Christina Aguilera’s ‘Beautiful’ music video gets revamped for 2022 – USA TODAY
Christina Aguilera is revamping “Beautiful” with a new music video that tackles the harm social media can do to children.
The singer released the video Wednesday to mark both the 20th anniversary of her album “Stripped” and World Mental Health Day, which occurred Oct. 10.
“Beautiful (2022 Version)” carries the same empowering message of the 2002 music video by depicting people struggling with self-love in a society that sets unattainable beauty standards. But in 2022, social media adds an additional layer of scrutiny.
In the new version, Aguilera belts out “you are beautiful, in every single way” while young children take selfies and watch countless makeup tutorials with emphasis on the use of plastic surgery to achieve a sculpted or voluptuous body.
Children are marked up with lines to imply they are about to undergo changes, but towards the end they all wipe them off.
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The music video ends with the kids ultimately giving up their phones to play outside and love their natural selves.
“Tune out and turn in. Take your space, log off, put your mind, body, and soul first,” Aguilera wrote in a tweet on Oct. 10 to promote the new music video.
At the conclusion, a message pops on the screen: “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.”
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The pop singer also included a link to her official website, which now has various links to mental health organizations for those struggling.
Aguilera’s initial music video depicted people consumed by diet culture in magazines, struggling to accept their sexuality or being outcasts. In the end, each individual ends with a smile on their face as they embrace their true self.
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If you or someone you know needs support for mental health, suicidal thoughts or substance abuse call, text or chat:
Call U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 any time day or night, or chat online.
Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741.
For people who identify as LGBTQ, if you or someone you know is feeling hopeless or suicidal, you can also contact The Trevor Project’s TrevorLifeline 24/7/365 at 1-866-488-7386, text 678678 or chat online.
The Trans Lifeline is a peer support service run by trans people, for trans and questioning callers at 877-565-8860.
