What Is Beauty? The True Meaning of Beauty in Life
- Thomas Smugala
- 21 hours ago
- 3 min read
Beauty is one of humanity’s oldest and most debated concepts. Leonardo da Vinci understood beauty as a harmony of nature, proportion, and expression. For him, it was not merely about outward appearance; it was deeply connected to mathematics, anatomy, light, and the inner life of the subject.
William Shakespeare often portrayed beauty as fleeting. In his sonnets, he suggested that physical beauty fades with time—like summer turning into winter—and proposed that it could be preserved either through children or immortalized through poetry. The famous twentieth-century dancer
Josephine Baker embraced a bold, political, and deeply personal vision of beauty. For her, beauty was rooted in confidence, freedom, and self-creation. It was something to claim for oneself, not something granted by society.
Beauty is subjective, fleeting and freeing!
Objectively, beauty can send signals of health, fertility, and fitness—things like attractive faces or landscapes. Our brains are wired to respond quickly and automatically to beauty, even before we become aware of what we are seeing. Yet beauty is also subjective—"in the eye of the beholder," as the old saying goes. I’ve read that one's version of beauty is shaped by culture, personal experience, and emotion, but for me, it's always been personal experience. What moves one person—a sunset, a face, a painting, a melody—may not touch another person at all.
...eight in ten women prioritize health—both physical and mental—over pure appearance...
To the average person, beauty extends far beyond flawless skin or a perfect figure—it's tied to feeling good rather than just looking good. Recent surveys show a clear shift: around eight in ten women prioritize health—both physical and mental—over pure appearance, with many agreeing that inner wellness radiates outward as true beauty.
Today, more Americans are embracing a natural look...
Today, more Americans are embracing a natural look, value kindness and happiness as attractive qualities, and view beauty as inclusive of diverse bodies, ages, and features. Increasingly, beauty is associated with authenticity—being the best version of oneself, imperfections included—rather than striving for unrealistic standards often amplified by social media.
What will the nieghbors say?
...Madison Sprenkel, and I’m the founder of Beauty With Grace...
My name is Madison Sprenkel, and I’m the founder of Beauty With Grace in Park Hills.
I fell in love with beauty at a young age thanks to my aunt Kate, who was always passionate about makeup. I was constantly around her—and her makeup—so I started experimenting on myself and quickly got hooked. Over time, I became really skilled at it!
While makeup was my passion, I always knew I wanted to pursue nursing. I earned my RN degree from Mineral Area College and still love my background in healthcare. Eventually, I found the perfect way to blend both worlds: using my medical knowledge and artistic eye to help people feel their most confident and beautiful.
Every day, I wake up excited to enhance my clients’ inner and outer beauty—whether that’s through bridal makeup, special-event glam, or just a confidence-boosting session.
A Little About My Life
I’m happily married to an incredible husband who teaches social studies at North County High School and coaches the varsity boys’ basketball team. We have a 9-month-old son named Cash, and we are completely obsessed with him! In addition to makeup artistry, I’m also a certified Hot Mat Pilates instructor.
In addition to makeup artistry, I’m also a certified Hot Mat Pilates instructor.
How Wedding & Event Bookings Work
Future brides (or anyone planning a big event) typically reach out with their wedding or event date. If I’m available, I’ll send over my contract and we’ll go from there. I take several factors into account when planning: the timeline (what time everyone needs to be ready), the location, the size of the wedding party, and any travel involved. For larger parties, my sister often joins me to help ensure everything runs smoothly and everyone gets the attention they deserve.
The Best Part of My Job
While I don’t have one single “hilarious disaster” story, the real magic happens in the connections I make. I develop genuine friendships with so many of my clients. We laugh, banter, and often end up crying from laughing so hard. Every session feels like catching up with friends—and that’s what makes it so special to me.
...and often end up crying from laughing so hard.
Get Out There! Create something. Learn something new. Put some makeup on. Start a business. Do something. Do anything. What one person can do, another can do. That sunken sofa will be fine without you.
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