In 2015, a video made by high school student Shea Glover showing how people reacted to being complimented went viral. It has amassed over 16 million views to date. In the video, Glover’s fellow students assume they’re posing for pictures for a school project. The video captures their reactions when Glover reveals her true intentions: “I’m taking pictures of things I find beautiful.”
Now, over two years later, Glover has helmed a reprise of the video for Glamour Magazine. She said the initial video — described by her as an independent project, which evidently turned into social experiment– was revisited because she realized the power of a compliment. In this video, she asks women to take a general survey, and surprises them with the question: “What does it feel like being beautiful?”
Most of the women laugh at the question, taken aback. Some thank Glover. One of them admits she never thought of herself as beautiful. One, words pitching up like it’s a question, says that she doesn’t really think of herself like that.
The women later in the video discuss the last time a stranger gave them a compliment. One marks it down as the day before while another says it’s been quite a while. “I’d say sometimes, women that I see walking, if they have coloured hair that I like or just something that I like, I tell them I like it, and they say, ‘Oh, you made my day!’” one woman tells.
Compliments like the ones that Glover and this woman give out are incredibly important. As another woman in the video says, “The littlest compliment means a lot.” Telling someone they are beautiful or have a nice smile or have an amazing personality is a very easy thing to do, but it’s not done enough. It’s often hard to internalize kind compliments when you don’t believe them, but hearing them from a stranger can make them easier to accept. Knowing someone went out of their way to tell you you are beautiful will make you feel more beautiful than you trying to convince yourself that you are. According to a recent Glamour and L’oreal survey, only 31% of women would describe themselves as beautiful. This emphasizes the point that we need to lift each other up and compliment each other.
Of course, physical appearance should be irrelevant. What does it matter if someone doesn’t conform to society’s beauty standards if they’re beautiful on the inside? But we don’t have the opportunity to get to know the personalities of everyone we pass on the street, and sometimes someone’s inner beauty shines through in their bright smile after they’re complimented, like the women in these videos. You can always compliment someone on their style or on their coloured hair like one woman from the video does– it’s an expression of themselves.
So next time you’re out in public and you see someone who you perceive as beautiful — go up and tell them. “Life can be pretty trying sometimes, and it’s awfully nice to get a compliment. It can just make your day.”
