This image (below) has not been touched up and this question came up because I am needing to send in a bio and pic of myself for a website. To be honest I had a little battle with myself, I mean even Cindy Crawford has been known to say: "I wish I looked as hot as Cindy Crawford" in essence, once you've been photoshopped it can be scary looking in the mirror and seeing the real you! But I think I that if I am truly opposed to men and woman being literally 're-formed' to look "ideal" in advertisers eyes and less real and less attainable to the masses then I have to choose not to photoshop and just be me. Like many woman, I have grown up desperately trying to fit in to this idea of what the world sees as "perfect" and it is unattainable, everyone is photoshopped and not a little bit, a LOT! It is the wrong message to be sending our children, showing them images of what they can't achieve even if they exercise intensely daily, starve themselves and beat themselves up for every blemish and imperfection when it is the opposite of what we should be demanding of ourselves. We should strive to love ourselves as whole human being, we should thank each wrinkle for a happy memory and our bodies for being the incredible vehicles which carry us through life and we should feed them with sustenance that is nutritious and delicious not starve them to live up to somebody else's ideal. We should exercise to feel strong and well not to create a specific shape.
Yes, I do still battle with body dysmorphia so the temptation to photoshop is a big one, but then I remember I am not alone in this battle and remind myself to be kind and gentle with myself and appreciate what I have and who I am.
So today, I chose NOT to photoshop.
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