Recently I was interviewed by Joann Klimkiewicz a staff writer for the Hartfod Courant for her article "Redefining Beauty: Could It Be That A Broader Definition Of Physical Looks Is Emerging?" Our pal Audrey Brashich, author of All Made Up, is also quoted in the article. Joann's story is thought provoking indeed.
Joann opens the story with the now infamous Dove Evolution video which shocked everyone because it shows how much manipulation actually goes on in advertising shoots of models. She adds:
"Critics of the beauty and fashion industries are wondering, albeit cautiously, if the campaign's success isn't symbolic of a greater movement of self-acceptance bubbling beneath the pop culture surface, if the female public's collective exhaustion over the narrow portrayal of beauty has them ready to embrace a broader definition themselves."
Absolutely! That Dove video was an incredible education piece. The talk I have heard the most is that people knew that photo retouching was done, but they had no idea to what extent. There is a huge difference between erasing some wrinkles versus making one's neck longer, widening and moving the eyes around, and shaving off the edges of the nose and face. After seeing that Dove video, you are never going to look at a beauty or fashion magazine spread the same.
It's shocking for women to realize that we are chasing a dream that is actually a digital creation. No matter how much you buy, sweat, or wish, the only way you will look magazine pretty is through Photo retouching.
One of the things I touch on also is the power of blogging. When women blog, our voices are heard. One of the ways that we will get Madison Avenue and the fashion world to be more realistic is through the power of our voice, so blog ladies! Blog, blog, blog......
