Oh boy, back to one of my favorite topics: the pursuit of beauty. This week, The New York Times featured a photo portfolio by photographer Zed Nelson that depicts beauty in different settings all around the world.

From toddler beauty queens to intense leg-lengthening surgeries, Zed has captured perceptions of beauty from all walks of life. My favorite snapshot is of a woman in a Brazilian prison ready to compete in the annual prison beauty contest. Photos like this really speak volumes about what a culture or society values when it comes to aesthetic.

Source: New York Times