The Perfect Body

The definition of the 'perfect body' has been discussed and tossed around for decades. The fact of the matter is that no one has a 'perfect body', every one has a body that is designed perfectly for them, and you must use your body as a temple to become the very best version of yourself. All the negative comments around the world telling girls to fit into a certain category, and aspire to having a 'perfect figure'. If you look around your work place, classroom or the coffee shop you're sitting in. You'll soon realize that the 'perfect body' comes in all shapes in sizes. To the couple by the window, to him, she has the perfect body, to the best friends shopping and enjoying life, to each other, the other has the perfect body, to the dad seeing his daughter walk down the isle, to him she has the perfect body. A persons inner self, dictates how beautiful their body is and how much love you feel for yourself dictates how perfect you are. You could meet the most beautiful person, in societies standards, in the world, and if she opens her mouth and lovely things don't pour out of it, somehow she isn't as perfect anymore.

#DROPTHEPLUS is an online campaign to push companies to eliminate the 'plus' from their labels. The revolution first started when model Stefania Ferrario posted on instagram how she was tired of being told she was a plus sized model, just because she was over a size 4. Most plus sized models are barely a size 8, which is really harmful to the girls looking at these images. It's sending the message that being over a size 4 is bad, it is also sending the message that if you are over a size 8, and an 8 is considered plus sized, then what are you?

Many models that are considered plus-sized have joined in this movement, this is what model Mayashia had to say about the word plus-sized and if it is damaging: Plus size does have a negative connotation, as it infers that models in the size-8-and-above category, which is where plus size begins, are somehow inferior to smaller-sized models despite doing the same work. I also think it's damaging to the demographic we represent. Considering that the models working on this side of the industry most accurately represent the bodies of most American women, if titles are needed it might be more accurate to call us 'standard size' as opposed to 'high fashion' models. 

Besides #DROPTHEPLUS, many other retailers world wide are recognizing the unrealistic body standards the media poses. Lane Bryant, a major plus size retailer in the US, started a campaign using the #ImNoAngel, although many viewed this as an attack on Victoria's Secret, the brand is saying that they are not bashing anyone, they are just trying to show their customer that they are beautiful even if they don't have the same body as a Victoria's Secret model.

Although it's not a plus sized chain, even retailers such as Aerie, are seeing the impact that Photoshop, and the unrealistic body standards are having on women. Aerie recently have started a campaign that everyone can agree with, showing healthy, beautiful women that have not been retouched. 

It's hard in a world constantly bombarding us all with images of how we should look, and how we should be. It's refreshing to see major fashion brands taking a stand, and showing us all that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. It is so important that women feel confident in their bodies. We all know how much better you feel when you wake up in the morning and put on something that makes you look and feel amazing, and the number on the label inside those clothes, shouldn't make you feel differently.