Colors burst through feathered fireworks and perfectly crafted butterfly wings that are ready to take flight.
Silky hues leave a trail forever flowing, fiery capes are ablaze. Encased in flames or with snowflakes upon their heads, they are of the most beautiful of all creatures with wings.
Heavenly angels posing in worldly possessions, they are the keepers of Victoria’s Secret who are exposed to the world every year, once a year and just in time to make wish lists worldwide.
Stitched into each cape, entwined into each feather is prestige, poise, perfection—the ink on wish lists read the same.
The sparkling bras that can outshine the radiance of all the Kardashians’ engagement rings—past and present combined—is not what we are after.
After all, the hefty price tags on the garment read up to a million dollars. Well worth it for an 18 karat gold clad, sapphire studded, ruby festooned undergarment, from my throne of dreams, any
way.
And that is just it. As we sit cuddling quarts of Ben & Jerry’s, asking our friends to pass the Oreos and the peanut butter, we admire these supermodels to whom we attribute superpowers of flawlessness. We adore them as if they sit on a throne…and not one consummated of compliments.
Of course having inspirations and spirit animals can be considered a healthy way of life, but comparing yourself to them is not as it can bruise your self-esteem and worse, alter your own self-image.
According to “Female Body Image and the Mass Media: Perspectives on How Women Internalize the Ideal Beauty Standard” published by Westminster College, “Research has found that women who report frequently comparing themselves to other women, especially women in the media, are more likely to show signs of negative mood and body image disturbance. Tiggemann and Mcgill (2004) found that women participants’ brief exposure to media images of females (11 images) led to increased levels of body dissatisfaction and weight anxiety.”
Seeing the flat tummies and toned legs may make you want to chuck your spoon out the window and curse your sugar love affair.
You even may be so inclined to start using that ice cream container to break into reps of curls…not the kind on your head.
We can save exercise terminology for a later lesson, but for now we must learn to embrace rather than envy.
Embrace the glamour of the night, the performances, the outlandish fashion and the talent. Embrace the creativity and the designs that look like something from a dream.
Embrace it for what it is, but do not compare it to who you are or who you hope to be.
“Good for her! Not for me. That is the motto women should constantly repeat over and over again.” Take this advice from a woman in the spotlight, a Hollywood success, Amy Poehler.
Good for her, not for me. You can do your Oreo lunges, but I’ll sit back and enjoy. Not only a cookie, but this life that is incredibly blessed.
Michelle Foti can be reached at michelle.foti@student.shu.edu.
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