18 March 2025: Jessica Bondy, Founder of Words Matter, joined leading experts for a cross-industry panel to discuss restrictive beauty ideals and definitions. It was hosted by Coty, one of the world’s largest beauty brands, as part of the next stage of its award-winning #UndefineBeauty campaign.
Her fellow panellists included:
- John-Dylan Haynes, Brain Scientist and Psychologist, Professor at the Charité Medical University in Berlin
- Anita Bhagwandas, Award-winning Journalist and Author of the book UGLY: Giving Us Back Our Beauty Standards
- Denise Schindler, Multi-medal Paralympic Cyclist, three-time World Champion
- Ewa Grzelakowska-Kostoglu, Red Lipstick Monster, Beauty Influencer
- Francisco Vidal, Portuguese-Angolan Contemporary Artist
- Priya Srinivasan, Chief People and Purpose Officer, Coty
Launched in 2023, Coty’s #UndefineBeauty campaign began with an open letter to major English dictionaries, calling for an update of the current definition of the word ‘beauty’. The sentence “she was considered a great beauty in her youth” is often cited in dictionaries to illustrate the concept; the #UndefineBeauty campaign considers examples like these limiting and exclusive. To date, there has been no response from the dictionary publishers, and Coty is calling on them once more to change the definition to reflect today’s society.
Jessica Bondy, commenting says:
“It was a privilege for Words Matter, which is leading the charge against verbal abuse of children by adults, to be part of this critical discussion about the concept of beauty and beauty standards. Our whole focus is about highlighting the impact of harmful words and language and their lasting impact on mental health and wellbeing. Everyone should feel beautiful just as they are. We must embrace and celebrate an individual’s unique qualities and help them flourish. Let’s build people up at whatever age, not knock them down. Words matter.”
ENDS