In December of 2002, pop star Christina Aguilera released her music video for the self-acceptance anthem Beautiful, and still today, it is one of her most famous tracks ever. Even the official version uploaded to YouTube seven years after its release has over 139 million views. After Beautiful was featured in a 2006 anti-bullying PSA, its reach and impact grew. The song/video won lots of prestigious awards from the LGBTQ+ community and was featured at LA Pride 2022. Twenty years after the original, Aguilera rereleased the song with a new music video to address issues related to self-confidence today.
While there are a few references to the original, and the core message is the same, the 2022 version has an overarching antagonist: social media. Instead of a wide range of ages, the narrative is fixated on kids and teens grappling with issues of depression, body dysmorphia, and self-harm. The intro even starts with competing voices speaking to them and telling them how to attract attention online, and the visuals that follow from the plastic surgeon to the ring light army confirm this. The video ends with this message: