The fashion industry has led us to believe that it strives to empower all body types with the emergence of the body positivity movement. Within the past few years, there has been an upward trend of “curve models” in magazines, plus size fashion. However, even the companies that supposedly preach inclusivity, are holding back. According to Allure, “Designers have gravitated toward only representing that palatable version of plus, one that slightly pushes the boundaries but that’s not too fat for comfort, by exclusively casting size 12/14 models ” Magazines exclusively use models that are only slightly overweight, revealing that the standards are still impossibly high for the everyday woman. While “plus-size” models may have trouble finding work modeling regularly, they are still beautiful, weigh less than the average woman, and would be considered exceptional in everyday life. This sort of standard is not relatable to the average woman. The Beauty Industry is still preying on the insecurity of women using unrealistic body standards just like it always has. Only this time, peddling it as acceptance.
The fashion industry profits off of women by utilizing these tactics. According to Chron.com, “people are rarely ugly, overweight, poor, struggling or disabled, either physically or mentally” in beauty ads. The fashion business convinces the public to spend money. They do this by convincing us that they can make us feel beautiful, supporting our unhealthy notions that beautiful people have easier lives. Plus-size modeling is another snake oil salesman-esque scheme used to reel people in, and feed them the false idea that true beauty is just within reach. It does this by using buzzwords like “beauty enhancers” now instead of “blemish concealers”. While the wording has changed, the motives have not.
The most dangerous lie that the fashion industry has fed us is that we are not whole, and we need to be beautiful to be accepted as human beings. According to Medical News Today, “body positivity aims to challenge societal standards of appearance. It promotes acceptance of all body shapes, sizes, genders, and skin tones.” The beauty industry now is trying to expand the definition of beauty to anyone and everyone. This, and slogans such as “everyone is beautiful ” and “beautiful on the inside ” are especially detrimental, because beauty shouldn’t matter so much to us.
The truth is that not everyone is beautiful, and admitting it would be the most freeing. Fashion is sought out, creative, and important. But that doesn’t mean we should let it dictate our self worth. Beauty should be treated like a privilege, something that is given to some and not others, when it is freely handed out to everyone, it loses its meaning. Saying someone is thoughtful, or kind is so much more impactful than beautiful. In the end, beauty doesn’t make life easier, nor does it make us whole. Instead of saying everyone is beautiful, why not suggest that everyone is worthy because of the fact that they are human?