WATCH: Christina Aguilera's powerful 20th anniversary edition of 'Beautiful' is as relevant as ever
Two decades after the release of Christina Aguilera's Beautiful, the message remains as relevant as ever.
For the song's 20th anniversary, Aguilera has released a new video depicting how the new generation needs to remember their beauty, no matter what society says.
The new video showcases how children and teens grow up under the influence of social media, from how they take beauty and fitness advice on TikTok to ultimately comparing themselves to unrealistic expectations on screen.
It begins with them in what appears to be a facility, constantly being fed images of what they should look like, putting on makeup, and documenting everything on their phone.
As the song continues, the children one by one decide to free themselves from the pressure and expectations of the facility and social media and set their sights on living freely.
The video ends with a bleeding phone and a message relevant to these times: "In the last 20 years, since ‘Stripped’ was first released, social media has transformed our relationship with our bodies and, in turn, our mental health."
"Research suggests that time spent on social networking sites is associated with body image issues, self-harm, and disordered eating in children and teens. This needs to change."
A list of mental health resources and lifelines is then linked to the artist's website.
In an Instagram post, Aguilera shared that Beautiful's message is something she's always wanted to instill in children.
"Today, it’s harder than ever to hear our own voice amongst so many others infiltrating our feeds and minds with mixed messaging... ultimately leading us to tune-out our own truth and self worth," the 41-year-old wrote.
"The original ‘Beautiful video set out to bring awareness and a sense of compassion in the face of judgment, criticism, and outside opinions. It still carries an important message to remember our core values outside of what’s being fed to us."
The original Beautiful video carried similar themes back in 2002. It featured progressive themes such as LGBTQ+ relationships and trans acceptance.
Watch the full 2022 music video here:
