We live in a society that worships perfection and condemns flaws. A society where models and celebrities are significantly underweight and over embellished when compared to the average woman. Regrettably, our definitions of ‘perfection’ and ‘beauty’ are skewed. These women do not fairly represent the range of body shapes and sizes that exist in our real world. Super-skinny models are presented as if every woman is supposed to look that way and that with enough effort she can and should. This has a tragic effect on young, impressionable girls. Unrealistic images of stick slim women are plastered all over billboards, television, and magazine covers, portraying the idea that you are not beautiful unless you look like fake, airbrushed women. Such unreachable, artificial standards result in healthy women being dissatisfied with their bodies and having low self-esteem. Feelings of inferiority lead to a high risk of depression, anxiety, self-loathing, and at times deadly eating disorders.
Thankfully, there are companies striving to generate change. Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty is an inspiring company that “aims to change the status quo and offer in its place a broader, healthier, more democratic view of beauty.”
Beauty should be a source of happiness, not anxiety. My hope is that these images will help convey that beauty comes in different packages, not one is better than the other. No matter what the scale or local magazine stand tells her, a woman deserves to feel happy and confident within her own unique skin.
A billboard does not define true beauty.
