I have a problem: While I’m all about body confidence and body love and rooting for every woman’s right to love her body no matter how far it strays from the media’s idea of perfection, I’m having a hard time swallowing even some of the plus size model’s images.
I’m a graphic designer by night, so I’m quite familiar with Photoshop and the wonders it can bring. Fix the shadows, nix a pimple, add some text… create unnaturally smooth, supple skin? Not so much the latter. I’ve been known to retouch some photos of others by reducing wrinkles and whitening teeth, but an image I’ve recently come across and the comments underneath it sort of irked me, because it’s a typical modeling for media/advertising, and while it’s showing diversity in the media, it’s by the media’s standards I feel.
The image is of the lovely Tess Munster. She is a beautiful, full-figured woman with tattoos and piercings, and I really love her style and image. But she too, I believe, is being retouched for advertising’s sake. My heart ached that many of the comments read “I wish I had as much confidence as you.” See the photo spread here.
I feel like commenting myself and saying something along the lines of, “If you too had a makeup artist, hairstylist, professional photographer, and professional photo editor on hand, you can feel as sexy as you want.” Don’t get me wrong, even without the assumed retouching, she’s beautiful. But I’m sorry, no one’s skin is this soft looking. No bumps, no wrinkles, nothing but “perfection.” The fact is, this is just how the media is. I wish some of the other women who mentioned they wished they had her confidence would see that it’s not looking flawless that gives you confidence, it’s being comfortable in your own skin and living life to its fullest.
For reference sake, above is a photo of Tess from her website. STILL a beauty, just more natural and identifiable. Tell me, am I asking too much for the media to just say NO to Photoshopping and image retouching? Should I just be grateful that the media is starting to include some non-standard women?
