The class politics of pretty

By Georgia Casey

Beauty standards have been slipping further out of the reach of the working class. But were they ever truly in our grasp?

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Beauty used to be democratic; a luxury granted to the genetically blessed regardless of their background or bank balance. In 2025, this is not always the case.

The rich and powerful have always used beauty as a tool to distance themselves from the working class. In Victorian England, upperclass women would microdose arsenic to make their white skin appear even paler in comparison to the poor folks who laboured outdoors in the sun. One Industrial Revolution later, and their descendents would rebrand tanned skin as a signifier of wealth and whiteness, communicating that you had the disposable income to take sun-soaked vacations – a privilege the office-bound masses couldn’t afford.

Thanks to the internet, we now have a phrase that succinctly encapsulates this century-old phenomenon: ‘You’re not ugly, you’re just poor’. The rich set the beauty standard, wait for it to trickle down to the rest of us, then deem it déclassé. Take filler, for example; 20 years ago, it was seen as a cutting-edge treatment reserved exclusively for ladies who lunch, but after decades of skyrocketing popularity and increased financial accessibility, it has begun to fall out of fashion in favour of more subtle (and more expensive) ‘tweakments’.

Over the past few years, we’ve seen countless celebrities garner widespread adulation for their uncannily youthful appearances. Words like ‘botched’ and ‘overdone’ are slowly disappearing from the commentary and being replaced with a sense of awed bewilderment whenever someone unveils their new, beautiful face: “I don’t know what she’s had done, but I want it!”. Our attitudes towards plastic surgery aren’t changing; the technology is just getting better.

Men and women looking for a surreptitious refresh now have several options to choose from. The non-invasive route usually involves a cocktail of lasers and injectables like Rejuran, Profhilo, or Kybella – all designed to improve your skin on a cellular level for that elusive ‘your skin but better’ look. For those looking for a more permanent solution, facelifts are becoming increasingly popular with younger patients as other surgeries trend towards a more natural aesthetic.

According to Dr Kelly Killeen, a plastic surgeon based in LA, “Patients are wanting subtle augmentations … with the ‘keep them guessing’ attitude. We are also starting to see more people downsizing their breasts and buttocks from prior surgery as well.”

These trends – combined with ubiquitous Ozempic use – point to a new standard of eurocentric beauty wherein we’re expected to be smaller, poreless, and effortlessly gorgeous. Not only is this an incredibly limited view of beauty, but it’s a standard that can only be met by those with a considerable amount of cash. In Australia, the average cost of a facelift can range from $15,000 to more than $70,000, and a single Rejuran treatment will set you back around $600-$900 (of course, two to four sessions are recommended for best results).

Our faces are now the subject of the ‘quiet luxury’ trend; those in the know can comfortably size up your social standing by how ‘rich’ your skin looks. All of this culminates in a stark beauty gap between the poor and the wealthy. Visible signs of aesthetic labour are seen as ‘cheap’ or ‘tacky’, not because the idea of putting effort into your appearance is shallow, but because the rich have discovered an undetectable route to hotness.

Despite this insurmountable divide, it’s not surprising that middle- and working-class women still attempt to meet these standards. Pretty privilege is alive and well, impacting how women are treated socially, romantically and professionally. We’re constantly exposed to messaging that a young, gorgeous face is inextricably linked to your value as a person.

Just look at how we talk about celebrities like Anne Hathaway or Paul Rudd; their enduring beauty is touted as an example of how you age when you’re ‘unproblematic’. The careers of Lindsey Lohan and Demi Lovato are experiencing a resurgence, due in no small part to the work they’ve had done – it’s not to say they lack talent, but I do wonder if we would welcome them back so warmly and readily if they kept their original faces.

It will be interesting to see what the future of beauty holds. We can either continue down our current path and all look like AI-generated versions of ourselves in 20 years, or the pendulum will swing back the other way, and we’ll view wrinkles, scars and imperfections as chic signs of authenticity. Either way, just remember not to try to mimic the rich - they’ll never let you catch up.

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About the author

Georgia Casey

Georgia is a writer, marketer, and procrastinator from Brisbane. When not at her day job, she enjoys writing about beauty and pop culture trends. You can spot her work in Frankie and Demure magazines, or spot her in person at your local GYG (Guzman y Gomez). For more from Georgia, you can follow her over on Instagram.