By Kaitlyn M. Barton
Hodgdon High School
Class of 2015
Once upon a time, modeling entered the world of social media and advertising around the globe. Models were a unique way to advertise clothing and items for various companies. Today, the image of a model has changed drastically. Modeling has gone from showing real beauty, to running a fake and unhealthy role model down the runway.
Photoshopping is a huge way people can change the natural image of an individual. While the majority of images are being altered, so is one’s perception on what a normal, healthy and beautiful woman looks like. The “average” woman in media is extremely thin, tan, with no bumps, bulges or cellulite visible on their bodies. They must portray facial and bodily perfection.
This used to be done by keeping oneself fit by exercising and taking care of themselves, but today it is done by plastic surgery and Photoshop. On the cover of the February of 2014 Seventeen magazine, Torian Bellisario, a Pretty Little Liar’s star, opened up about past problems with an eating disorder. The magazine placed this as a teaser on the cover, right above a larger headline for “Get an Insane Body – It’s hard, but you’ll look hot!” This was placed on the same cover that was supposed to be an outlet for a young actress to open up to young fans about a disorder that “ripped her life apart”, yet it was placed below a story promoting the thin ideals that drive young woman to go to the extreme of eating and weight complications. In the September issue of SELF magazine, Kelly Clarkson goes on to say, “My happy weight changes. Sometimes I eat more; sometimes I play more. I’ll be different sizes all the time. When people talk about my weight, I’m like, ‘You seem to have a problem with it; I don’t. I’m fine.’ I’ve never felt uncomfortable on the red carpet or anything.”
Despite what Clarkson stated, in this issue of SELF, her image was photoshopped by the magazine to make her appearance look thinner than she truly was at the time. Clarkson is a great role model for young woman all around the world, for the very reason that she’s confident with her image, no matter her size. Photoshop has changed the image of true beauty, because it distorts the natural look of ones appearance.
Health implications are also a major way individuals distort the image of what beauty should be. Today, the physical image of a model is thin, due to mandatory unhealthy dieting and diet-related behaviors.
According to a study of women between the ages of 25 to 45 in the U.S, sixty-seven percent of women, not including those with eating disorders, are trying to lose weight. Studies also show that fifty-three percent of dieters who are already maintaining a healthy weight, are trying to lose more weight. In the U.S nearly ten million women suffer with an eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia.
Eighty percent of women are said to be unsatisfied with their appearance. Most models around the world today are suffering with these unhealthy eating habits, because thin is the new beautiful, or so they say. Not only do eating habits distort ones image, surgeries and unsafe cosmetics do the same.
Millions of women pay to get cosmetic procedures every year because they’re unhappy with their appearance. Most patients don’t understand the actual risks involved in their procedures, this includes scar tissue, infections and blood clots. Of coarse, these risks all depend on the type of surgery one goes through with.
Risks may also occur when using unsafe cosmetics. These beauty products do not need to be approved by the FDA in order to sell to costumers. Some cosmetics contain phthalates, which is shown to cause damage to the liver and reproductive system in animal studies. This product can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Health implications are the most common costs to a woman’s natural image; it has distorted the perception of beauty in today’s world.
Today, young woman around the world have become obsessive about their beauty and body image. Girls with low self-esteem do not feel good about themselves because they’re absorbing the negative messages that women from our day and culture present. This consequently leaves woman stewed in a sea of competition for beauty, among themselves.
Studies show that only watching thirty minutes of television programming and advertising can change the way a young woman may perceive her image and beauty. Another study also shows that sexualization is linked with three most common mental health problems in young girls and woman. These disorders include low self-esteem, depression and eating disorders. Because of the way woman are presenting themselves through social media, they’re relaying those negative perceptions among young girls and woman around the world today.
Others may argue that Photoshop is helping the individuals image, that it makes them look better to viewers. An editor of SELF magazine tried defending her work presenting Kelly Clarkson on the front cover. She said, “Yes, of course we do post-production corrections on our images. Photoshopping is an industry standard. Kelly Clarkson exudes confidence, and is a great role model for women of all sizes and stages of their life. She works out and is strong and healthy, and our picture shows her confidence and beauty. She literally glows from within. That is the feeling we’d all want to have.” She went on to say in her personal blog, “Did we alter her appearance? Only to make her look her personal best… But in the sense that Kelly is the picture of confidence, and she truly is, then I think this photo is the truest we have ever put out there on the newsstand.” They talk about body confidence and quote Clarkson talking about her real body confidence, yet they refuse to showcase her actual body image. This is what they argue, and this is why our world is filled with negative perceptions of beauty.
Doctors around the world feel as though surgical procedures make the individual more beautiful and self-confident. Which may be true, but at the same time is defeating the perception of true and natural beauty. Not only might doctors argue this for their personal and financial gain, but some average individuals may argue the same, because of their distorted perception of beauty. In today’s generation, young woman are being brought up not knowing what beauty truly is.
In conclusion, beauty has been distorted in today’s culture all around the globe. Not only this, but woman are beating and breaking themselves, only to feel a sense of beauty and self-confidence. But this sense of beauty is all but a lie. When becoming anorexic and changing ones natural image is beauty, then one has absorbed the negative messages woman are presenting. This is not beauty. This problem occurring in the minds of young woman cannot be completely stopped, but its awareness can be spread. Creating a Facebook page is a great way to spread a worldwide awareness. One could post encouraging photos and articles every day to give woman a positive perception on natural and true beauty.
