Soulcrushing airbrushing

Speechless.

I know airbrushing occurs. It's everywhere. But never before have I seen such an egregious example as this:

http://cravingideas.blogs.com/backinskinnyjeans/

I have no words except...and we wonder why our society is so messed up. I'll leave the rest up to you.

PS Please share this with friends, daughters, etc to spread the word about how women must cease comparing ourselves to the ads and images we see. And thanks to Back in Skinny Jeans for the eye-opening post!

Comments

WOW. This is incredible—and very creepy. Do people really do this? I can't believe it. Thanks for sharing this with us, Leslie!

That was unbelievable. I know airbrushing happens everywhere, but I guess I didn't realize how much they can actually do. In a weird way, it made me appreciate they way I look, untouched-up. Our society has a sick obsession with being thin. I wish instead we were all obsessed with being healthy.

Wow! It's a shame that the industry doesn't just use real bodies. It would make the rest of us feel so much better about our bodies day to day.

But Leslie, this is not what happens all the time.they use skinny models who may need to be retouched slightly if at all. I think by insinuating that all photos of skinny women are retouched and that there are no women who are that thin in real life (when we know there are) only serves to re-assure people who do need to lose weight that they are ok being fat.

two words: yikes; disturbing.

I think it's important for us to realize that probably every single model/actress we see in a magazine has been airbrushed. It's the only way to achieve "perfection". But once we realize this, we should feel better about how we look in our natural skin.

I think that there are people who do need to loose weight. There is an increase in the number of people that are at risk of dying prematurely, because of being over weight. Obviously what we see in TV doesnt help. People panic about the way they look and go the wrong way about loosing weight. You do need to be happy with the way you look, no one is perfect. All people need to do just eat healthily and exercise. It's not so hard. You only life once make the most of it.

Interesting points people are bring up. I agree that this level of airbrusing is not the norm...it would be far to costly and simply does not make sense. I believe it was done to show people how far airbrushing and digital manipulation can be taken, and that the take-home message should be, "Don't always believe what you see." I do agree that it is healthier to keep your weight in a good, safe range and to eat wisely. Did not mean to promote obesity or any extreme weight level - only to show to extreme levels our society goes to to make women feel bad about their bodies as they are.

Leslie,
I don't believe that society goes to any lenghts to "make women feel bad about how they look" magazines etc just make the models look the absoloute best they can. they are in the business of selling magazines etc and we women feel bad about it because we know that it is possible to look that good and most of us don't look like that because we dont put in the effort needed to get to that stage. any women who take weight loss to extremes have their own personal issues and can't blame it on society.I can speak to this because I recently lost 35 lbs by hard work and diet and I know that the reason I had all that weight on in the first place was pure laziness and gluttony on my part. People need to take responsibilty for themselves and if looking at a really fab body in a magazine makes you feel bad about yourself you need to address why. its because you know you are not at your best weight or body shape.

I hear what Cassie is saying, and it's true: there is a reason the slender, fit and gorgeous are the ones appearing in magazine ads. However - - most of us, regardless of how carefully we eat and how diligently we exercise, will never completely escape the inevitable reality of the cellulite, stretch marks, and other imperfections that airbrushing completely eliminates. I'm a 44 year old Spinning instructor, and yeah, I am fit and I look pretty damn good, but in spite of my best efforts, I do not look like I did pre-children and pre-30. I am not "perfect". And neither are 99% of us.

Wouldn't it be great if they had "touch up" mirrors in the dressing rooms when you are trying on swim suits.

It makes me appreciate the beauty from yesteryear (Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe etc.)

Cassie said:

"we women feel bad about it because we know that it is possible to look that good and most of us don't look like that because we dont put in the effort needed to get to that stage"

The fact that even very thin models are retouched/airbrushed is proof that it is NOT possible to look that good in real life. Even the model herself doesn't look that good!! They are not making the models look "their" best, they are making them look BETTER than their best.

All the effort in the world would not allow any woman to look like models do after being retouched. It would be difficult enough look like those models before they are retouched. If the models don't look that perfect in real life, what make you think that anyone could?

