While we live in the age of social media, it is very difficult not to compare each other. Celebrities, models and influencers often make it across the Instagram feed of teenage girls. Seeing the societal norms and standards of super skinny women with perfect skin, plump lips and toned bodies is not an easily achievable reality for most. These beauty standards are unrealistic for people to achieve, but social media continues to push them. Many girls end up feeling a sense of negative self-esteem after they compare themselves to the ideal images of beauty that is all over social media.
This perfected image of beauty is oftentimes inescapable. Television commercials, makeup counters and social media are all flooded with ads that display over-edited and highly enhanced photos and videos of women. These ads are everywhere, but there is no mention of the editing and enhancing that goes on during and post-production. Sharing the reality or the before and after could help show young girls and anyone who is constantly comparing themselves to these unrealistic standards.
Extremely thin models and influencers are very famous right now. TikTok is full of influencers who dance around and show off their extremely thin bodies. Some girls who do not look like them may feel bad about their own bodies. Social media and unrealistic beauty and body standards are extremely harmful to mental health. So many young girls have developed eating disorders due to the societal pressures and standards of having a thin body.
Now, the rise of the body positivity movement has started making its way into social media. People are promoting the self-worth and beauty of all bodies, especially body types that are not recognized by unrealistic standards. Healthy living is celebrated with the rise of body positivity, staying active, and eating clean are components of feeling good and nourishing your body. Most of the movement is centered on the acceptance of all body types and seeing beauty in all people.
It is important to recognize that there is no one correct body type. Society should not hold beauty standards and try to make everyone conform to them. The true beauty is that everyone is unique. People’s differences make them stand out and show their beauty. Influencers, advertisers and people need to stop buying into the ideal beauty standards. Embracing differences is embracing beauty. Beauty comes from people staying true to themselves and being confident in their own skin. There is no need for anyone to change their appearance just to fit into the mold that society has set as being beautiful.