what is beautiful?

I thought about changing the topic of my research paper - i'm still mulling it over, but odds are I'll save this new topic for another day. I'm really becoming interested in the concept of beauty - what it is, what we teach others that it is, and what affect that has had on us. I've always struggled with wanting to be "beautiful" - tall, thin, "model-esque" and I think secretly I believed that when I got older, those desires would disappear and I would simply become content with who I was because I was older. It's been interesting to discover that not only have those desires not "simply disappeared" but I'm fighting them just as much - if not more - than I ever did in high school and my first round in college. I teach junior and senior high girls at my church, and it's always a topic that seems to hit someone at some time - what really is beautiful? So, I thought about doing some research on the topic, comparing historical values of beauty -from ancient days (like the venus figurine) through various civilizations up to now. I truly believe beauty is something that you are from within- not something you look like on the outside - but it's not something I always remember...even as I'm trying to talk myself out of this topic, it's on my mind. Now that I have a daughter, I don't want her to grow up knowing/having those struggles. I want her to be confident in who she is, and never doubt she is beautifully and wonderfully made. And I know I'll have to be the one to teach her that...which means it's gotta start with me. Hmmm. Lots to ponder before bed.