We all know that most of the photos of men and women that we see in the media today are photoshopped. Often, these edited pictures create unrealistic body image standards that can affect the self-esteem and mental health of those who see them.
The so-called "perfection" of celebrities in the media has sparked countless trends over the years, such as the "thigh gap" fad and the "Kylie Jenner lip challenge."
The problem with these trends and aspirations to be "perfect" like celebrities is simple, our expectations are unrealistic. Most celebrities have personal stylists and makeup artists at their disposal nearly every day and the pictures of models and celebrities that are shown in advertisements are photoshopped.
Recently, I read an article about what women consider to be the "ideal face." The face is comprised of various celebrities' features, such as Scarlett Johansson's full lips, Mila Kunis' almond-shaped eyes, and Cara Delevigne's bold eyebrows. I decided to photoshop a picture of my face to match the "perfect face" as closely as I could, to see what "perfection" looks like on me.
The "Ideal Face"
Here's a diagram of the "perfect" features and the celebrity that each belongs to.
My Original Picture:
My boyfriend took this for a photography project and my automatic response was, "I look terrible." The photo seemed to capture all of my facial insecurities.
1. Skin
The first thing that I edited was my skin. I made it brighter and smoother. I edited out my freckles, which used to bother me, skin blemishes, and visible pores.
2. Nose
Next, I made my nose narrower and straighter.
3. Lips
Then, I plumped and glossed my lips to get the "Johansson" look.
4. Eyebrows
Next, I made my eyebrows longer and bolder.
5. Eyes
After that, I made my eyes narrower to resemble the almond-shaped eyes in the "ideal" picture.
6. Cheekbones
Then, I made my cheekbones more defined.
7. Final
Finally, I airbrushed the entire face one more time and highlighted my browbones and cheekbones again.
A Comparison:
What I Learned:
Simply put, I learned that it takes a lot of work to look like the "ideal woman." I don't even think that the "ideal" me looks human and it definitely doesn't look like me anymore. In the end, my ultra-photoshopped portrait taught me that I am more beautiful in my own skin because my natural face is the face that fits me best.
If everyone looked like a generic copy of "perfection," we would lose our individuality. I may not look like Kylie Jenner, Angelina Jolie, or any other celebrity, but I look like me and I am proud of that. Instead of loving ourselves in spite of our differences, we should love ourselves because of them.
