WOW. 'I don't have to be pretty, I don't owe that to anyone'. I have NEVER heard that. That's amazing. Awesome. Freeing. Also, your hair is ADORABLE.

It's hard raising a black child in today's society. Even when we aren't being physically assaulted, there's still plenty of mental anguish. How do you cope when media portrays you as ugly? Even if you have the best parents and the best home life, you can't live at home. You have to go out into the world with all its perceptions and assumptions

Our own beauty is definitely sufficient! 👋🏾

Watching this while I do my wash and go! Rocking the fro!

This woman is so pretty though 😍😍

she's right. don't let companies make us believe we're only beautiful if we buy their products (diet food, skin & hair products, etc). Relax and be yourself world x

black is beautiful ! not only Africans but indians too

this is so important for black gals out there

"You have the choice to be your own beauty. So I am asking you to choose wisely and love yourself"

Beautifully said. I grew up in Tanzania and I am glad that I was never and I am never bothered with the world definition of beauty. Living in Europe for 10years now, forever I am proud to stay natural and when my European friend want to touch my hair I tell them go a heard and feel the beauty of it. They are all amazed how much I change my hair styles and this is just because I can do anything with my natural hair. Though it takes a lot of time but after watching many videos on KZfaq it becomes easier. A revolution of protecting african hair is just taking place.

The first thing I said when I saw her appear on the stage is that "she's beautiful". So beauty to me is really geometry. I see beautiful women in all races, all shades, and all complexions. They have certain similar facial structures that are appealing to the eye. Having white skin does not equal beauty.

I live in Japan and the google search in English for beautiful women is the exact same ..such a shame

"Wind-defying hair"!! I love this description!!

I'm in Canada, did the search and it's the same results. I loved this talk, as a black woman who only became apart of the natural movement two weeks ago it's very inspiring. I'm practicing until I believe. Thanks Amber Starks!

Im glad you spoke. When I was 13, I was afraid to look in the mirror. I didn't want to be white. I wanted to look like aaliyah. lol. Sometimes I wonder who says that an angular or symmetrical face is typically white. I still think aaliyah is really pretty. I wanted to look like her but its beautiful when you love the skin you are in. Its a beautiful place to be.

I had problems with being dark skin and my hair. When I was really young I didn't really think about beauty or complexions I thought all girls were pretty it wasn't until I got older that I realized that I wasn't "pretty" I always saw light skin girls with long hair being praised when I was in elementary school I would compare my complexion to ha girl in my class all the time because everyone thought she was pretty and I wanted to be like her I even searched for methods to lighten my skin what child does that? I never really thought I was ugly until I saw what other people thought was pretty and realized I didn't look like it. It took a while but I can finally say that I love my blackness my dark skin and curly hair it's one of the few things I can say I 100% think is beautiful I mean I have my days where I think I'm ugly but not for the odd things I can't change the way I did before like my dark skin don't know if anyone will read this but if you do this is my story much love❤️

even though I am not someone with dark skin person I HATE the fact that people think that light eyes , straight hair ,and perfect body means "beautiful" because it doesnt you are beautiful no matter what race you are

This Ted talk literally gave me life!!! Being a natural women I totally agree with you on how you felt when you were younger, it also excites me when I see African American baby dolls and don't get me started on princess Tiana! Your an inspiration Hun.

I do agree that white beauty is the standard in society. I agree that such notions should be challenged and changed. Black girls will internalise these messages of lighter skin equals better skin etc and it sticks with them for life. Black girls buying beauty products to lighten their skin which can lead to all kinds of problems, so I agree beauty should be defined through diversity. People should have an open mind to issues such as colourism. It is hard for some white people to grasp because they have never experienced such prejudice based on their skin colour so they will be more likely to want the white beauty standard to stay because I is what they prefer.

Beautiful speech! Very uplifting.

That was an awesome talk. I love that it was presented in a way that can be applied to any and everyone. Using the natural hair movement as a model, she demonstrates how all human beings can create and become their own standard of beauty. The validation of others is not required. Way to go!

How many people paused to do the search for beautiful women? i just did and that is SAD.I GOT THE SAME RESULTS.

I only owe being *beautiful* to MYSELF! The only thing I can relate to her on is wanting the long flowing STRAIGHT hair! As a kid, my mother says my request was for 'soggy' hair lol. I had long hair but it was not straight and I damaged it trying to keep it straight ugh lol. Now I'm natural and learning to embrace my natural beauty :)

thank you Amber for a courageous mindful talk , it`s time we see diversity as a virtue .

