Today's Perception of Beauty ~ Let's Change It!

Recent Blog I Wrote About the Media and It's Influences!

Magazine Ad from Ralph Lauren

Hello Jewels Girls!

Take a good look at this photo from a Ralph Lauren ad. What do you think about the model in this ad? I was shocked and horrified that such a leading fashion designer would think that this ad is appealing to a woman/girl and would make her want to go out and buy this outfit! Is this what our society things is beautiful? This is obviously a photo shop disaster!!! This ad got me to thinking about how the media has such a powerful influence on how we think and feel about ourselves. We all want to look like a supermodel at times but is this really the best goal for ourselves. This picture is a perfect example of how what we consider beauty is slowly being distorted by the media and our society.

Here is an excellent video called “Evolution of a Model” created by Dove which shows how much retouching is done to models in magazines to portray this ‘perfect’ or ‘beautiful image’ that we as women and girls try to live up to.


These images that we see everyday in magazines shape us in many ways. We often strive to look perfect and have negative thoughts about ourselves when we try to live up to these impossible standards. What is beauty to you? Do you feel beautiful even if you feel that you aren't the 'perfect' size or look a certain way?

"Today's unrealistic idea of what is beautiful means that young girls are under more pressure now than they were even five years ago. Airbrushing means that adverts contain completely unattainable images that no one can live up to in real life. We need to help protect children from these pressures and we need to make a start by banning airbrushing in adverts aimed at them. The focus on women's appearance has got out of hand - no one really has perfect skin, perfect hair and a perfect figure, but women and young girls increasingly feel that nothing less than thin and perfect will do."-Jo Swinson

Being aware of the tricks that the media uses can arm us with a better perception of what it means to be beautiful! We place too much emphasis on our imperfections and should focus more on what makes us fabulous and unique! There are beautiful things about each of us and we as a society should celebrate our strengths, talents, and abilities not just our jean sizes or looks.

I challenge you all Jewels Girls to be proud of the beautiful young women that you are and not to let our society influence how we feel about ourselves and what we think is real beauty!