Background

Across adolescence, appearance gradually becomes more than simply a matter of physical change; it often begins to shape confidence, identity, and self-worth. For many young girls in India, this period coincides with increasing exposure to social media, beauty advertising, celebrity culture, and peer comparison, all of which can reinforce narrow and often unrealistic standards of beauty. Conversations surrounding body image, skincare, self-esteem, and appearance are frequently reduced to cosmetic advice or social expectations, while options to discuss these topics through the lens of wellbeing, health, and self-acceptance remain limited, particularly for girls from underserved communities with fewer educational resources and support systems.

Research suggests that these pressures have serious consequences. According to UNICEF's State of the World's Children 2021 report, one in seven adolescents globally experiences a mental health condition, with self-esteem and social pressure acting as important contributors to adolescent wellbeing. Meanwhile, Dove's 2017 Global Girls Beauty and Confidence Report found that 6 in 10 girls avoid everyday activities because they feel self-conscious about the way they look, proving even further how appearance-related anxiety can influence one’s participation and personal development from an early age. 

Understanding that education can play an important role in doing away with these barriers, Face Value is a project that has been conceptualised as a youth-led initiative which aims to promote healthier conversations surrounding beauty standards, body image, and self-esteem among adolescent girls in New Delhi. Through accessible educational resources, creative learning and open discussions, the project hopes to encourage young people to build confidence that is not based on appearance or comparison; but on self-worth and well-informed self-care.