15 Weirdest Beauty Standards Around The World

Summary

This script explores shocking beauty rituals and standards from around the world. It delves into the Wadaby tribe's male beauty pageants, the Longhorn and Padang tribes' headdresses, Ethiopian fat men's reverence, and the Ohagoro tradition of black teeth in Japan. It also touches on the Himba tribe's dreadlocks, the Myla tribe's manure-styling, and the Yaiba teeth trend in Japan. Historical practices like China's Lotus foot and the Brazilian Zoe tribe's lip plates are also highlighted, showcasing diverse cultural beauty norms.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The Wadaby tribe has a unique beauty standard where men compete in beauty pageants, wearing makeup and dressing up to impress women judges.
• 🎭 In the longhorn tribe, women wear a six-kilogram headdress made from the hair of their ancestors, symbolizing beauty and tradition.
• 🏆 The Ethiopian tribe reveres fat men as heroes, with a competition where participants consume large quantities of cow's milk mixed with blood to gain weight.
• 🦒 The Padang tribe's women are known for their long necks, achieved by wearing heavy brass necklaces from a young age, which can cause physical strain.
• 🦷 Followers of the Ohaguro tradition in Japan value blackened teeth as a sign of beauty, a practice once exclusive to the aristocracy.
• 🐋 The Montawai tribe considers a shark-like mouth with sharp teeth as a beauty standard, with rituals to sharpen human teeth.
• 🌾 Himba tribe women in Namibia are known for their unique dreadlocks made with ochre paste, which also serves as a skin protectant.
• 🐄 The Myla tribe uses cow dung as a hair styling agent, incorporating it into their hair along with crushed red stones and other natural materials.
• 🦷 In Japan, some people opt for 'yaiba' or crooked teeth as a beauty trend, which is seen as making them appear younger and more cat-like.
• 🌷 The Apatani tribe in India uses yapping plugs in their nostrils and face tattoos as a form of beauty, which also served as a protective measure against abduction.
• 💐 The Bracpa community in India adorns their heads with fresh flowers daily, regardless of gender, as a part of their daily attire and cultural practice.

Q & A

What is unique about the Wadaby tribe's beauty pageant?

The Wadaby tribe's beauty pageant is unique because it is a male beauty contest where men wear makeup and dress up to impress the female judges. The winner gets to choose an unlimited number of women to live with for the following month.

Why do the women of the Longhorn tribe wear a heavy headdress?

The women of the Longhorn tribe wear a six-kilogram headdress made from the hair of their ancestors to meet the beauty standards of their people. The headdress is a symbol of heritage and is created by adding woolen threads and linen to the hair and wrapping it around animal horns or a wooden clip.

What is the significance of the Ethiopian tribe's fat men and their isolation ritual?

In the Ethiopian tribe, fat men are revered as heroes. They must isolate themselves in a hut for six months, consuming only fresh cow's milk mixed with blood to increase their girth. The winner of this competition is honored throughout his life and is highly sought after by women in the tribe.

How do the Padang tribe women achieve their long necks?

The Padang tribe women wear a special brass necklace from the age of 5 to 9 and continue to add rings to it. By the age of 45, they may wear up to 15 kilograms of tin around their necks, which causes their shoulders to drop and their muscles to atrophy, making it difficult to hold their heads up.

Why do followers of the Ohagoro tradition in Japan have blackened teeth?

The Ohagoro tradition involves blackening teeth as a sign of beauty and wealth. It originated centuries ago when only aristocrats could afford the practice. Modern geishas and fashionistas from Myanmar continue this tradition to achieve an unusual beauty standard.

What is the significance of a shark-like mouth with sharp teeth in the Montawai tribe?

In the Montawai tribe, a shark-like mouth with sharp teeth is considered a beauty standard. The more influential a man is, the more beautiful his wife's teeth should be, leading to a ritual of sharpening or chiseling human teeth.

Why do the Himba tribe women not bathe for months?

The Himba tribe women do not bathe for months to preserve their hair. They make their famous dreadlocks from a paste made of ochre, clay, milk, vegetable oils, and goat hair. The paste is also applied to their bodies to give the skin a shiny red tint and protect it from burns, insect bites, and as a soap.

What is the unusual hair styling practice of the Myla tribe girls?

The Myla tribe girls style their hair with manure. They dye their hair using crushed red stones and secure the hair with a mixture of cow dung, tree bark, oil, and herbs for aroma. They also use pieces of food as decorations for their dreadlocks.

Why do some Japanese people prefer crooked 'yaiba' teeth?

Some Japanese people prefer 'yaiba' teeth because they believe that imperfect teeth make individuals look younger and childlike. This preference has led to a trend where people with straight teeth may choose to have them fixed to appear more like fangs.

What was the significance of the 'lotus foot' in Chinese history?

The 'lotus foot' was a deformed foot considered extremely attractive in Chinese history. It was achieved by tightly wrapping a girl's toes except for the big one to the heel from a young age, causing the bones to deform. This practice was considered a beauty standard and was banned only in 1949.

Why do members of the Brazilian Zoe tribe pierce their lips and insert a wooden stick?

Members of the Brazilian Zoe tribe pierce their lips and insert a wooden stick called an ember pot as a form of decoration. This practice, along with adorning themselves with feathers and Brazil nuts, is part of their cultural beauty standards.

What is the significance of wearing fresh flowers in the Apatani tribe in India?

In the Apatani tribe, wearing fresh flowers is a daily practice and a part of their beauty standard. Both men and women adorn their hair with flowers, with men wearing them as part of a headdress and women weaving them into their braids.