Unattainable Standards of Beauty

I recently watched the clip from KUWTK reunion where Andy Cohen asked Kim Kardashian West “Do you think you are promoting unattainable standards of beauty in any way?" to which she replied: "No I don't, because I think we get up, we do the work, we work out".

I didn't watch the rest of the interview so she may have elaborated on this more, but just going by that bit I have to ask - for real? Not “in any way”?

To be clear, I’m not shaming her for her looks or for the fact she can afford stuff most people can't. She has every right to look any way she wants, she’s earned everything she has and is free to spend her money how she sees fit, and I get that her image is her brand.

But there are so many things wrong with that answer and it really highlights a far deeper issue which I will get to in a minute, and that is - brands' responsibility for being transparent and honest with their consumers.

But back to Kim first, I think that implying that others don't look like her because they don't “do the work” is not okay.

Many people "do the work" but don’t have access to all the extra stuff that is only available to the rich and famous. From private trainers, chefs, home gym, the best food money can buy and let's not forget plastic surgery. It’s not like all she does is go to the gym a few times week like most people… she does far FAR more, much more than what the average person would be able to afford or do without the support and help the one % have.

On top, her online image is presented in a certain way - makeup & hair done by first class artists, professional lighting, shot by world renewed photographers and as if all of that isn't enough, her pics are often photoshopped and have filters. And even if the rest of us wanted to present ourselves in a similar manor, we wouldn’t be able to because I don’t have access to the resources she has.

What I'm trying to say is that not even Kim Kardashian the person looks like 'Kim Kardashian' the brand, and implying that this standard of beauty can be achieved simply by “working out” is damaging and insincere.

Now here is the thing - most brands sell a 'dream'. A 'fantasy' - something to aspire to. It's actually sad when you think about it, but the truth is that we don't need most of the shit brands sell us, and the only way they can convince us to buy the crap they are selling it is by telling us we are not enough the way we are.

Most brands sell an unattainable image and we keep buying their products hoping that one day we will reach the goal they’ve set out for us.

We are surrounded by ads, images, and content that shows us how life can be better if we only lost weight, got our teeth whitened, dressed differently, had bigger boobs etc... all in an attempt to make us buy whatever products can "solve" our problems.

And what Kim Kardashian is doing is no different.

She’s not the first person, and certainly not the first brand, to capitalise on women's insecurities. Many brands do it and they are all equally responsible for promoting an image that makes people feel like they need to change something about themselves. It’s a money making machine and while she absolutely did not invent it, to say she doesn’t contribute “in any way” is insane.

The standard of beauty her brand (and many other brands) promote is unattainable for most people in real life because it is unaffordable, and it's even more unattainable online because it's so heavily manipulated. She does the work, that’s for sure, but not only do we not see the REAL work that goes into it, even if we did - it wouldn’t hep us.

And while what Kim the individual does to achieve her looks is completely her right as a woman, I wish that - for the sake of the millions of women and young girls watching - she, the brand, (and all the other brands) were at least honest about it.

Photo by Annushka Ahuja from Pexels