By: Nadine Hernandez & Nadia Castro

Social media has taken beauty standards into its own hands with the ongoing cycle of having to earn your own beauty while being compared to others. Throughout history, we've witnessed societies ideal body change over and over. Meanwhile, this leaves women constantly struggling to keep up with society's idea of a perfect figure. Although social media has taken beauty standards to the next level, the body positivity movement has been around for decades. Marilyn Monroe, a symbol of women's empowerment and sexuality, was an advocate for body positivity, even in the fifties. Today, her mark remains, as she portrays beauty with her famous quote, “Imperfection is beauty” This is important because more often than not, women look up to brands that hold a standard body size, like Victoria’s Secret.

The inner struggle of body positivity affects all body types. Both men and women will put themselves under serious diets to achieve or maintain a body figure that can more often lead to serious life-threatening disorders. This includes eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating and obesity. According to the FREED foundation, anorexia is characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. With symptoms that involve food restrictions, fear of weight gain, fasting or excessive exercise, and the persistent lack of recognizing current low weight.

Bulimia is characterized by a cycle of binge-eating followed by self- induced vomiting to compensate for the action of binge-eating. Symptoms include regular purging behavior and sense of loss of control over eating behavior. Binge-eating is without the use of inappropriate compensatory weight control behaviors. Obesity is having an excessive amount of body mass, which is calculated by BMI (Body Mass Index).

There’s been an ongoing controversy behind the meaning of body positivity vs. acceptance of being unhealthy. Stephanie Yeboah, a U.K. based style and lifestyle blogger stated, “I think body positivity was created for bodies that are not privileged,” and with social media soaring today, it’s created a bigger platform for this argument. Where many peoples issue lies is the idea that being body positive means being content with poor health. The point of embracing your body is for yourself - not what other people deem it as. It is belittling to tell people that their struggle with body positivity is invalid.

For people who are on the same journey, all they desire is community - to see they aren’t alone and have support from people who have the same goal. You don’t have to be apart of the movement, just an ally to those around you because you never know what issue someone is facing. Singer and songwriter Lizzo, often spreads empowerment through her music.

In an interview with Allure she said, “I’m going to still be telling my life story through music. And if that’s body-positive to you, amen. That’s feminist to you, amen. If that’s pro-black to you, amen. Because ma’am, I’m all of those things.”

Lizzo enables inspiration through her music all while using her platform to share her journey of overcoming the conflict with her inner self. Taryn Brumfitt, author of Embrace: My Story from Body Loather to Body Lover advocates the importance of embracing your body rather than being at war with it and treating it like an object. Since the release of her book in 2018, many high-profile personalities such as Ashton Kutcher, Olivia-Newton John, and Rosie O’ Donnell point out the positive influence that Brumfitt holds in her book. Society will continue being on a wave of change, but the one thing to keep in mind is that is uncontrollable. However, the way you portray yourself and your mindset is in your hands.

Trends have made their way across clothing, hair, and dance moves. In 2013, everyone became in awe of the thigh-gap that meant even when your legs or feet were together but your inner thighs did not touch. It became such a beauty standard that women started feeling insecure about their body not being able to do what was praised. If your thighs naturally have or don’t have a gap, amazing! The way you were born is capable of being loved. Soon after, women took action and started #mermaidthighs and #thickthighssavelives. These hashtags started trending on social media and spread like wildfire! Another trend still exists on the internet today, the hourglass body figure that Kim Kardashian and other women in the industry have. Yet this turned into the trend of being “slim thick” which means someone having toned thighs, widened hips with a flattened stomach. The powerful influence the industry possesses is why trends are taken seriously, and expected of the audience, us. Men have spoken out on wanting “slim thick” women disregarding women who have beautiful bodies, but don’t have one of the features the trend requires. Everyone is made the way they are, and it’s their choice how they want to rock their body not society’s or men.

The journey to self-love and acceptance towards yourself could be a short journey or an ongoing learning experience. It’s important to keep in mind that every body and every aspect of yourself is unique. The admiration that you give to your body will enhance the way that society fails to appreciate the differences of every individual. Social media will continue to be a source of envy, but could also be an environment that is filled with individuals all around the world who support the body positivity movement. Every like that is received on a photo does not justify the value of your individuality. We must learn the differences that are waiting to be embraced, self-love comes from within and is built on confidence. Remember to surround yourself with positivity and strong mindsets, you are not alone.

My Skin, My Body, My Beautiful