The Glow-Up: Finding Inner Beauty

We often find ourselves looking into the mirror and feeling like the girl in that scene. We scrutinize the features that we wish we could change. Glow-up movies and social media communicate that we can completely change our lives by looking more “perfect” and changing our “flaws”. 

The shy, uncertain girl gazes up into the mirror. She is feeling nervous and wonders what she will look like. When she peers into the mirror, it feels like her first time again. She is astonished at the unrecognizable girl looking back at her. Her hair is different, she is wearing makeup, her wardrobe is suddenly chic, and her glasses are gone. She looks at her reflection and sees a completely different person. The girl bullied for her geeky looks seems gone, but not quite. She is just hidden behind this transformation— this glow-up.

Glow-ups portrayed in movies often serve dual purposes. They push harmful stereotypes about “unwanted” physical traits but also serve as a metaphor for a character’s inner transformation— how they go from shy and uncertain to confident and sure of their place in the world.

These glow-ups have also become popular on social media, where influencers tout glow-ups ranging from self-care to plastic surgery.

How can we navigate this trend through the lessons learned in glow-up movies?

To navigate the sea of glow-ups on social media, we can look at what movie characters learned from their glow-ups:

1. Glow-ups present negative stereotypes of what characteristics are considered “beautiful” and “ugly”.

2. Glow-ups do not change who you are; rather they mask your insecurities.

3. The real glow-up occurs when you accept yourself for who you are.

In The Princess Diaries, Mia Thermopolis is a shy 10th grader. She discovers that she is a princess and heir to the throne of Genovia, a fictional European country. Her grandmother, the Queen, hires a stylist to make her look more like a princess. This is where Mia “glows up”.

After the makeover, she turns around and looks into the mirror with her eyes wide. Her hair is straighter and shorter. Her eyebrows have been plucked to perfection and she is no longer wearing glasses.

At school, she gets into an argument with her best friend who is angry at Mia for trying to fit in. Mia’s transformation lands her at the center of attention at school, which gets worse when the press finds out about Mia’s royal status.

In the course of her glow-up, Mia makes several mistakes. Betrayals of friendship and awkward encounters stemming from her lack of self-confidence teach her a valuable lesson. Her true self-worth is who she is inside— her character, morals, and values. She is kind, treats others with respect, and stands up for those who are smaller. Once she accepts herself for who she is, flaws and all, she can embrace the other changes in her life. Mia accepts the position as heir to the throne of Genovia.

In the Devil Wears Prada, Andrea Sachs lands an internship at a prestigious fashion magazine in New York City: Runway Magazine. She is the assistant to the assistant of the editor-in-chief, Miranda Priestly. As a recent college graduate, Andrea has big dreams, but to achieve them, she must start at the bottom.

When Andrea starts at Runway, she has no interest in fashion. The other girls at the magazine scoff at her frumpy appearance and she is called out for her weight. Miranda does not even know Andrea’s name. Andrea considers quitting the position because she feels so out of place there. She even has to ask how to spell Dolce&Gabbana— the person on the other end of the phone hangs up on her.

It starts with a pair of heels, and over time, Andrea learns the ins and outs of the fashion world. She changes her wardrobe and loses weight. Her so-called “glow-up” that changed her into a glamorous, heartless version of her old self, changed Andrea for the worse. Modifying her appearance to fit in did not make her life better— in fact, she was more miserable because of it. 

Andrea drifts away from her friends, puts her work before seeing her father, and betrays the trust of her boss, Emily, by going to Paris for fashion week. Andrea’s friends point out how distant she has become from the rest of them. She takes work calls when they hang out and talks nonstop about Runway. She is different from the wholesome girl who started working at Runway. She finally starts to realize that her job is making her miserable– and a miserable person to be around. Andrea quits working for Miranda and decides to reclaim her life.

Andrea’s true glow-up begins when she accepts that her appearance does not determine her character. After she stops fighting against who she truly is, Andrea becomes more confident in herself, and her whole world blooms.

The Princess Diaries and The Devil Wears Prada are movies where glow-ups are shown in conjunction with a character’s internal transformation and growth. Mia Thermopolis and Andrea Sachs both change their appearances as a means to fit in, and this seems like their glow-up moment. Yet, the real glow-up moment comes once they accept their true selves. By the end of the movie, each girl realizes that her character is what will help her transform. When she starts being kind to herself, she becomes kinder towards others and can build her confidence. This is where both Mia and Andrea had their true glow-ups.

A true glow-up means having an appreciation for your values and character. When Mia and Andrea change their appearances, they expect their lives to suddenly change. Their lives did change, but not in the positive way they were expecting. Once they realize that it is not their appearance that demonstrates a glow-up, but rather their character, their worlds start to bloom. Their glow-ups materialized when they accepted their true selves as beautiful and worthy.

After all — you can only truly transform by accepting yourself who you are first.