The Truth about Beauty; Photo Shopping

    We all do it. We wake a photo for social media, and then pick a filter and edit it before posting. Even though we tend to do this to our own photos, how often do we remember it can be done to the models in ads we see? As technology has advanced, the use of Photoshop on magazine images has increased in popularity among editors. Nowadays, the flawless faces on the covers of Vogue and Vanity Fair are not true representations of the models themselves. 

    Now, it's amazing what makeup and Photoshop can do. But as you can see in the following video, it could possibly be subconsciously hurting our self-esteem... 

    How much is too much? How often do we look at these magazine covers with headlines such as: "how to achieve your dream body", and want to emulate them? When, in reality, those models do not even look like their photographed selves! When we're snapping selfies for our profile pic on Facebook, and we use those $5 apps or free filters, what are we trying to achieve? As you can see in the following video, there is no substitute for being original...

    We are not flawed. The pimples, grey hair, the cellulite, are not things to be hidden or embarrassed about. I purpose that we should use unedited images of women in magazines, and we should showcase our individuality with untouched confidence. After all, we should be proud of the things that make us unique; they should not be edited away. I found the following video by American fashion model, Cameron Russell, very inspirational as she discusses her thoughts on this subject.

    So before I sum up this post I just want to say, for all the young teenage girls out there, you don't have to be afraid to go out in public without makeup, or to hide your real self in photographs. You are beautifully, fearfully, and wonderfully made! It even says in 1 Peter that it's your gentle qualities and that of your inner self which makes you the most beautiful, not your appearance. Don't let anyone make you think otherwise.

Want to read the previous posts from this series? 

Here is the list:

1. Introducing the Truth about Beauty
2. The Truth about Beauty; the Media is Damaging Us
3. The Truth about Beauty; Loving Yourself
4. The Truth about Beauty; Bullying
5. The Truth about Beauty; the Definition of “Pretty”
6. The Truth about Beauty; the Definition of “Handsome”
7. The Truth about Beauty; the Definition of "Beauty"
8. The Truth about Beauty; the Standards are Evolving