Beauty standards have never been limited to outward looks. They have influenced the perception, assessment, and treatment of women for millennia. Power, culture, and commerce have shaped and upheld ideals of beauty from ancient civilizations to contemporary social media. Although the regulations evolved throughout time, the demands placed on women remained consistent. This essay examines the origins of these ideals, their historical development, the emotional toll they take on women, and how contemporary beauty trends perpetuate historical control mechanisms in novel ways.