With loud colors, dazzling rhinestones, and an abounding number of feathers, the Victoria's Secret models are ready to hit the runway. The audience sees one perfect model after another. With flawless hair, and ideally toned bodies, one might struggle to find flaws within each of the dazzling Victoria's Secret Angels. The bewitching annual fashion show brings about the question of whether this company paints an image of beauty that is at all realistic to their viewers.
The models have chosen a career primarily based on strutting around in flashy lingerie. Constantly completely exposed, working on their bodies is a full time job for these women. Healthyceleb.com describes the rigorous diet plans and workout routines of the devoted models. The Victoria's Secret Angels work out up to seven days a week. Several of those workout days are organized by a paid personal trainer. Some Angels, like Miranda Kerr, practice strict diets based on blood type. Adriana Lima admits that before a show, she does not eat any solid foods and just drinks water. Twelve hours prior to the show, she doesn't consume anything, including water.
Many would argue that this demanding lifestyle is simply unattainable for the average woman. If women are setting goals for themselves based on Victoria's Secret's idea of beauty, many would say that they are setting themselves up for failure. In turn, causing personal body image issues, and a lack of self confidence.
Victoria's Secret has also recently been accused of discrimination against different varieties of women. Carmen Carrera, a transgender model was left disappointed in her attempts to be the first transgender Victoria's Secret Angel in the 2013 fashion show. The company failed to acknowledge a Change.org petition to embrace the transgender community by including Carrera in their show. The petition has acquired 45,000 signatures since it was first posted in November. Victoria's Secret has yet to respond to Carrera's story at all. Despite her struggles, Carrera is optimistic and sets her sights on the 2014 Victoria's Secret fashion show. She assures her supporters that she will train harder for her audition next year.
The Victoria's Secret fashion show ultimately only represents a specific kind of woman. Their models all share the same body type. They also fail to give representation to the different variations of woman that live among their viewers. However, millions continue to tune in to watch the show every year to be enchanted by this idealistic view of beauty.
Jackie, this post is really good. You write well, and you write about a compelling topic. I have noticed, over the last several years, that more and more girls are choosing to write about issues of beauty for their junior research papers. Specifically, they write about the relationship between beauty and contemporary media. I see this as healthy. It suggests to me that people - girls and boys - are starting realize the false nature of the societal ideal of beauty. You are the first one to target a specific media brand, Victoria's Secret. The ascendancy of Victoria's Secret in American culture would make a fascinating research topic, in and of itself. When I was in high school, none of my male or female peers knew what Victoria's Secret was. Now, Victoria's Secret stuff is everywhere, and unfortunately, with this stuff, comes the mass consumption of their conception of beauty.
ReplyDeleteThanks also for the research that you conducted. I don't watch television that deals with fashion (believe it or not), but I can definitely believe that those girls are depriving themselves of some basic necessities in order to be beautiful - by someone's standard. I will keep my fingers crossed the VS starts to promote a bit more social awareness in the future, possibly by allowing the first transgender model.