It is said that a person is exposed to roughly 5,000 ads in one day. Many of which target how a person can change something about themselves, whether it is their looks, personality, eating habits or overall lifestyle.

The media works side-by-side with these companies exposing people of all ages and genders in order to grab their attention and to convince them to believe in their products’ usefulness.

With so much exposure, how have people come to form their own beliefs about what makes one beautiful?

Sharon Velez, 29, has worked for 10 years as a hairstylist and is currently studying public relations at Sacramento State.

“I see beauty as being up to the person to determine,” said Velez. “What I find the most attractive is the confidence and the way someone carries themselves.”

Macey Palermo, 22, a business major at Sac State provided a similar opinion, touching on the belief that makeup enhances one’s beauty.

“It sounds cliche but what makes a person beautiful comes from the inside,” Palermo said. “I see makeup as an art but I don’t see the need for girls to constantly cake on their faces.”

Professor Tatiana Scott teaches classical music at Sac State. She feels that when determining a person’s beauty, one must pay attention to everything they have to offer.

“What I find beautiful about a person is in their morals, talent, strong work ethics and manners,” said Scott. “Of course a person can be beautiful on the inside and outside but inner beauty is what lasts.”

Today’s modern world and social media such as Instagram or Tinder have easily allowed people to openly judge and express their opinion of who they deem beautiful or attractive based on their physical appearance.

Jason Lagao, 24, an accounting major at Sac State, feels that media has a strong influence on introducing trends to society.

“Media changes how we view beauty all the time,” Lagao said. “Right now fitness is in and there are more ads that encourage women to accept whatever body type they have.”

Despite the influence the media may have on society in shaping their perspective, there are many who understand that not everything they hear, see or read is true.

Philip Galang, 22, a computer science major at Sac State, believes that media changes its perspective as much as people do.

“Sometimes I don’t think the media knows where to draw the line between truth and lies,” Galang said. “For instance, its portrayal of Marshawn Lynch.”

Yet even with the 5,000 advertisements per day, the constant introduction of new products to enhance your features or lifestyle, many people have a firm belief that real beauty is and always will be on the inside.

“Media does have an affect on people but everybody has their own natural beauty,” Valez said.

For many, even with the badgering of media and product companies, there is an understanding that what matters is not just what you can see.

“How a person looks is always the first impression, people may lie but that’s the truth,” Lagao said. “However, personality, whether you’re friendly, outgoing or sweet, is what really makes someone attractive.”