Recently, the retail store H&M has been enveloped in controversy. The Swedish clothing company recently admitted to super-imposing models’ heads on computer-generated bodies. Given the CGI scandals that abound in the fashion industry, perhaps this incident is not surprising, but it is nevertheless disheartening.
In today’s society, it is hard to feel perfect when [deceptive] images of flawlessness are everywhere. Singers, actresses, and models like those in H&M ads often seem to conveniently have everything that we feel we do not. It is easy, particularly for women, to not realize that what we see sometimes is not even real. A lot of time is spent behind the scenes enhancing photos, airbrushing the models, and, apparently, mixing and matching body parts to entice people to want to use the products being marketed. Personal trainers and even surgery are at the disposal of film stars and people in the public eye. In this video called “Evolution,” the Dove Self-Esteem Fund demonstrates exactly why our perception of beauty is distorted.
It is no wonder that self-esteem, particularly in relation to body image, has grown to be a big issue for girls and women. In response, Dove created the Self-Esteem Fund to support positive self-esteem among women from all walks of life. They created “Evolution” to show that every girl deserves to feel good about themselves.
Real beauty starts on the inside. Everything that you find different about yourself is what makes you unique. I have learned to love who I am, and I am comfortable and confident in my own skin. I love that I have curves and that I look and feel healthy. I am me, and there is no one else exactly like me. Encourage yourself and other girls in your life to embrace their unique differences. You can see exactly what I mean in another powerful video from Dove’:“Every Girl is Beautiful.”
Your challenge for today is to go stand in front of a mirror and say three things that you find beautiful about yourself. As I do this, it helps me to keep these three ideas in mind:
- Self-esteem is more than just feeling good about yourself, it is taking pride in your accomplishments, liking what you see in the mirror, and knowing your own worth.
- You are important, and even if you don’t realize it, somewhere and somehow you are making an impact on someone else’s life.
- Take control of your own life starting now and realize that nobody is perfect, but everyone is worthwhile. Believe in yourself.
So, as we work on our building our own personal “Self-Esteem Funds,” we can also work collectively against the H & M’s of the world. Sign the petition!