It is definitely not skin-deep...

Confidence is an inner attribute. It doesn't come from having a fair skin colour, as claimed by Fair and Lovely and other such product ads, or from having a lush, voluminous turf, as conveyed by Parachute and several hair oil publicity campaigns, or even from being impressively tall, as the Growth On advertisement on TV likes to insist. It comes from being yourself, and in believing in yourself. 

"Be yourself and be proud of it at every age", thus goes the famous idiom.

It is when we choose 'becoming' over 'being', we are building our confidence on shifting grounds.

Yuri  Gagarin, a 5"2' tall Russian astronaut, hitched his wagon to the stars and became the first man to  travel in  space. In the literary world, few can reach the heights that  Voltaire did, even though he too was only 5"2'. A French writer and philosopher, whose thoughts on civil liberties fuelled the French  revolution, Voltaire is considered one of the most influential figures of all times. 

In contemporary India, the actor/singer/composer/director Raghubir Yadav, who ran away from home at the age of fifteen to follow his dreams, went on to become one of the most multifaceted personality in the theatre and cinema industry.  At 5"3',  he attained heights that only a few can aspire for. To cite a parallel example of an individual on the other side of the hemisphere, also known for her versatility, is the actor/producer/comedian Melissa McCarthy. At 5"2', she stands tall amongst her peers, with her list of nominations and awards ever accruing. As of late, acutely dissatisfied with the choice available for Plus size women, she has even launched her own successful fashion-line to cater to this segment of women, including herself.

 It is said that the famous author Hans Christian Andersen's "Ugly Duckling" was meant as a statement on his own ungainly looks and humble origins. 

Yet, his inner genius eclipsed his outer appearance, while expressing itself through some of the most luminous fairytales of all time, such as, "The Princess and the Pea",  "The Little Mermaid", "The Emperor's New Clothes",  "The Snow Queen", "The Steadfast Tin Soldier",  "Thumbelina", and "The Little Match Girl".  His stories, both earthly and symbolic in their content, have left an indelible mark on the Western culture with themes that transcend age and nationality. Of course,  the example closest to home is Mahatma Gandhi, for whom Churchill seemed to have said "it is alarming and nauseating to see Mr Gandhi". Yet, this very man, thus described, was one of the most charismatic  leaders the twentieth century produced. 

As being dark-skinned, it is a matter of pigmentation, and should not determine the level of one's confidence level. In 2014, the People magazine nominated Lupita Nyong'o , a black Kenyan-Mexican Oscar-winning actor as the most beautiful person of the world. Unfortunately, the award came as a much-needed declaration to this race-and-colour impregnated world, that black is beautiful. 

Yet, it is alarming to note that in a country like ours, where a great majority of the population worships  Krishna and Kali, two  dark-hued gods, should be aversed to having a tawny well-sunned skin. Thankfully, with accomplished actors, such  as Nana Patekar,  Nandita Das, Nawazuddin, and Adil Hussain, blazening up the silver screen, the intensely earthy look is becoming all the rage.

Remember, all these people and a thousand others who made a difference to the world, did not rely on the beauty industry to help them succeed, but on their inner strength. Theirs was a self-confidence, which stemmed not from being fair and lovely, or tall and slim, but from a deep conviction in one's individual self and its unique raison-d'être in this vast creation.

So, while the beauty product industry is trying to establish the new 'us', to become just another face in the crowd,  it is imperative that we cling to our 'real' self, and explore the unending vistas of our own inner beauty, and true potential.