In today's society, social media plays a pivotal role both in fashion and in our everyday lives. In terms of fashion, social media is used as a promotional and marketing tool for brands to convey messages, increase sales and attract customers. However, the majority of promotional images are often retouched and edited in order to enhance specific features. This often results in an image that is not representative of the model or the everyday female that buys into the brand. BARE is a magazine that aims to encourage women to uncover their inner beauty using raw unedited images, exposing the reality of how the fashion industry alters our perception of how we should look. The magazine aims to spark conversation, bring about change and empower women to embrace and accept their body in all forms.
We speak to the next generation of influencers about current issues within fashion, gaining insight into the thoughts of those who have the power to change it. After years of flicking through newspapers seeing images of models, retouched to perfection I realized just how far this issue has evolved over the years as social media platforms have grown and editing images has become the new social norm. Nowadays more and more teens are suffering with eating disorders and self esteem issues, I chat to millennial Megan Hill (aged 20) about the issue regarding social media and its link with how we view ourselves in today's society. To what extent would you say that fashion social media campaigns plays a role in how you view yourself?
You wish you were almost famous so you had the access and money to get the best stylist and hair and makeup people so that you could look as glamorous as the models so it almost makes you feel as though you don't look as good as you could.
retouching is becoming too extreme and unrealistic. How do you think social media could be used to boost body image?
More celebrities need to stop allowing themselves to be photoshopped to show their fans that they have flaws too and more realistic images should be used, nowadays even selfies are edited, it isn't just in fashion anymore that things need to change. What is your opinion on the use of hashtags on social media to promote certain body types? (e.g. #goals, #thinspo)
How often do you use filters or edit pictures you post of yourself to social media? And Why?
I think it is wrong, the images that the tags are used for are photoshopped, you will never look like that as it isn't real, i think that's half the problem, these images brainwash you into thinking this is how you should look because the tags used are so popular you feel as though that is what society classes as right, it just makes you feel worse about yourself.
Every Time, to make yourself look better. They are just there as an option so i use them. It is easy and there is access so you just think ‘why not?’, if I can get rid of that spot and make myself look more tanned then why not.
So based on that, do you think that using models who are unedited and more representative of the general population within social media would benefit our self esteem and body image?
What is your opinion on brands use of editing images to change models appearances?
To an extent it is okay to get a better image and give supermodels the image of being perfect but they have taken it too far and
Yes, I think it would make girls feel more comfortable in their own skin and realize that not everyone looks a certain way and that is okay. Interviewer:Megan Rue Millennial: Megan Hill
In recent years, media influencers have started speaking up about issues surrounding unrealistic photoshopping, social media and body image in the hopes of raising awareness and more importantly, to bring about change; in world where we are made to believe we need to live up to the unattainable beauty standards set by the fashion and beauty industries. Chrissy Teigen is a well known model who has appeared on the covers of magazines such as Sports Illustrated. With nearly 10 million Instagram followers it is clear to say that she has a very large media following and therefore a large opportunity to influence others via social media. In 2015 the model used social media to post an unedited image of her stretch marks and bruised legs with the caption ‘Stretchies say Hi!’. This post was the first of what would later result in Chrissy announcing that she would never again edit images of herself on her social media.
They are actually changing the shape of their body and everybody else - nobody can compare to that when you’re fixing yourself so much. It's so unfair” - Chrissy Teigen This Instagram image was met with floods of positive feedback from women and young girls, helping to spread the idea of self love and accepting your body no matter what. Continuing to post unedited images only strengthens the message allowing women and girls to gradually feel more confident in their own skin.
Lonely Lingerie is a brand founded in 2009 that has always promoted embracing your differences and perceived flaw. As part of their social media campaigns they created the ‘Lonely Girls Project’ in which they photographed women in their lingerie from different walks of life who were of different sizes and shapes. The aim: to celebrate flaws and see the beauty in our differences.
“By shooting all women; every size, shape, nationality and age - the beauty of the female body is shown as it is, and the way it should be. No retouching, no frills. Just great real women.” - Harry Were (Photographer) The concept has since taken off, with women around the world taking to social media to bare their bodies and share their stories using the hashtag #lonelygirlsproject. Going against fashion marketing norms, the brand is helping to promote positive body image and empower women to take back their own bodies. With celebrities such as Lena Dunham getting on board with the campaign, the message is reaching more girls, promoting natural beauty.
Peter Lindenbergh is a famous fashion photographer and cinematographer famous for redefining beauty definitions in fashion through using unretouched images in his work. He is best known for his simple portrait work, characterized by a minimal, post modern feel. Through his narrative photography he aims simply to present women in their purest state, with models wearing hardly any make-up to enhance the authenticity of the woman and highlight her natural beauty. “how surrealistic is today’s commercial agenda to retouch all signs of life and of experience, to retouch the very personal truth of the face itself?” - Peter Lindenbergh It is this refusal to edit images that brings attention to the need for more authentic and honest imagery in today's society, with his work showing clearly that images can still be breathtaking without the editing to ‘enhance’ the image.