What is beautiful? For the Mursi and Suri tribes of Ethiopia (african tribe), beauty isn't about trends or what's in a magazine—it's a clay plate. This centuries-old tradition involves stretching the lower lip to wear a distinctive lip plate. Far from a simple accessory, the reasons behind this practice are deeply woven into their culture. While a widely circulated theory suggests it began as a way to make women less desirable to slave traders, this has been largely dismissed by modern anthropologists. Instead, the lip plate is a powerful expression of a woman's social status, identity, and personal worth. The size of the plate is often linked to the dowry paid in cattle for a marriage, with a larger plate signifying a 1greater value. It's also a rite of passage, marking a girl's transition into womanhood and her eligibility for marriage👰♀. The Mursi and Suri lip plate tradition challenges us to look beyond our own perceptions and see beauty as it...