ILLUSTRATION BY JOHN HILLER/STAFF ILLUSTRATOR
Destyni Cravens
Opinion Columnist
[email protected]
Imagine you just got nominated for a Grammy and need to find something to wear. You probably think it would be easy to find a dress from an endless number of designers brands, but when you reach out to these companies, they turn you down because you’re “too big.”
This scenario became Bebe Rexha’s reality after she was nominated just a couple of weeks ago.
“So, I had my team hit out a lot of designers, and a lot of them do not want to dress me because I’m too big,” said Bebe Rexha on to her Instagram story.
Other companies like Victoria’s Secret make it apparent that they only hire models who fit their standard of skinny. According to LinkedIn.com, the average Victoria’s Secret model has a waist size of 24 inches. However, the average waist size of American women is 38.6 inches according to U.S. News.
The contrast between the two waist sizes shows exactly how derogatory the marketing business has become. A whopping 14.6 inches differentiates between a “skinny” woman and an “average” woman. When companies set a standard for how young women should look, they not only decrease the confidence in these women but also increase the awareness of one’s body.
This results in women who are overly concerned with appearance rather than what counts…what is on the inside. It’s sort of like crayons in a box. On the outside of the box, these crayons appear to be the same size and the same shape. But, once you take a look on the inside, some of these crayons are duller than others, some may be broken or some may even be lost.
The way companies make money has a direct tie to the values society holds. Although some companies like Dove and Aeropostale have released body positivity campaigns, the truth of the matter is that companies focusing solely on the body cannot be fully trusted. When companies focus on the body, whether this focus is done in a positive or negative way, they tend to discredit what truly matters in the world. Being skinny does not determine the amount of good in that person. Looks are not always black and white, but what is on the inside has a definite answer.
A person’s definition of skinny will vary depending on the person. When looking at someone’s inside though there is always a definite answer to if they are a good person or bad person.
Instead of focusing on the body, companies and commercials should focus on the inner self. By doing this, companies are able to make their ads more relatable to their audience because no one is perfect, but everyone has qualities that make them unique but they tend to hide. So, ask yourself what color crayon are you? Grey and dull or yellow and lively?
