Pretty Isn’t Pretty by Olivia Rodrigo, recently released on the young performer’s sophomore album GUTS, explores the deep physiological struggle for self confidence amidst the frustration women face battling beauty standards in society. Throughout the entirety of the track 11 song, Pretty Isn’t Pretty, the listener is confronted with many ideals in which society believes makes us “beautiful”, including makeup, eating habits, clothes, and even prescriptions for mental health issues such as anxiety.

Bought a bunch of makeup

Tryna’ cover up my face

I started to skip lunch

Stopped eatin’ cake on birthdays

Bought a new prescription

To try and stay calm

The beauty industry frequently creates new trends and standards, sculpting an endless barbarous cycle to maintain an emotional facade. When discussing the track with NYLON, Rodrigo discloses “I was super obsessed with social media. I would look for things that would hurt my feelings all the time and compare myself to everyone.” With the excessive presence of social media, ‘perfecting’ filters and picture perfect celebrities crowding young girls’ feeds, we are left growing up with viciously isolating insecurity and constant discontent. 

It’s on the posters on the wall, 

it’s in the shitty magazines

It’s in my phone 

it’s in my head’. 

Rodrigo conveys that while making physical changes makes her appear “happier” or “prettier”, she still feels insecurity, emptiness, and self-deprivation. 

‘Fix the things you hated

And you’d still feel so insecure’

 Despite giving into the changes society advocates her make, Rodrigo expresses a feeling of emptiness and lack of gratification: 

Cause there’s always something missin

There’s always something in the mirror that I think looks wrong’. 

Although doing what she believes will fix her “problems”, she still feels dissatisfaction with her presence and demeanor. By the song’s conclusion, Rodrigo expresses the understanding that submitting to society’s expectations brings anything but contentment or fulfillment, and is meaningless and futile. 

‘I bought all the clothes that they told me to buy

I chased some dumb ideal my whole f***ing life

And none of it matters and none of it ends

You just feel like sh*t over and over again’

As a whole, Pretty Isn’t Pretty conveys the importance of self-worth and acceptance. Rodrigo emphasizes on the importance of the recognition of individuality in a society overrun by impossible beauty standards. The GUTS track 11 song has become a quick favorite of mine, with a truly astonishing message.