Supermodel Kate Moss once said, "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels." Like several girls, I drool over Moss's perfection. She has had one of the most successful careers in modeling history, is absolutely gorgeous, always looks fierce (even now at the age of 41), and has the "perfect" body. However, in today's society it seems that everyone must look like this to be "beautiful."
Everyone is made differently. We all posses different hair colors, skin tones, eye colors, heights, body types, etc. In the media's eyes, no one can be different. Women must be tall but underweight. Men must be muscular and not too skinny. Women must have an athletic build but still be thin. No one can look any different.
In reality, very few can obtain this ideal image. Some people are made naturally tall and thin, while others are naturally muscular, short, etc. Having tall and thin as the only image one sees when flipping through a magazine takes a toll on one's mind, even if they don't realize it until it is too late. Eating disorders or disordered eating patterns have risen in the past ten years. Dieting has been shown to start as early as age 9. Age 9.
On the reverse side, some songs have been known to "skinny-shame" those who may naturally look this way. In Meghan Trainor's "All About That Bass," she sings, "She says, boys like a little more booty to hold at night. You know I won't be no stick-figure, silicone Barbie doll, but if that's what you're into then go ahead and move along." Trainor has also made comments to magazines stating, "I tried to be anorexic once, but I wasn't strong enough. All I ate was ice cubes and celery for three hours and that's not even anorexic. Then I told my mom to make me a sandwich." Trainor pretty much slammed the deadliest mental disorder around.
The media depicts this as being necessary in order to be cool or to fit in. According to Philippa Roxby's 2014 article "Does Social Media Impact Body Image?", cosmetic surgeries to help fit this ideal image have risen 20 percent since 2008. While watching television, in five minutes, you may see three commercials promoting the newest diet pill, low-fat food, or trending exercise. I agree exercise and healthy eating are great habits, but when one is constantly bombarded with all these expectations, it's easy to become overwhelmed. As a runner, I admit to eating healthy and running 45+ miles a week. I do love cookies though, so after a hard workout, a race, or if I'm really craving a cookie, I'll have one, even if society does not want me to.
Having had my own struggles in the past, I want to tell everyone who is reading this that you are beautiful. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. Based on personal experiences, it is a dark road ahead if you do not learn to love yourself and be happy with who you are. You are perfect the way you are. Talk to anyone about it if you are struggling. Every part of you is gorgeous.
