Iāve seen this picture all over my Instagram for the past two weeks. With captions like āLili vs Modelā āwho wore it better?ā āWhich one is hotter?ā
Itās been pretty hard to avoid.
And I think itās time I finally said something about it.
This photo is being posted by fan accounts. The same fan accounts who love to talk about the amazing female friendships on the show, girl power, Veronicaās inspiring feminism, body positivity, etc.
And that is the most hypocritical shit Iāve ever seen.
This is a poll. A competition. A comparison of two bodies. Itās a feeding ground for comments of judgement and negativity.ā āBetty is fatā āthatās not flatteringā āthe model looks way better.ā
It is a perfect way to fuel this delusional idea that itās still okay to put women on a pedestal and compare them.
Iāve asked myself so many times⦠how do we actually learn to love our bodies? How do we as a society, openly and privately, accept that all bodies are truly beautiful and there shouldnāt be a specific body type that is considered āthe bestā or the most beautiful?
Itās so easy to say āembrace your curvesā āeveryone is beautiful!āā but to actually put that into practice is the hard part. Itās easy to convince others that we think this way, but it doesnāt mean anything if you donāt actually believe that.
I do not have that modelās body. Iām fully aware of this. I donāt have a thigh gap.. a 24 inch waist.. toned arms or abs.
I am not her. And how dare anyone assume that I should look like her.
And the people who are commenting on this photo and weighing in on this poll⦠are the ones who are comparing themselves to the model as well. Itās so easy to point out someone elseās āflawsā, isnāt it? Because it makes us feel better about ourselves and about our own insecurities.
Itās upsetting to see all these young women who proclaim to be feminists participate in something that represents the exact opposite. To them I say: You are the problem, donāt you get it? You are promoting the idea that this model is what all women should look like and that itās not okay to look like anything else.
This is why we have eating disorders. This is why young teens are suicidal about their body image. This is why people have body dysmorphic disorder. This is why there arenāt nearly enough plus size models in the industry.
I hope that this makes you reconsider the next time you feel the need to comment on another womanās weight or figure.