1. Metaphor:
- "My skin, my hair, my face, my thighs" (comparing the value placed on physical attributes to possessions).
- "I'm an expert at lying" (metaphorically representing the act of conforming to societal beauty standards as "lying" to oneself).
2. Simile:
- "I'm a walking work of art" (comparing the pursuit of physical beauty to the creation of a work of art).
3. Personification:
- "Perfection is the disease of a nation" (giving human characteristics to "perfection" and presenting it as a destructive force).
4. Hyperbole:
- "All of the things I should be are things that I am not" (an exaggerated statement emphasizing the feeling of inadequacy caused by unrealistic beauty standards).
5. Paradox:
- "It's the soul that needs the surgery" (contrasting physical beauty with the importance of inner beauty and personal growth).
6. Allusion:
- "Miss Independent, that don't need no one" (allusion to the popular song "Independent Women" by Destiny's Child, highlighting the expectation of women to be self-sufficient while still adhering to societal beauty standards).
7. Rhetorical Question:
- "Can I trade this crown for a baseball cap?" (a rhetorical question expressing the desire for a more comfortable and unburdened existence, free from the constraints of societal expectations).
Throughout the song, Beyoncé's use of figurative language creates a vivid and impactful narrative that captures the emotional toll of conforming to unrealistic beauty standards.