Kyra Linekin

Mr. Kovalsky

AP Journalism

29 January 2018

Society’s Definition of Beauty

Physical attractiveness is an attribute that close to all humans strive for, especially women. In
the 1800s, Peter Paul Rubens, a 17th century Flemish Baroque painter, created paintings of
plump Rubenesque f​igures, mainly women, who depicted the ideal body figure of the time
period. In the 1940s and 1950s, curvy pin-up girls became the pinnacle of beauty, especially
post-war era belle, Marilyn Monroe. The blond and curvaceous model, actress, and singer
became the zenith of female attractiveness and is still considered one of the most beautiful
women in American history.

Today, in the 21st century, a stout and full-figured women is not glorified nearly as much as in
the past. The ​damaging impact of modern day female body images on today’s women has
caused a downward spiral of self-confidence due to this perceived image of ‘beauty’. A
16-year-old female student of Ridgefield High School in Ridgefield, Connecticut states her
opinion of what the desired body image of today’s females is. She says, “ I believe that it
follows trends set in celebrities or models. Currently, it seems like society’s “beautiful” is an
image of small waists and skinny legs but also flawless curves.”.

The body image of today’s young females is told to them through the magazines and other
publicly displayed forms of female professional models. The created idea is that a slim,
hourglass figure is the only body type that is ‘beautiful’. Not only is this untrue, it is damaging
to the emotional and physical health of today’s self-deprecating teenage girls.
The average teenage girl gets about 180 minutes of media exposure daily and only about 10
minutes of parental interaction a day. Moreover, this subjection of today’s young girls as young
as the age of 5 has to led to dissatisfaction with their bodies due to the commonly photoshopped
bodies of ce​lebrity models or actresses they see.

According to an industry survey conducted by Model Alliance in 2012, 64.1% of models said
they have been requested by their agencies to lose weight. These attractive women not only
model today’s hottest trends, but 31.2% admitted to suffering from an eating disorder while
doing it. Victoria's Secret Angel, Alessandra Ambrosio, says, “After having Anja I only had
three months to lose all the weight [before doing the 2008 Victoria's Secret show] and I was on
this 1,200-calorie-a-day meal-delivery service that I hated. I couldn't do that again. [Show prep
generally] is so stressful . . . there's so much pressure on us all — not just in terms of shape —
and the energy gets sucked out of you”.

“The original objective of thin models was to ensure the attention of the viewer remained on the
garments. In the early 20th Century, the first professional fashion models were called ‘living
mannequins’. They were hired to be animated dolls. The thinness of the mannequins turned the
body into a literal clothes hanger.” says Lydia Kaye in her article “The Reasons Skinny Models
Are Here To Stay in Fashion” for ​Catalogue​. Kaye states that ​thinness is used to make the body
discrete. The intention is that with a petite model, the garment being modeled becomes the
dominant sight to focus in on.

Makena Klinkowize, a 15-year-old student at Ridgefield High School says, “​I feel that this image
is unnecessary and wrong, as individuals should all be perceived as beautiful, regardless of their
weight or if they do, or do not, have certain features. This image has actually given me harsh
expectations of how I should look and for a long time, I was consumed by the idea of being
“skinny,” and wanted to look exactly how I thought every other girl looked. It was a harsh reality
check when I realized that individuality is the most beautiful quality a person can have but I wish
more girls realized this themselves”.
Action is finally beginning to be taken in France; France has recently banned underweight
models and the use of photoshop without warning on the photo, ​photographie retouchée
(retouched photograph), because they believe it promotes eating disorders and inaccessible ideals
of beauty. All models will be required to provide a doctor’s note stating the model is of a
healthy weight and is authorized to model.

Employers breaking the law could face fines of up to 75,000 euros (£63,500; $82,000) and up to
six months in jail. "Exposing young people to normative and unrealistic images of bodies leads
to a sense of self-depreciation and poor self-esteem that can impact health-related behaviour,"
said France's Minister of Social Affairs and Health, Marisol Touraine.

“I think this is wonderful, way too many models are beyond underweight and it promotes such
habits as “healthy” or “ideal”. By getting rid of this and showing healthy weights in models will
affect the rates of eating disorders and greatly help the level of self esteem in many girls”, says
16-year-old female student at Ridgefield High School, who wishes to remain anonymous.

It is evident that it is not only in popular modeling magazines such as ​Vogue​ or ​Elle​ where this
body image is promoted. The idea that a girl is ‘too fat’ can be enforced due all on her own,
originating from reaching 100 pounds or not having a gap in between her thighs. From
department store dressing rooms to the girls’ locker room, the notion if not physically present
can implant itself in the mind of a teenage girl. It is the responsibility of society to take on the
challenge of altering this unrealistic standard.

American Eagle Outfitters’ lingerie and intimate apparel line, aerie, has made an effort to do just
that. With the launch of their 2014 aerie Real campaign, the company has shocked the fashion
industry through their unretouched photos of models of various sizes. This campaign is aimed at
promoting body positivity and loving the “real you”; aerie urges their customers to believe that
“the real you is sexy”.
Iskra Lawrence, a full-figured size 14 model who was previously told that she could not model
because of her size, is also an ambassador for the National Eating Disorder Association- a guild
with which aerie is now partnered with, as well.

An effort must be made for teenage girls to come and the ones that are within reach. The entire
fashion and modeling industry in the United States and other countries can follow in the
footsteps of France and aerie in its dramatic alteration to its models. ​ This adjustment can create
a community of woman with confidence and flare who emit the credence of their perfectly
acceptable figures. The words of the radiant Iskra Lawrence sum it up exceptionally, “your body
is your home, your vessel in life. It needs to be respected and loved”.

Iskra Lawrence, a 5’9” model Candice Swanepoel (middle) a

modeling swimsuits for aerie. a 5’10” model modeling
swimsuits for Victoria’s Secret. ​ swimsuits for Victoria’s
Secret.