Much too often, the media presents unrealistic standards of beauty. Disney star Zendaya has once again spoken out to make a positive change after Modeliste Magazine retouched her hips. Only a few months ago, Giuliana Rancic made a comment on Fashion Police saying that the singer-actress’s dreads make her look like she “smells like patchouli oil. Or, weed.” Zendaya responded to the show via Instagram, beautifully explaining that “wearing my hair in locs on an Oscar red carpet was to showcase them in a positive light, to remind people of color that our hair is good enough.” This statement caused a stir in the media, resulting in mass support of Zendaya and her mature ability to address the issue.
As an advocate for feminism with a strong belief in natural beauty, she has gained attention for yet another post on social media. On October 20, Zendaya reacted to Modeliste Magazine shrinking her body proportions. She explains that she was “shocked when I found my 19-year-old hips and torso quite manipulated.” While altering the appearances of models in the media is done on a regular basis, this doesn’t mean it should continue to be accepted as a social norm.
Courtesy: Instacelebs
Zendaya made the brave decision to share with her followers (and the entire world) just how retouched her shoot was. Thus, admitting that she is not a size zero and bringing light to her uncensored self. “These are the things that make women self conscious, that create the unrealistic ideals of beauty that we have,” she writes on Instagram. At such a young age, she has become a trailblazer and an inspiration for many. There were a great deal of positive and support comments left of her post. “Anyone who knows who I am knows I stand for honest and pure self love,” she continues.
What is most notable about Zendaya’s actions is that she does not criticize or shame Modeliste Magazine for the alterations: “I took it upon myself to release the real pic and I love it! Thank you @modelistemagazine for pulling down the images and fixing this retouch issue.” Additionally, Modeliste’s editor-in-chief Amy McCabe replied to her post, thanking Zendaya for raising what she considered “a very important issue.” Because of her poised response, Zendaya is a classy celebrity that all collegiates should look up to.
On October 22, Florida State celebrated Love Your Body Day, which is a day dedicated to promoting self-love and being comfortable in your own skin. Activities on Landis Green ranging from fitness to food to even posting a selfie with the hash tag #NOLEFILTER, encouraged students to take a stand against society’s narrow standards for beauty, just like Zendaya did. It is important to remember that we are all uniquely beautiful, no matter what the media tells us.