil is while other countries tend to focus on a slender figure for women, in Brazil, women are more prone to embrace their curvy figures.
It just so happens to be this that led to posterior implants to become as popular as they have. It’s meant for women who are less curvy naturally and want to seem more curvy to keep up with the common trends.
Sydney, Australia
Australia seems to be a country that simply loves being outside as a whole no matter what time of year. No one can really blame them with that incredible weather they have. We would do the same if it were us!
Because of that, it’s considered beautiful not only to have a natural look for women, but to be tan and athletic as well. With that said, women do take good care of their skin in Australia, making sure to practice good skin care to protect themselves from sun damage.
Moscow, Russia
While Russia may seem like a monoethnic place to westerners, it’s actually just as diverse of a country thanks to its massive size. It really shouldn’t be all that surprising considering the fact that the western borders are with Europe and the Eastern border is with Asia.
Because of that, there are many different beauty standards all throughout Russa. It’s commonly held that fair skin and lighter features like blue eyes are traditionally considered to be very attractive in major Russian cities.
Accra, Ghana
For better or worse, the standards of beauty have started blending and meld together now. This is thanks to the fact that different parts of the world and different cultures are interacting more and more.
It looks like western beauty standards have spread the most. With that said, the women of Ghana keep holding onto their own ideas of natural beauty. Unlike other parts of the world, Ghana still emphasizes fuller figures and associates skinniness with poverty and illness.
Lhasa, Tibet
Due to the difficult climate and high altitude of Tibet, beauty has been associate with pink treats for a long time now. In recent years, influence from China has only grown stronger and China’s beauty traits became more popular in Tibet.
All the same, it’s common to see women of all ages wearing the stunning traditional garb that Tibet in famous for. The floral and bright patterns are very reminiscent of China and their traditional clothing.
Barcelona, Spain
Being a coastal city, Barcelona has a lot more that European influence when it comes to culture and beauty standards. With that said, just like most of Spain, women with darker complexions are considered to be just as beautiful as women with fair complexions.
This woman proves just that while posing for a photo in front of a local fountain. Seeing her broad and happy smile, it’s clear that she’s very proud to be from Barcelona and having it be her home.
Denpasar, Bali
Bali in its entirety is incredibly ethnically and culturally diverse. As a result, the beauty standards are never the same. They constantly shift and change depending on who you are with and which part of the country you’re in.
It was considered perfectly normal for women to walk around topless in public traditionally. Their middle part of the body was considered to be “natural”. All the same, in recent years, national pressures have led women to cover up in new ways that are more common in other places around the world.
Antigua, Guatemala
Just like other countries in Central and South America, it was traditionally considered more attractive to have much lighter skin rather than dark skin. It’s so interesting to see how beauty standards differ from place to place.
This is mainly due to the influence from European nations like Spain. With that said, recently, just like in other parts of the world, woman have started reclaiming natural beauty in interesting ways. This woman not only looks like she’s proud of her natural skin color, she’s also showing off her gorgeous eye color.
Mexico City, Mexico
While this definitely isn’t this woman’s every day outfit or makeup, it’s undoubtedly hauntingly beautiful. This young woman in the photo is getting her makeup done for the Catrinas Parade. It’s part of the famous national holiday, El Dia De Muertos.
These celebrations have combined Catholic traditions with indigenous traditions. It was once an intimate celebration among families. However, in recent years, it’s become a more public celebration. There are now parties, parades, and more that are held each year.
Budapest, Hungary
Hungary happens to be located right in the middle of many different cultural regions. Wedged between the Meditteranean, Europe, and the Middle East, there are so many cultures influencing Hungary. This has been the case for centuries now.
Because of this, the beauty standard in the country will differ according to location. In Budapest, women have started taking beauty standard into their own hands. They prefer a more modern and professional look.
Tokyo, Japan
One interesting procedure that young women do to themselves in Japan sometimes in known as “Yaeab”. In English, it means “double tooth”. The procedure essentially gives the patient a snaggle tooth.
The woman with the new tooth ends up looking more innocent and youthful. While it’s not completely pervasive in Japanese culture, it sure is a fascinating thing. We wonder how this tradition came about.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
One new addition to the idea of beauty in the Netherlands has been Extraocular implants. The procedure was developed in the Netherlands as well. It’s achieved through a process in which a trained ophthalmologist implants a small piece of platinum that’s molded into the shape of the person’s eye.
It turns out that this beauty trend is so specific in the Netherlands that it’s the only place in the world where the procedure is a legal thing to do. Would you ever want to go through with a procedure like this?
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles is most definitely a city which is known for its beautiful and insanely rich celebrities. So, it’s not surprising that LA has some very extreme standards when it comes to beauty and aesthetics.
Lately, it’s become not only a sign of beauty, but also affluence, to go through less intrusive plastic surgery. These cosmetic procedures include getting lip fillers, injecting Botox into the face, and more. While these procedures can sometimes look natural, there are many times where they look very much unnatural.
