Leia
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” or so they say. But is it really? We are all influenced by the spirit of the times, whether we like it or not, and the beauty standards of our era definitely impact what we perceive as attractive.
Fitness blogger Cassey Ho has noticed that the ‘ideal’ body type society imposes on women seems to be changing ever more quickly. Like the insidious nature of fast fashion, where trends come and go in the blink of an eye to keep you buying, these rapid changes in perfect body ideals are leaving women feeling confused, exhausted, and always inadequate. So you worked really hard to get that thigh gap and bikini bridge? Too late, now you need a curvy body with a large butt and a narrow waist. To illustrate her point, Cassey decided to show how beauty standards and the shape of the body have changed over the years.
Cassey Ho is a fitness trainer who recently decided to portray the changing nature of beauty standards
“If I had the “perfect” body throughout history, this is what I’d look like:”
“Mid 2010s-2018 – Big butts, wide hips, tiny waists, and full lips are in! There is a huge surge in plastic surgery for butt implants thanks to Instagram models posting selfies of their backsides.” Even cosmetic surgery doctors have become IG-famous for reshaping women. Between 2012-2014, butt implants and injections rose by 58%.”
“Mid 90s-2000s – Large breasts, flat stomachs, and thigh gaps are in. In 2010, breast augmentation was the most frequently performed cosmetic surgery in the United States. It’s the age of Victoria’s Secret Angel. She’s tall, has an athletic body type, and she always has long legs and a full chest.”
“Early 90s – THIN IS IN. Having an angular bone structure, looking emaciated, and being super skinny is what’s dominating the runways and the magazine covers. There’s even a name for it: “heroin chic”.”
“1950s – The hourglass shape is in. Elizabeth Taylor‘s 36-21-36 measurements are ideal. Marilyn Monroe’s soft voluptuousness is coveted. Women are advertised weight-gaining pills to fill themselves out. Playboy magazine and Barbie are created in this decade.”
“1920s – Appearing boyish, androgynous, and youthful, with minimal breasts, and a straight figure is in! Unlike the “Gibson Girl” of the Victorian Era, women are choosing to hide their curves by binding their chests with strips of cloth to create that slender body type suitable for flapper dresses.”