Barbara Ferreira is a successful model. I had followed her on Instagram a few years ago because I really like her style. It was after I saw her in a few of Teen Vogue's YouTube videos that I found out she was a professional plus size model and an activist. She worked with a diverse group of models for Teen Vogue in a body positive campaign. They spoke against body shaming for all genders, what plus models are tired of hearing, healthy eating, etc.
While all the videos were inspiring one specific line from a model stuck to me the most. Her words were "I am ready for a revolution where a normal size body is just that...We all have different body types. When is that going to be normal?". That seems like the most logical approach so why is it not true? Why do I never see models like Ferreira in Tommy Hilfiger ads or Victoria's Secret? These models are as committed to their work as anyone, they eat healthy and work out diligently. So why are they denied of privileges just because of a difference in genetics? There is a lot to why that is with a variety of issues, but the main aspect I want to discuss is how this morphs our own view on beauty.
It is true that we all spend a lot of time on the internet and social media. We see articles on Facebook and videos on YouTube on how to achieve the "perfect" body. We see Instagram models posing with protein shakes and tight clothing getting over 100 millions followers. We see music videos of shirtless boys dancing with girls in bikinis. Now there is nothing wrong with your choice of celebrating and showing your body. What is wrong is when only certain body types are celebrated.
We all have different features, are different sizes and bring beauty to this world in different ways. We are the consumers of the media and are in charge of whats popular and whats not. We claim to love diversity and are all for the platform of accepting yourself as you are. So why are not we as accepting of seeing a diverse range of body types in the media?
When you click on the article that is body shaming a celebrity or even spend time watching a video on fast diets to achieve a lean physique, you are just entertaining the idea that only a certain body type is acceptable. If you work out do it because it makes you feel strong. If you want to eat a salad do it because it makes you feel healthy. Not to simply attain something you see others having. When we feed into the message that there is only a certain way we have to look and by not looking it we will never achieve happiness, we put a hold on opportunities for others and ourselves. We have so much room to grow emotionally and intellectually. The last thing we need to focus on is why our thighs touch or why our hair is too frizzy.
If we all disengage ourselves from negative media we will find ourselves with a more positive look. Your body is there for you to enjoy life, to dance, to see the world, and achieve your goals and once you realize that, you will gain confidence. Once the world sees we are not interested in conforming to their standards of beauty, it will stop and come to our perspective. Slowly we can make a change. It's up to you.
