We hear so frequently about how “the beauty industry is changing”, becoming more inclusive and about more than just being a pretty face but a role model as well. Is it really changing in the way that it would like to believe it is though or is it just making tiny little steps that don’t represent the changes in the ‘real world’?
And sadly after reflection of how beauty competition shows that started a decade or two ago, such as America’s Next Top Model, compared to much more recent imitations including Model and SupermodelMe Revolution there really is not a lot of difference at all.
We do see a little more in terms of diversity, either in terms of a models background or their appearance, but it often feels this is more the show creators attempting to meet a quota of what makes it seem like an authentically selected group rather than a genuine belief in the contestants and their ability to progress. “You are the biggest girl in our competition” *audience looks at them and realizes they are a US size six but also five foot eleven* isn’t really quite the success that the industry might like to think it is.
That is not to say that nothing has changed. During the season of SupermodelMe Revolution, available on Netflix, one of the contestants finds themselves ill on set, enhanced from not having breakfast, and they discuss openly on camera at judging about the need to remember they are role models and need to be looking after both their physical and mental wellbeing. In Model, also on Netflix, they show the models sitting down having breakfast, cooking and drinking alcohol throughout the episodes and how they are ‘normal’ and don’t skip meals before a day on set.
A lot of the beauty community is, unfortunately, incredibly ugly; Not in terms of appearances or products but just the attitudes. The “average” dress size and height of people across the world and countries has changed so much over the decades but what the industry still calls “plus size”, “petite” or “tall” has not because instead of the industry basing itself on the real world it tends to be formed on what they themselves desire or the ease of not wanting to change pre-existing patterns. It is not broken enough to fix it.
Near the end of Model they get asked a variety of questions about themselves, partly as a mini interview style approach, “It’s about whether you can be an ambassador for yourself” and of course that is certainly part of the way the beauty industry can change. But should it really be on individual models to attempt to change the entire industry? It is like suggesting to consumers that by them alone looking at product labels, understanding productions and researching brands and creators in great depths they can do things like change material use, testing standards, end climate change etc but if the industry doesn’t look at itself and unite to take action from all aspects those things cannot happen.
One show, 12 competitors, a couple of judges does not change anything at the pace we need it to. These shows provide great stories, show incredible personal progression, allow for a glorified insight into the industry but they will simply never be enough and we cannot pretend that they will be. Taking them as guilty pleasure shows is the best we can do but unless they really go all in to stop and consider the real world and how it fits into the industry we cannot allow people to focus on them as “reality” any more than that.
Stay beautiful and true to your soul. You deserve to stay true to yourself. If you do not fit into the industry you want to chase do not change yourself to fit into it. Make it break so that it adapts to you, even if it makes it so much harder.
DANNIIXBHRI 