The Beauty of Becoming: What 'Penelope' Taught Me About Self-Acceptance
By Iris Vaughn
Image Courtesy of Summit Entertainment
As spring ushers in a season of transformation, renewal, and growth, it’s the perfect time to reflect on Penelope (2006), starring Christina Ricci, which is a film that has profoundly shaped my perspective on beauty and self-acceptance.
This film holds a special place in my heart, as it deeply influenced how I came to understand the importance of self-worth growing up. In a society where beauty standards, amplified by social media, often make young girls feel like there’s something inherently wrong with them, Penelope challenges this narrative. It’s a poignant reminder that our worth isn’t determined by others’ approval, but by learning to accept ourselves as we are.
Image Courtesy of Summit Entertainment
The film follows Penelope, a young woman born with the face of a pig due to a family curse. Living in seclusion, she is made to feel by her family that this “curse” renders her unworthy of love or acceptance. Her family insists the curse can only be broken when “one of her own kind” learns to love her, implying that her worth hinges on someone else’s acceptance.
Constantly seeking to find a suitor who can break the curse, Penelope steps out into the world on her own terms after yet another painful rejection. It’s in this journey of self-discovery that she uncovers a truth more powerful than any magic spell: that love and acceptance must come from within. The moment she embraces herself fully, the curse is broken; yet what’s most striking is that by then, the curse no longer defines her. She’s already transformed, not by changing her appearance, but by reclaiming her sense of self.
Image Courtesy of Summit Entertainment
Even now, Penelope feels deeply relevant. In an age when external validation is just a scroll away, its message stands as a quiet rebellion.
If you haven’t seen Penelope, I highly recommend it. While whimsical in tone, the film carries a powerful message that resonates today, especially in a time when so much of our self-worth is shaped by external validation. It’s a reminder that true beauty and power come from within, and the most profound transformation happens when we embrace and reclaim our own worth.
