“I Want to Look Like Her”: Models as Idols

Every year millions of people tune into the Victoria’s Secret Fashion show or the coverage of New York’s Fashion week. The models at these events are idols in the fashion industry. Society sees these models as the “perfect human.” Women over the nation strive to look like these women. The models may appear beautiful but it is unfortunately at the risk of their health.

The unhealthy physical appearance of fashion models has become a worldwide issue. High-end fashion companies send girls down the runway with visible rib cages and legs as skinny as a child’s. Psychologists and eating disorder experts say that these women, who are supposed to be icons of beauty, have caused young women to fall into unhealthy habits as a result of trying to emulate these models. You can learn a little bit more about these eating disorders in my  ‘ Eating Disorders’ page.

The Media and Our Everyday Lives

The media has an overwhelming affect on our everyday lives, whether we know it or not.  Every time we turn on the television, or walk through the mall the media is sucking us in. They want society to conform to the ways presented. When the newest iPhone came out, millions of people rush to get it. Commercials tell us that this phone is better than the phone you have. If you do not get it, you will not fit in. Towards the beginning of the year our class was asked if they own a smart phone. There was only one person who did not own one. Little to everyone’s  knowledge, going out and buying a smart phone is conforming to society.

Companies often use celebrities and models to promote their product.  In a 2012 commercial, KIA Motors uses Victoria’s Secret model Adriana Lima to promote their new car. Viewers are led to believe that if they drive this car, they can land an international super model. Now most people are smart enough to believe this will never happen, but the concept is grasping.

Headlines of many magazines will read “Want to be beautiful and lose belly fat in just two weeks?” Along side the headline is a picture of Gisele Bundchen, sporting a skimpy string bikini. Just by watching TV, a person may be exposed to multiple commercials about the latest skin clearing serum, weight loss pill, or mascara. Although these products are not a necessity, the advertisement strategies portray them to almost be so.

Blog Description/ Purpose

My blog is going to discuss the overall evolving definition of beauty. I am going to focus on aspects of this broad topic. In today’s society, how does the media’s perception of beauty affect the public and individual opinion of what beautiful is? I want to add some wit and fun into a topic that is often taken very seriously. I really want my audience to be able to relate to my topic.

The purpose or goal for this blog is to inform. More specifically, my purpose is to inform about the negative, and some positive, affects of the medias influence on body image and the changing definition of beauty in today’s society. I want people to see that there is beauty in everything not just in what the media shows or tells us is beautiful.

Finally, my exigency is to shine a light on this controversial topic. I want people to see how the media affects their everyday life, even if they do not realize it and again, ensure that beauty is in everything.