Friday, January 7, 2011

This is Not Real

As I've said before, I have a 13-year-old niece who is a lovely young lady. She's very optimistic and happy and loves the Lord. What more could I ask for?

But Madison and I have had some conversations in the past that I know will creep up as SB ages. One of the main things I'm noticing that Madison is going through and that SB will go through when she's older is self-image issues.

Nobody is perfect. Not a single person. And that goes especially for people in the physical sense. We are all flawed. Acne scars, flabby arms, dimpled legs. We're either too tall, too short, too fat or too skinny. Our hair is the wrong color. Our eyes are the wrong color.

Why do we feel this way about ourselves? Because day in and day out we are bombarded with photos of what "the world" wants us to look like. Tall - at least 5'10" - weighing in at a stick-like 110 pounds (which, by the way, is a BMI of only 15.8. Healthy is a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9). She has impossibly long legs, a flat stomach and cheeks so hollow a squirrel could hide acorns in them.

I wanted to share this Dove Real Beauty commercial to show you what really happens before a picture hits the billboard:


I can't believe that this girl is okay with them doing that to her! Is she not beautiful enough on her own?

We need to let today's teens and girls know that what they see in magazines is NOT real. Those pictures are not attainable for anyone - even the girl in the picture herself!

This:

IS NOT REAL!!!

If you're not familiar with Kimora, she has a reality show. That's about all I know about her other than she is GORGEOUS without being photoshopped.
Isn't she gorgeous as-is? Beautiful skin and face. Lovely curves? You agree, don't you?
Take a look at this. This is a shoot Britney Spears did to show what she actually looks like and what photoshopping does to her.
http://cocoperez.com/category/kimora-lee-simmons/page/3/
Now listen, I don't think Britney looks all that bad. She's a 29 year old mom of two who has obvious issues... she look pretty darn good.

Why can't we accept ourselves the way God made us? Why must the modern woman (and man) continuously strive to be taller, thinner, blonder, tanner, etc?

Now listen - this is not an anti-photoshop post. I adore photoshop. I use it all the time...just not to completely alter what I present to others.

Anyway. I'm rambling. The point is - love who you are. Love yourself how God made you. Don't listen to Hollywood, actresses, models or advertising. You are gorgeous just how you are.

I promise! Have I ever lied to you?

(And here's another video about how unreal this is. It's over 4 minutes, FYI)

2 comments:

FosterAbba said...

I think you are absolutely right that the distorted body images portrayed on television and in magazines give girls a really warped sense of self.

This is one of the many reasons why we limit our daughter's media exposure. She doesn't need to be told in many subtle and not-so-subtle ways that she isn't pretty enough.

Thanks for your nice comment on my blog this morning. I'd love to have you link to me, thanks!

Anonymous said...

I've seen the Dove ad before, but not the second video. Watching them, though, made me realize that I do buy into what magazines are showing me, even though I've told myself they don't affect me. The truth is they affect everyone who looks at them whether they think they do or not.

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