This is so sad I never wanted to be anything other than black and I credit my family for making a choice to always buy me black dolls I grew up in the 70 s and my family would go this black hair store and buy me black dolls and even black barbie later on so I never wanted to be anything other than BLACK ever.

I never understood why some black women don't like their natural hair. I would love that kind of volume and it's so luxurious.

I love her enthusiasm, good humour and practical good sense

This video, is "simply beautiful" !

Great talk. Representation Matters

I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS SO MUCH

This was very powerful and almost a relief to listen to. I'm fed up of these flawless skinned pictures we're surrounded by and the fact you need to be bald everywhere expect your head and polished at all times. I wish that one day soon I can stop worrying about how perfect am I.

This hurt and healed at the same time. She is beautiful physically, mentally, and spiritually. I always balked at these kind of speeches, but she really has a way of relaying her point so well. I feel for that little girl that wanted to be beautiful, but wasn't given a path to being so. As a white dude, I get it because of this talk. Thanks, and let's all work toward love and acceptance.

Real talk that every Black woman can relate to.

love her voice love her spirit love her talk

This girl is the best!

I love this ted-talk and I love those dolls I wish I had that when I was a kid.

The Modern European (not white, white is a caste, not a skin tone) is a forced idea of beauty as the media deliberately show images of obese, loud women to make it seem as though the original woman is not beautiful because the true contrast of the (average gorgeous, God given hour glass figure, beautiful & natural thick lips, high check bones, chocolate skin, mitochondria DNA replica hair) is the most desired imitated woman on the planet. -Kim Kardashian (famous for surgery, lips, etc. to look like a black-a-Moor woman) -Jennifer Lopez (famous for having a butt like a black-a-Moor woman) -Margot Robbie (famous for looking like a Modern European Grace Jones) -Angelina Jolie (famous for having the facial features of a black-a-Moor woman) Modern European along with other ethnicities all over the world are having surgery to have the God-given features of the aboriginal black-a-Moor woman: lip injections, cheek implants, butt implants, butt padded pants corsets pushing their insides up into their throats trying to achieve our God-given hour glass figure. So without the psychological warfare, who is TRULY the STANDARD OF BEAUTY ON THE PLANET. WAKE UP! If they didn't tear down your image, they could not compete.

I follow "the standard of beauty": Im white and skinny, I have lights eyes and hair, Im pretty tall. But I've always been told I was ugly; by people at my school, by friends, even by some people in my family. So now, even though Im supposed to be gratefull and happy about my looks I feel ugly af. Not always beauty has to do with standards

I got the same image results from South Africa. How sad.

See I have blond, straight hair and I have always dreamed of black curly hair! I love your hair Amber Stark! But I am happy with myself now :) I am beautiful just the way I am and nobody can take that away from me!

She is beautiful and so is her hair.

My favorite ted talk of all time

I love everything she said in this video. I have to be honest though. Even though I agree with what she said. It is easier said then done. When you live in a work space where you are defined by your looks, or looks play a part. There is more pressure to get as close to that standard of beauty as possible. It sucks but its true. Sometimes you can only associate with a certain caliber of people based on your looks.

I decided to do locs but looking at this beautiful woman really makes me want a big puff of hair.

I am not black, I am white. I am a fourteen year old girl, and although I'm white I still feel a lot of insecurities based on standards. My features in general are not considered beautiful in magazines. Small lips, weird nose, very deep set eyes, acne prone skin. I did not see these things portrayed as beautiful in society. So I can relate to this very much..

This gives me so much life

Choose wisely on how I will love myself...Hmmm..I love that

Love this segment... And I love the comment that was made regarding prettiness

Am African who is not very dark but I remember being young I asked my mom why I wasn't darker like my mom but light skinned like daddy . My brother was dark so I hated being lighter. My mom would tell me that this would change as I grew up

That was so awesome . Just loved 😊❤

Thank you thank you. I am doing my journey and this is a talk for me at this time.

Beauty....like fields and gardens....diverse and gorgeous! Thank you Amber for speaking out so eloquently.

Wow this is amazing. I was writing a speech just like this one and I am so glad that I found yours !!!!!! It was really amazing n I absolutely love this because yes we are beautiful and full of life and no standard should be able to tell us we can’t be our own beautiful and this goes for everyone

Such beautiful words. Thank you so much.

When I was around 4 I always wanted to be blond and to have tan skin Because I was as pale as snow-white when I was 8 than did I stop caring about wanting to be blond . 4 years later now I start focusing on things that I can make beauiful .

great TED talk..!!

