For at least a century, an elite group of fashion editors, photographers and patrons have dictated beauty. It used to be women could only imagine being beautiful if their body image some how resembled Cheryl Tiegs in the 70s or Cindy Crawford in the 80s. While their beauty could of resembled them, they would never measure up to these goddesslike creatures. Women can have only felt inadequate when comparing themselves to these gifted humans.
Then along comes Instagram, the photo sharing app in 2010. Now girls of every color, race, age and socioeconomic status can be considered beautiful and develop a following. What a breath of fresh air. Now any young woman can find an Instagram influencer that she can relate to and that makes her feel good about herself. Beauty doesn't have to fit into some kind of mold.
In an era of dwindling readership of magazines this proves to be another stumbling block. I think that major fashion magazines will feel pressure to showcase these women even though they don't meet their requirements for beauty? Will they cannibalize their magazines? Hard to say but the influencers are here to stay. Our democracy will keep them in power.
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| Clockwise: @mayemusk, @thatsnotmyage, @shionat, @doublexposure |
These gals are just a small representation of Instagram stars.
What do you think of the change? Do you see any downside?
mc@marcycarmack.us
