I received a phone call from my brother yesterday in regards to what he was watching on HLN. I couldn’t believe my ears. A 14-year-old girl made a petition for Seventeen Magazine to stop using Photoshop and use real girls in their magazine. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this. I think it’s great that she is trying to help other young teenagers feel more confident with themselves, don’t get me wrong, however I think her perception of the industry might be slightly skewed.
Having been featured in the magazine many times I kind of take offense. I do not feel that they Photoshop the sh*t out of their models. They use very real, walking, breathing, normal girls. Ha. Seriously though, it’s a teenage magazine, not an ad campaign. I do not think I could be more “real.” I live the same life these girls do. I pig out on the same bad food, worry about my weight way too much, especially when I was a dancer, and I never think that I am as “pretty” as the girls that grace Victoria Secret. It happens to all of us. I personally think this14-year-old should focus more on helping other girls celebrate themselves. I actually read this excerpt from a book the other day….“Think of all the places where you separate yourself from others, distinguishing “us” and “them.” The minute we do this we are building our sense of self, not on what we truly are, but on trying to feel better than others because we fear we are not enough.”
In this case these girls petitioning may not be trying to “feel better than others” per say, but they are comparing themselves to someone else and in a sense saying that they are not enough. THEY ARE ENOUGH! YOU ARE ENOUGH!
Anyway, as a model, I am using my look to sell a product. It is an artistic job, celebrating beauty. I am in no way saying that those that do not model are not beautiful. Everyone is beautiful. As models, we show our beauty externally. Singers show beauty with their voice, musicians with their fingers, dancers with their bodies, artists with their medium.
HEY, why don’t we start a petition telling Adele she shouldn’t be allowed to sing anymore because her voice is flawless and no one elses is. Where would that get us? Our ears would be murdered if “real people” sang! I am the worst singer in the world, 100% tone-deaf and no way around it. If there was one talent I wish that I could have, it would definitely be the ability to sing.
We all aren’t blessed with the same talents. That is what makes us, us. I hope young girls can learn to embrace their own beauty and talents. Looks fade. It truly is what is on the inside that counts. So next time you are flipping through Seventeen Magazine, or any other magazine for that matter, admire the external beauty and embrace your own. You are unique. There is only one of you.
Here is the article if you are interested:
http://www.statesman.com/life/style/girl-asks-seventeen-magazine-to-put-real-girls-2338059.html