This talk gave me LIFE! #TrueBeauty

Such an important video. Thanks for adding this to the world!

This is truly beautiful

This is excellent!

I got the same google results and I live in Jamaica! Wth. Who create these algorithms for the google search engine. It should be sensitive to location and country IMHO lol.

Why are all the disney characters still white? I challenge disney to see what would happen if they include more diversity in their "beautiful" characters. I think it would lead to much more tolerance and acceptance, especially if they advertise it in their doll commercials and lunchboxes. And it's not just disney. It's all of its competitors, model contractors, porn producers, and even tv producers. Even when there is diversity in tv shows, the minorities are often there as a token, and they don't have a main role. What we need do from a politics standpoint to solve this is truly try to integrate our schools. When people learn together, particularly do group projects together, they get rid of their biases and become more tolerant and accepting. We need to make all of the public schools in the country provide the same quality education, and make funding not based on the property taxes of the areas of the schools. It separates the rich from the poor, and effectively, keeps the poor poor, with inferior education, and opportunities.

This is an awesome presentation about beauty! You Rocked it. I am natural, silver and dark chocolate. But I am also blessed and know that I am a black Barbie! Thanks to my mother. Beauty is beauty. Awesome and pragmatic! Keep on speaking your truth Amber! Thank You!

thanks you

Darling, our hair is not only wind defying, but gravity defying.

Love that wind defying hair!! Brilliant!!

i am in love with her hair!!

Believe it or not us men go thru this too with not being tall enough or having muscle or eye color but me as a African American man realize I'm unique and feeled with talent and that being called black is just a evil man doing I'm Brown and very pure

This is an awesome video. Since we have easy access to the Internet. TED talks need to be shown in schools. Get the mind working and get people open to diversity.

High from Germany, you are a medicine! Your hair is gorgeous - I love your style and the whole message.

Amber Starks is great!

Girl, dark hair, brown or melanated skin, dark eyes and woolly hair is your saving grace. Give thanks! Hopefully, you will live to see this.

This video deserves more views!!

I can't get over how her hair looks omg

This was so empowering 👊🏾

Great Ted Talk and an even greater and beautiful woman. You are beautiful and I am not just saying that because of the so called 'we are all beautiful' common. It's very sad how the last 1000 years has skewed our view of what is beauty. Thank goodness change is coming and it's here. It was long overdue!

This reminds me of “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison

This is an awesome video.

Thank you.

I love this! needs more views

she is amazing.

I searched the same form Kenya and the result was the same. Interesting

Surround yourself with people that love you. I have a weird accent, but my close friends make me forget about my "flaus".

Great talk! I love her energy. It's so interesting because growing up at one point I wished I was less blonde, shorter, less skinny and had dark eyes, because i thought those things would make me more beautiful! I guess it's what you're exposed to.

Love this talk!!!!

I like Love Love Love her........so Inspiring, thank you ❤💓💕😃

love! love! love!

Excellent!

Beauty Standards are laid down by each one unto ones self! Every girl as a person is truly beautiful! No one has to be proven. Each one must believe in oneself as beautiful! Amber Starks is thrilling, inspiring, bold, soft spoken, great thoughts, beautiful vision, rising spirit, revolutionising the wider scope of learning what beauty is all about. Salute for such a lovely talk! God Almighty Bless, always!

I loved this

l love her speech I totally agree

Beautiful. Simply beautiful.

amazing!

You got it, girl! I mean you got it! Totally beautiful woman, is what YOU are, and your delivery is excellent, because it's from the heart - creating a connection of genuine global concern for all womankind (is that a word, I don't think I remember ever hearing it, out loud-right?). lol .... ummm, I don't recall really hearing that word used - "womankind". oh no, I will be flooded with it now, damn, my favorite comedian - You gonna learn TOday! (my lessons). Sending you love and energy, because Beautiful Amber - I'm telling on you - I'm gonna brag about you to others and for them to expand with it, ripple on! Knowledge is such a wonderful fun thing, the more you learn-the more you know there is to learn -infinity. Your are gifted with great insight and just an amazing delivery style, that just glides right on in, smooth landing, touchdown, Houston-we have arrived (it has kick ass and power walking right with simple elegance-excellent). We do as woman, need to nurture ourselves first so we can be of service to others. lol we will all be gleaming, what a sight that would be. Soar ... continue your passion ... you are excellent at it! you have a cute - giggle

Loved it!

What a powerful message to all women!!

Wonderful

That hair girl! Rockin!

She's beautiful! Love the hair!

Her energy though🤩