Cluj, Romania
Although many parts of Romania still consider the traditional garb and style to be the most beautiful, that isn’t the case for everyone. In fact, the younger generations of Romanian women are entering adulthood with an emphasis on modernity and simplicity.
This woman in the photo seems to mainly focus on comfort, proudly wearing her hair down in its natural state. She looks proud with her confident stance, making it clear that her idea of beauty is her own.
Salvador, Brazil
All over Brazil, cultures and ethnicities have been blending and getting mixed for hundreds of years now. This gorgeous group of ladies dance, sing, and perform proudly as members of the musical group names Ganhadeiras de Itapuã.
They’re dressed in traditional garb and use their music to celebrate the traditions they hold in their small community. This small group was actually invited to perform in the 2016 Olympics closing ceremony! Thanks to that, they’ve gained a good amount of fame within their country.
Israel
While enlisting in the army is traditionally something that is considered for young men, women in the Middle Eastern country, Israel, are also obligated to take part in the armed forces. Clearly, these women are proud to be a part of that!
Thanks to this, it’s become somewhat of an international tradition to see beautiful Israeli women dressed up in their standard military uniform. The truth is, it’s very common to see army soldiers while walking down the streets in this country.
North America
All across the North American continent, Native American women have recently reclaimed their culture’s traditional ideas of beauty. It’s incredible to see traditions that go way back thrive in today’s society.
While people who don’t have much knowledge on the topic tend to group Native American people together, the truth is that the cultures and beauty standards are very diverse throughout the continent. With that said, long hair and incredible ornamental decorations are very common with Native American women.
Dhaka, Bangladesh
As countries all over the world continue becoming more and more modern, equality is slowly making progress as well. As a result, the standard of beauty changes as well. In this picture, a beautiful Bangladeshi woman can be seen posing proudly in her police uniform.
It used to be such a rare sight to see a women become a police officer, not just in Bangladesh, but all over the world. Now, it’s become a common occurrence. So much so that most people don’t think twice about it.
Andalusia, Spain
In the past, Flamenco dancing used to be known as footwork that would only be able to be achieved by male dancers. That is, until one great-granddaughter decided to go ahead and prove them all wrong.
Carmen Amaya has been called the human tornado for her incredible speed. Now, her great-granddaughter has taken over this intricate art form in memory of her great-grandmother. She has perfected the dance to continue tradition as well as remind all women that they can do it.
Oslo, Norway
Norweigan women have one very old tradition that they’re known for. They wear a bunad even to this day. Each year on the National Day of Norway, women all over the country wear the bunad to celebrate it and remember their grandmothers and great-grandmothers who’ve given their bunad too their granddaughters.
Some women, like the one we see in this beautiful image, never quite understood the idea of wearing a bunad. That is, until they gave it a try themselves. She ended up loving it so much that she started wearing it every year.
Portugal
Oftentimes, women aren’t given enough credit for just how strong and powerful they are. The woman in this picture is one of the best examples of a person who went on to prove the entire world wrong.
She took all the sadness and trauma that she has suffered through as a little girl who lost her father to depression and wanted to understand it. She wanted to know the reasons behind such a condition so she could help others who are going through the same thing.
Valencia, Spain
An annual springtime festival in Spain, Las Fallas de Valencia is widely known all around the world for the traditional costumes the young and old wear. Not to mention, the art and the ceremony of offering flowers to the Virgin Mary.
These breathtaking dresses are made of silk that was imported to China. Each one can be worth as much as $17,000, if not more. These women are named Falleras during the celebration and the festival.
Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
Cox’s Bazar beach is in a town that’s on the southeast coast of Bangladesh. It’s mostly known for its very long and sandy beach. There, all the men and women go and float in the water and bathe with all their clothes on.
Traditionally, women in Bangladesh wear dresses called Shari. They also have a love for water and enjoy spending as much time as possible at the beach, even if it’s their workplace, like being a lifeguard.
Dublin, Ireland
Women’s resilience in Ireland is so incredible. It truly looks like everything they do simply comes natural to them. Ireland’s theatrical show, Riverdance, has brought Irish dancing into the mainstream world.
There’s no doubt that the dancers have proven that Irish women have confidence through all the years they’ve put in to perfect their incredible dancing techniques. Riverdance is known for its ballet influence and beautiful costumes. However, it only gained its popularity after dancing on Eurovision.
Dushanbe, Tajikistan
In Tajikistabm it’s still considered beautiful to wear traditional dresses. As a matter of fact, natural features like bushy eyebrows are considered to be very beautiful both among men and women in this country.
While things are beginning to change as Tajikistan continues on its modernizing journey, it’s still very common to see women proudly sporting natural unibrows. One superstition actually claims that the closer your eyebrows are to each other, the closer your husband will be!
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Because of the relatively restrictive dress requirements for women in Saudi Arabia, women tend to focus more on the eyes and their makeup. This is their way of expressing themselves and their individual beauty.
