Teenagers now are bombarded with images of women that have been modified with graphic programs so that the perceived “perfect woman” pushed by media and advertising is not physically possible.
Having three daughters, one of my key worries was the media. While beautiful and ridiculously skinny models have been the favorite clothes horse of magazines and television ads since I can remember, technology has taken it to an entirely new level.
Here is a prime example of it: http://homepage.mac.com/gapodaca/digital/bikini/bikini1.html
This model is very slender, yet very curvy (possibly even surgically enhanced), yet it wasn’t considered good enough. Her bust was increased, hips decreased, ribcage reduced, arms thinned, skin texture, veins and fine hair removed, face shape changed…. everything. Why? Can’t we handle seeing perceived imperfections? Just because we can edit and enhance doesn’t mean we should.
Another thing that irritates me is bust size on models. When I see a size 2 woman with size D breasts – something just doesn’t jive. We’ve become a society that thinks bust size equates into beauty. C’mon!!
I am very small busted and not looking for implants… I am what I am and thankful that I can jog without knocking myself out and can lean to get the salt without dipping my chest into my soup. A large chest would look very odd on my body type. My sister is naturally very large busted, and her body type is conducive to having a large chest. In fact, she would look odd with a small chest. We are what we are.
When I see a dress modeled on a skeleton with skin I discredit it because it appears to made for someone much smaller than myself. When I see a dress modeled by an average sized person my thoughts are, “Hmm, looks good on her, I bet it would look good on me too.”
Kudos goes out to French Elle magazine: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/yay-french-elles-amazing-no-makeup-issue-and-why-american-mags-need-to-step-it-up-446538/
They are using models with no makeup and no graphical editing. These ladies are the real enchillada! Love it!!!
