People React to Being Called Beautiful

Dillon Jacobson, Sports Editor

     An integrated arts project created by former ChiArts student Shea Glover ‘15, has recently become something of an internet sensation six months after initially being uploaded to Youtube. Her viral video captured the reactions people had after being told they’re beautiful. The mixed reactions, ranging from being flattered to not knowing what to say to threatening to cut Glover if she repeated what she said, produced a truly unique and moving video that now has nearly 8.2 million views on Youtube. In addition to this, the video has been featured in dozens of online publications including People.com, Attn.com, Mashable.com, Cosmopolitan.com, and Seventeen.com.

     In the description Glover writes, “I conducted an independent project, which evidently turned into a social experiment halfway through, regarding beauty at my performing arts high school in Chicago. I want to clarify that my intentions were not to get a reaction out of people. I was simply filming beauty and this is the result. Here it is.” Though the initial goal of the project may not have been to get a reaction out of the people Glover found beautiful, the resulting reactions created a powerful social experiment worth watching.

     Shea has capitalized on her new-found “internet fame” by starting her own movement called #breathebeauty in an attempt to change the way people, particularly young people like herself, perceive and express beauty. Most recently, Shea has created a video called “You Are Not Your Likes” featured on the Huffington Post’s website. In this video Shea encourages millennials and really all people to not let social media determine your self worth. Check the video out below.