Madison Beer is More Than Just A Pretty Face
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Madison Beer is one of the most misunderstood artists in the music industry. For years, she has been stereotyped as an influencer or internet model, rather than being recognized for her talent as a skilled singer and songwriter. This isn’t a shock, as she is the picture of perfection. But this is the problem – she looks too good to be true, and that’s where people’s thoughts stop. Beneath her beauty is an amazing artist, and her career represents a bigger issue in the entertainment world. This is the tendency to take women less seriously if they are considered conventionally attractive.
Her songs are more than just a good tune; they’re meticulously crafted and carry a deeper meaning. Her debut album, Life Support, targeted issues like anxiety and loneliness, referencing her own battles with her mental health. Specifically in her song “Selfish,” she explores the exhaustion of giving too much of yourself to someone who doesn’t deserve it. In “Stained Glass,” she uses imagery of a stained glass window to discuss how social media and comments can negatively impact her well-being. She uses a play on words, “pain” and “pane” to discuss feeling fragile and misunderstood. She’s able to skillfully turn her music into something that listeners can resonate with.
She followed this up with her album, Silence Between Songs, where she discussed self-reflection and personal growth. What makes her so special is more than just how she sounds, but the intimacy behind her music that allows her emotions to guide her work. “Home To Another One” is focused on the emotional difficulty of moving forward from someone who has already moved on. “At Your Worst” explores the hurt of loving someone with inner demons and how that can cause pain in both partners. She doesn’t just write songs – she depicts experiences that turn insecurities and upsets into something beautiful. Despite this, when conversations about her arise, they always seem to revolve around her looks.
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It’s a frustrating phenomenon that many women in entertainment face. When a woman is conventionally attractive, people act like their success is unearned and solely because they have a pretty face. Society will glorify a beautiful woman, but proceed to not take them seriously, questioning their capabilities and their brains. For Madison, it means that no matter how good her music is, her work will always come second to her appearance.
This paradox is not limited to her, and we can see it with many other artists, including Megan Fox, Margot Robbie, and Taylor Swift. Megan Fox is one of Hollywood’s most talented and well-known actresses, but she’s reduced to a “stereotypical hot girl” and sex symbol. Margot Robbie is a talented actress and producer, starring in films that see critical success and public favor, but many people still focus on her appearance rather than her creative choices. Taylor Swift is arguably the most famous and influential pop artist of this time, and people will still think she is just a girl who dates too many men, just to later write sad break-up albums about her past relationships. It’s clear that to society, when a woman looks too good, people start assuming that they don’t have much substance underneath.
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Madison Beer continues to live this stereotype. She has often discussed the difficulties of being taken seriously in an industry where beauty is both a blessing and a curse. Her social media is filled with her flawlessness, but it has worked against her, as audiences struggle to see past her looks. However, if you took the time to sit down and truly listen to her lyrics, where she covers topics from anxiety to heartbreak to self-acceptance, it is clear that there is so much more to her.
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She very recently performed in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2025, an event known for highlighting looks and aesthetics. This serves as a perfect representation of her career – balancing her talent and her beauty. She performed three amazing songs, including “Make You Mine,” “Yes Baby,” and “Bittersweet.” In doing so, she was able to both embrace and redefine herself, as people could see her appearance, but they were also forced to look past it and see her lyrical talent and artistry.
Madison’s experience in this industry is a subtle form of sexism that is still extremely prominent in pop culture: one that allows a woman’s value to be measured by their appearance, but also punishes them for it. Leaving the Victoria’s Secret stage this year, she proved that she’s more than just a pretty face and that her artistry is not minimized by her beauty – rather, it amplifies her all-around talent and energy.
Strike Out,
Writer: Erica Huang
Editor: Elizabeth D’Amico
Graphic Designer:
Tallahassee