How do I stop myself from being discouraged by the media's beauty standards?

Most men don't look like cover models. The pictures are taken by professional photographers, who are experts at optimizing the lighting, and finding flattering angles. Many of the photos are photoshopped. Natural-looking makeup is applied before men's photoshoots as well. Don't we all wish we could look like those models' photos? You are not alone. How important is beauty to you? The men you describe, how many of them have you seen in real life? Beauty is a mirage, and there is so much more to life, than what meets the eye. The most beautiful woman I ever saw large, wearing a leopard-print suit, with red lips, a booming laugh, and the largest presence I had ever felt. I saw this lady in the grocery store, beauty in the most unexpected of places. Your perceived lack of beauty does not help your case- confidence and aura are key to being beautiful. Focus on what you have, pretend until you become.