So… is it true that American girls are unkempt / overweight / don’t wear makeup / just don’t care?!
Well, America might be on a different continent, but we’re still on the same planet. People are people—girls, guys, grandmas, grandpas—everywhere.
It’s not some kind of utopia where everyone is happy, living in their perfect little world, never judging others or fearing other people’s opinions. People here still judge and worry—but less.
The “non-judgement” attitude grows here more easily because there’s no deep historical tradition of rejecting individuality.
The truth is: every culture has its patterns, but they’re never absolute. Around 80% of people will be exceptions in one way or another.
As for America and the whole “not stressing about looks” thing—here, appearance is taken more lightly. There’s less obsession with fitting beauty standards, less judgment.
But here’s the twist: most of that judgment actually comes from ourselves. We want to make an impression, we imagine what others might think, we create our own standards through someone else’s eyes. And no matter where you live, that mindset can stay. Even in the U.S., you might still wonder what people think about your outfit, makeup, or hair. The difference is, here, most people truly won’t overthink your look. But will that stop the habit of overthinking? Probably not.
The bottom line: yes, in America, people care less about other people’s looks and more about their own comfort and self-care. There are still plenty of stylish, fit, and polished people—but they do it for themselves.
That’s the whole secret.
Try it yourself! Describe what you would focus on if you didn’t care about others’ opinions—and maybe you’ll be the next exchange student living this experience.