A size is just that. A size. A number. Any connotation behind that number, negative or positive, is something that we as a society have unfairly placed on it. A size is just a measurement of our body. How we feel about that measurement is completely up to us.Dove, known for their Real Beauty campaign, recently launched a series of ads with the slogan "Say No to Size 0." There is a print ad circulating that seems to match a very similar Victoria's Secret print ad. I see the statement they are trying to make, and I am all for diversity among models, but I see three problems with this tactic:
1. Underwear is not the same as soap
2. I haven’t forgotten that the marketers behind Dove are also behind Axe
3. Trading contempt and criticism of one body type for another isn't fixing anything
I love the Real Beauty Campaign. The video where they show the amount of makeup and Photoshop that goes into making a beauty ad- amazing. It reminds me that my face is ok if it has pores. As for telling me to say no to size 0 because women who are a size 0 are fake and unhealthy- I am a size 0. And I take offense to being called fake and unhealthy. Society may have us convinced that only fat people get self-conscious, but having spent many of my awkward teen years being teased about my lack of weight and having rumors spread about me having an eating disorder, I was equally as self-conscious and self-loathing. No one wants to be hated for their size, regardless of how large or small.
I also love the Victoria’s Secret brand. I realize that the VS Angels are a rare breed and that most women do not actually look like that, but knowing what they look like in lingerie somehow makes me feel sexier when I purchase my underwear there instead of at Target or Macys. Judging by the diversity in age and weight span I see at their store, I’m assuming that I am not the only person or type of person who feels that way. Is the quality or material any different? Probably not. It’s all about how I feel. I feel sexy, therefore, I am sexy.
VS makes me feel sexy because it’s modeled sexy. Dove makes me feel beautiful because it is marketed as beautiful. Both of these campaigns have one key message that we ladies can pull out: "Embrace Your Inner Sexy." Embrace it. It's there. Whether you are a size 0 or a size 14 or any size between or beyond, beauty is not about a number, it's about a lifestyle and an attitude. Instead of stressing over fitting into our favorite pair of jeans, or what the number on the scale says, let's just do our best to take care of our bodies and enjoy life. Eat healthy, exercise, but also splurge occasionally for the large popcorn and sitting at the movies. Life is about balance. Balance leads to peace, which leads to confidence, which leads to embracing our inner sexy.
Don't say no to size 0. Say yes to a sexy and beautiful you.
Mood: Sexy-Beautiful
