In a new study by Online Doctor, 18 graphic designers, most of them women, were asked to retouch one woman's face and body to match up with what they perceived to be their culture's perfect female form. The results? Pretty telling.
The goal of the Perceptions of Perfection project is to better understand potentially unrealistic standards of beauty and to see how such pressures vary around the world. And woah there do they vary.
Between countries, the waist, the legs, the booty - they all changed. Some got bigger, others got smaller and in some cases the retouches were that extreme the woman looked nothing like the original image. We'd have a hard job keeping up with all of these ideals, that's for sure.
From China and its barbie like ideals to the busty beauty hot out of Venezuela and thigh gap central in the USA - beauty really does come in many shapes and sizes and what one person perceives as beautiful may not appeal to the other.
Underneath all these varying, some may say unrealistic 'perceptions of perfection' then, there is a message for us all to take on board: All bodies are beautiful!
Let's just schtap looking around for society to give its nod of approval and let's stop comparing and pitting women against each other and celebrate something all together more worthwhile. The beauty of YOU. May you be filled with kick ass body confidence forever more!
Are you surprised by beauty standards across the globe? Tweet us @sofeminineUK
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