Saying it's possible to look like that in real life without being airbrushed in a photo makes no sense. If that level of perfection were even possible, retouching/airbrushing wouldn't even exist, let alone be used to the level it is.

Of course the media and magazines want women to feel badly about themselves. who else would keep trying to achieve perfection with the many "lose 10lbs. fast" quick fixes. It equals big dollars. The beauty industry is the one of the few that benefits from people's failures, insecurities and shortcomings. Yes, women need to feel good about themselves and not buy into the magazines idea of what beauty is - and it's not airbrushed to prestine perfection. That old song is becoming so very old and so unrealistic.

Of course diet and exercise is beneficial to anyone's wellbeing, but the thing is, we don't all have to buy into the message that thin is more beautiful, powerful and accepted. Obviously, that is the message being sent out in the magazines,etc, or why would airbrusing of already thin and quite striking women be necessary?

The plus size's model airbrushing is obviously extreme, but the point is to see how the pictures that appear in magazines and television can be manipulated.

This has been a really interesting conversation. One idea struck me as peculiar though -- the idea that when we look at skinny women in magazines, we feel badly because "we know that it is possible to look that good and most of us don't look like that because we dont put in the effort needed to get to that stage."

Excuse me, but did y'all SEE America Ferrera in that gorgeous navy blue dress at the Golden Globes? I swear I have a love affair with that actress. SHE is gorgeous.

Or if you've watched American Idol this season, Jordin Sparks is breathtakingly beautiful, and she's probably a size 14-16. And she only gets prettier when she starts singing.

I don't feel that bad when I see skinny models, because they make choices to look like that. Other women make different choices, and look just as good or better than super-thin models. I think it's really strange how some posters have automatically assumed that all women (or men for that matter) agree that being thin is the same as being beautiful.

Cassie: "But Leslie, this is not what happens all the time. they use skinny models who may need to be retouched slightly if at all".

That last part isn't true. I have friends who work for People and Victoria Secret and am told EVERYONE gets airbrushed. This example was extreme to prove a point, but airbrushing is the norm, not the exception.

"What do we call love, hate, charity, revenge, humanity, forgiveness? Different results of the master impulse, the necessity of securing one's self-approval."

Deb - you have friends who tell you everyone gets air brushed - fair enough i believe you . but i also have friends who look that good in real life by hard work. so my point that it is possible is also true. I dont think everyone needs to be 100lb. I'm certainly know where near that.I just personally don't find heavier girls to be beautiful. again personal view. i'm sure many people do. variety is the spice of life. nor do i find super skinny olsen girls attractive either. my point was that through hard work you can obtain scuplted abs etc. instead of claiming that nobody really does have it (when they do) push your self harder - if thats what you want. If you don't cool!!! good for you. nobody is perfect all of their life we have babies, put on weight, get injured can't work out etc so we all go up and down. my point is just that when you look at someone else's body & feel bad about your self -leslies point not mine - that its not the medias fault and that you can do something about it. but if you are genuinely

happy in your own skin then however amount of airbrushing (or really skinny people without airbrushing) will not affect you.

Cassie, I'll try to state my point in a different way. When I said our society goes to extreme levels to make women feel bad about their bodies, I did not mean to intimate that society is the ONLY factor and that we, as individuals, hold no responsibility for our reactions. I absolutely believe that women need to make sure we keep our self-esteem high, our body image strong; we must not allow pictures (airbrushed or not) OR the woman in front of us at Starbucks or next to us at the gym, to dictate how we feel. But the constant influx of "skinny = beautiful" messages can sometimes hamper the process for certain women...and it definitely creates an unfavorable environment for young girls to grow up in. That's why I encouraged readers to share this with their daughters.

Shout-out to Nikki for her insightful post.

"only serves to re-assure people who do need to lose weight that they are ok being fat"

EXCUSE ME???????????????

I never for one minute forget the fact that I am over weight, and I do think its "OK". Hello its my body, and i am the only one who has to deal with it. Ignorant people like you make this world what it is

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