Written By Grace Salus
Creative Member
As a little girl, I remember flipping through fashion magazines and constantly seeing girls who looked exactly the same: tall and thin. Although it may have been my subconscious at the time, I found myself comparing my body against these beauty standards, leading to a lack of confidence and a desire to be different. This discomfort in my own skin, even at such a young age, is highlighted in old pictures of me covering up my stomach or slouching over. I have since learned that these are not abnormal feelings, as many of my peers shared similar experiences.
Over time, this beauty standard has evolved to include human representation of all different shapes, sizes, colors, and identities. Brands are taking initiatives to celebrate diversity and turn the fashion industry into a place that is more reflective of real life. These beneficial changes are attracting a wider audience and are helping build more authentic relationships between brands and consumers.
One example that stood out to me is the #AerieREAL campaign, launched in 2014 and continues to be active today. The campaign's purpose was to assist women in finding comfortable clothes and challenge traditional beauty standards. The company achieved this by including various models and using brand ambassadors to discuss how the Aerie clothing empowers them to feel confident in their bodies.
Another example is Rihanna’s brand, Fenty Beauty, which has made strides in the makeup industry by creating the ‘Beauty for All’ campaign, which aims to ensure no one is excluded. The brand featured models of all different skin tones and released a trailer with a massive emotional appeal as underrepresented women and cultures were featured in a beauty campaign like this for the first time.
The fashion industry is a powerful tool in shaping people’s perceptions of others and themselves, making it extremely important to make these positive changes in model representation. I believe the body positivity and inclusivity being portrayed in the media has already improved my self-image and I hope this inclusive model representation continues to progress to benefit future generations.
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