The Pursuit of Perfection in the Age of Instagram
A smaller waist. Smoother skin. Bigger eyes. Whiter teeth. Plumper lips. Profile after profile projects perfection. For gen-z and millennials, their expectation of beauty has been heavily shaped by social media manipulation, models and marketing messages. But is this intangible Instagram image for the worst? Or could it bring in a new age of beauty beneath the surface of the screen?
From Facetuning to filters, photoshoping to airbrushing, Instagram beauty is all about achieving perfection. We’ve all encountered it - profiles of toned and tanned women, with flowing hair, flawless skin, pouty lips, wearing all the latest luxury fashion trends (who, not to mention, are often posed alongside their chiseled-jaw boyfriends throughout their globetrotting adventures). This image of the ‘perfect girl,’ while rampant on the social media platform, is by no means mainstream. The people portraying this life and image are a tiny fraction of society, but since the most popular pages fill the first of your stories and the top of your feeds, this ‘look’ feels magnified. While Instagram’s brand of beauty may seem like the norm, it does not accurately reflect or celebrate the diversity of women in today’s culture.
The popularized “Instagram Face” image is not only unhealthy, but an unrealistic expectation for younger generations to live up to. Aspirations to look this way are simply not achievable, since they are completely manipulated through design programs and editing apps. Regardless of extreme diets, expensive workouts and dangerous quick fixes, the Instagram image is not only elusive, but impossible (without surgery). Easily influenced by model figures and marketers, gen-z users are inclined to believe that their external beauty and ability to generate likes is indicative of their internal worth. The level of self-esteem young girls and boys have at this critical point in their lives can make or break their approach to school, career, friendships and relationships. Given the standard they are trying to achieve, they may always feel less than enough.
However, there is a rising counter-culture on the platform that is forming a new definition of beauty. Celebrities, influencers and everyday users have taken to Instagram to reveal their relatability and flaunt their ‘flaws’ like never before. Whether it’s acne, body hair, excess weight, skin abnormalities, health-related concerns, disabilities or gender fluidity, social media users are laying it all out there. These extremely exposed, authentic and transparent visuals are a total breath of fresh air in an oversaturated platform of perfection. These posts, often alongside powerful personal stories in the captions, not only showcase the diversity of our culture, but offer support and encouragement for people feeling alone and “different” from the site’s norm. Different is beautiful. Weird is beautiful. Big, small and everything in between. The rise of the body positivity trend has shifted expectations of what bodies should or shouldn’t look like not just on social media, but in television and other forms of mainstream entertainment. When people post about their lives not being so perfectly perfect, society as a whole takes a step forward towards humanity.
In the era of Instagram, the definition of beauty is up to you. While the site sets stereotypical standards and magnifies perfection, recognize that internal beauty matters most. Who is the girl underneath your profile pictures? What are your personal and professional goals? What causes do you care about? Rather than aspiring to achieve an impractical image, strive to be a better you. If long lashes and heavy highlighter make you feel your best, then go for it. If showing off your scar and not shaving your legs feels right, then own it. The true beauty lies in being kind, non-judgemental and being exactly who you are.
This article was previously written for a beauty client.