Women in Saudi Arabia spend a lot of time and money perfecting their eyes and their faces in gereal. A lot of the time, that includes extensive makeup to make their features really stand out. As we can see in this photo, it cane be really impressive.
Delphi, Greece
While this woman is wearing clothing that is typically considered to be more modern, she happily dressed up. She put on her beautiful and ornamental traditional Greek Orthodox outfit in honor of celebrating Easter.
There’s no doubt that the mixture of the colors and textures along with the ornamental black headdress complete a very eye-catching look. Not to mention, the gold tassels make it very impressive. Of course, we’re sure this woman looks great in modern clothing as well. We all know that Greek women are famously beautiful.
Chichicastenango, Guatemala
Lots of people often think that as you get older, you lose your beauty. However, there are others who believe that this simply isn’t true. This elderly woman from Chichicastenango, Guatemala proves just that.
While she’s carrying a large burden of goods and everyday items right on her head, that doesn’t hold her back from wearing her brightest clothes. Not to mention, showing off her gorgeous smile on camera. Her beauty is absolutely radiant.
Istanbul, Turkey
Turkey is one country that is full of culture and beauty. Pinar is the epitome of this. She’s someone who doesn’t conform to the everyday beauty standards of the world. Pinar is a theater actress who lives by her own rules, and her looks make her happy and confident.
As someone who loves playing all kinds of different characters and taking on various personas, she gets to utilize her free-spiritdness to mix up her appearance and change things up. On a day off, she went for this stunning look.
Nampan, Myanmar
It’s a known fact that beauty has no limits. What one person might find beautiful is something that others may find even more breathtaking. We think that plenty of people from all over the world will find this woman from Nampan to be beautiful. Her smile is so genuine and tender.
Even though men have dominated the country for the most part, that hasn’t stopped this woman from becoming independent and doing her own thing. She’s definitely proved to everyone around her that she is strong, happy, confident, and beautiful.
Cuenca, Ecuador
When you get hungry and fo out looking for something to eat at the nearest food stall or market, pay attention when you buy food. While doing this, see if you notice the person you’re paying behind the counter.
When this photographer made her way to Cuenca in Ecuador, she was immediately pulled in. The beauty and motherly appearance of this woman absolutely charmed her. The photographer saw a tenderness in the woman’s eyes. She knew she had to take her picture.
Nairobi, Kenya
Females in the Masai tribe are famous for their practice of wearing very heavy jewelry that’s made of stones or even elephant tusks. They do so in order to stretch their earlobes over time. They consider it attractive.
As time passes, the woman’s statute in the tribe – as well as some other tribes around Africa – gets higher and improved. This is based on how long their earlobes have become. In order to bring more attention to the stretched earlobes, women wear brightly colored and ornamental earrings.
Africa and South America
Interestingly enough, lip stretching has become a tradition in some parts of Africa and South America. The Mursi or Suri women in Ethiopia practice lip stretching. They do so to signify that they have reached child-bearing age.
The process begins by removing the two front teeth on the bottom jaw and piercing a hole in the lower lip. With time, the hole gets stretched out. The larger the disk becomes, the greater the beauty. This is due to the fact that it’s a sign of maturity among the tribe.
Kolkata, India
India is a very diverse and culturally rich country. In fact, it has hundreds of different languages that are spoken throughout the country. Can you imagine any other countries that are split by many languages?
Since a recent wish she made had been fulfilled, this gorgeous older woman is happily carrying a jug filled with water from a local river. She’s taking it to a nearby temple. She definitely proves that no matter what age, people can be beautiful.
Nouakchott, Mauritania
While this tradition has started to fall by the wayside in the more recent generations, it’s still considered to be very attractive to many people in Mauritania, Africa for women to be overweight.
While this used to be the case in many parts of the world, it has since become less popular. The reason being overweight was considered to be attractive was due to the fact that it was a sign of wealth. Since people who were wealthy were the only ones who could afford to eat large amounts.
Ethiopia
In many parts of the world, we see people who just want to hide and conceal their scars, especially if they’re on the face. However, that isn’t the case when it comes to the Karo tribe in Ethiopia.
This tribe practices something that’s known as scarification. Scars are methodically applied to the face and body. It’s considered to be a form of body art and is usually used to indicate a rite of passage into adulthood.
Indonesia
In some tribes in Indonesia, it’s considered customary and beautiful for women to go through a process known as teeth chiseling. This process has women file down their teeth until they’re sharp and pointed. Interestingly, this procedure is said to be incredibly painful.
Despite it all, it’s not a common practice to use any kind of pain-numbing or anesthesia before starting the process. This is one example of just how unique human culture can become in all kinds of different places.
Arunachal Pradesh, India
Women from the Indian tribe, Apatani, have been known for a long time for having large plugs inserted into the sides of both of their nostrils. The legend behind this custom is absolutely fascinating.
Legend says that Apatani women were once the most beautiful in all of India. As a result, men of neighboring tribes would steal them to take them as brides. In an attempt to make themselves less beautiful, the women started decorating their noses with this jewelry and this custom stuck.