In Australia, why is the standard of beauty a tan and not pale?

I am Ausralian, 21 years old, and female. I have light skin and I avoid the sun because I don't want to get sun cancer - which is HUGE here. I cover up when I'm in the sun and sunscreen hats scarves etc. As a result, I am quite pale. I also have dark features such as naturally dark brown/black hair, dark brown eyes, and Caucasian features. All I ever here is that tan girls with blonde hair are the standard of beauty. Does anyone else agree that pale girls are disregarded in Australia? Any pale girls out there agree? What do you think? Thanks. (People from other countries answer too if you have a similar situation in your country). In Australia, why is the standard of beauty a tan and not pale?
Hi,


I am also from Australia.


Dark hair Dark eyes and pale skin.


I agree with you I think being tan has really become the ';in'; thing here.


I often feel a bit self concious becasue i'm not blonde and tanned lol


But then again I feel sorry for the taned girls who are gonna be covred in wrinkles from the sun when they are 35 or a big scar were they got a skin cancer cut out.


But I feel like we are found less ';hot'; becasue we wern't born with darker skin


But yeah to sum it up I 100% agree with eveything you've said.


In Australia, why is the standard of beauty a tan and not pale?
i am australian and alot of people, including guys have told me that the fake orange tan turns them off! I think its the young immature guys who like (pornstars etc..) who like that really orange skin. %26amp; the girls who follow the media (pussycat dolls, xtina) who like the fried chicken look aswell..otherwise its nice to be a little sun kissed but not to point where it looks obviously fake.
I live in australia. And I think pale girls are real pretty. But yeah I guess people here do think tan is pretty. But people with natural tan skin tend to dislike it. :)
Im from Australia, and im kinda pale with dark brown hair.... And i dont feel that at ALL!


I think Aussies are very open minded and there are all types of beauty here. Its a beautiful country.



its the same way in the US
Yes unfortunately, despite the dangers of getting skin cancer from sun exposure, people continue to get sun tans in Australia, as it is still considered the accepted standard of beauty.





I blame a large part of this on the media, who continue to (recklessly) portray the desirable look as tanned (and blonde), through various mediums including magazines, advertisements etc etc.





Whether people agree/realise they are being brainwashed by the media or not - it HAPPENS.





Just look at other countries like France, where the desirable look is pale and dark-haired (and more beautiful in my opinion, as well as more SAFE).





But the buck stops with the individual - you can CHOOSE to go and bake yourself to a crisp and end up dying of skin cancer, or CHOOSE to go against the current fashion (and save your life in the process).





I know a lot of girls get fake tans, but this is still portraying and perpetuating the desirable look as being tanned.





So yes I do agree with you totally.
....I've never heard of tan not being the ';standard,'; but then again I am American, so go figure.


I think maybe you are too hidden for anyone to see you, scarves and hats and sunscreen, is a lot. Why not just invest in a really good UVA/UVB sunscreen, Avidea, Aveeno, Olay, etc. Or search online.


They also make clothes, normal looking ones, that protect against UVB rays, maybe you could get those.


A little sun gives you a healthy, and therefore attractive glow. Maybe this is why you feel that way.


They also make makeup with SPF protection now too. There are lots of ways to protect yourself without hiding! Let everyone see you, and maybe you too will get as many compliments as the tan girls! (Also, a little sun is good for you, it releases Vitamins in your body!)
yeh the whole ';beach babe'; has become a real image for australia (lara bingle haha) but completely agree with the whole skin cancer thing. in saying that, think of like outback australia, and people who work on the land. they get dark skin from working outside all day. i don't think the pale skin thing is overlooked, but it also doesn't completely fit in anyway as an australian image either.





and trust me i have nothing against whiteys. i'm dark haired and pale as a ghost. i'm fine with it.





EDIT also i dont think that cadalila girl knows much about the aussie sun. 'a little sun gives you a healthy attractive glow?' 'clothes that protect against the uvb rays' puh-lease!