Episode 102

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Published on:

1st May 2025

EP - 102 - Still Dying to Be Beautiful: Then and Now

They said beauty hurts... but they didn't mention it might kill you. From Victorian arsenic wafers to today's needle-happy "tweakments," this episode uncovers the dangerously thin line between glam and grim.

Why do we keep chasing perfection, even when the cost is our health- or worse?

We're peeling back the powdered face of history and injecting some hard truths about modern beauty.

Buckle up, my loves... things are about to get toxic.

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SOURCES & REFERENCES

Historical:

The Ugly-Girl Papers: Or, Hints for the Toilet by S.D. Powers (1857)

The Poet and the Poisoner: A Memoir of Murder and Deceit by Susan Stewart

Victorian Skin: Surface, Self, and History by Pamela K. Gilbert

Modern:

Beauty Sick: How the Cultural Obsession with Appearance Hurts Girls and Women by Dr. Renee Engeln

"Why Dangerous Beauty Trends Are Surging" — Allure, 2023 (interview with Dr. Michelle Henry)

"Inside the Black Market for Botox and Fillers" — The New York Times, 2024

American Society of Plastic Surgeons 2024 Report: Cosmetic Procedure Trends

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Apple Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beauty-unlocked-the-podcast/id1522636282

Spotify Podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/show/37MLxC8eRob1D0ZcgcCorA

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Intro/Outro Music:

Music by Savvier from Fugue FAME INC

Show artwork for Beauty Unlocked the podcast

About the Podcast

Beauty Unlocked the podcast
Buckle up and get ready as I delve into a variety of topics regarding physical beauty.

We'll take a look at our society's obsession with physical beauty and the consequences these impossible beauty standards have had on us.
Let's face it; this fascination regarding physical beauty and body image isn't a recent phenomenon; it has been around for centuries, crossing borders, and has affected men and women alike.
The realization of this podcast has come about by my own experiences having to deal with society's perverse notion of physical "perfection" and researching an array of topics that have intrigued me over the years.
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About your host

Profile picture for Carissa Vikis

Carissa Vikis

Hey there!
I'm Carissa, host, content creator, and producer of the indie podcast Beauty Unlocked.
Growing up, I was frequently compared and criticized for my looks and weight. This started the vicious cycle of being self-critical and loathing my body. I knew I wasn't the only one suffering from society's ridiculous notion of what "we should look like." I started digging deeper and researching various topics, and the rest is h(er)story!
Beauty Unlocked The Podcast aims to educate and bring awareness of our society's obsession with physical beauty and the emotional consequences these impossible beauty standards have. Beauty Unlocked's social media platform showcases not only my work but that of other artists, illustrators, and fellow podcasters that I admire and that share a similar message of inspiration, empowerment, positivity, and raising awareness on a variety of social issues.