Beyonce, top-chart multi-millionaire singer and actress, and wife to well-known rapper, Jay-Z, once stated, “I wrote ‘Bootylicious’ because, at the time, I’d gained some weight and the pressure that people put you under- the pressure to be thin, is unbelievable. I was just 18 and you shouldn’t be thinking about that.”
At 18 years of age, teenage Beyonce was already feeling the pressure and obsession with body image that Hollywood tends to mount on all celebrities.
“Bootylicious” is a song from Beyonce’s Destiny’s Child days, and although the song wasn’t one of their greatest hits, it did not fail to send a message.
The singer is clearly not worried about her personal body image. She realizes that her body does not hold the perfect hour-glass shape that society expects every woman to have.
Yes, there is “jelly” that moves from side to side when she shakes, but she could care less. Through their lyrics, Destiny’s Child enforces female empowerment and embracing your body. Being “Bootylicious” is just as perfect.
The influence paparazzi, magazines and media have on celebrities and regular people based on their appearances, is unbelievable.
Twenty-one year old singer, actress, and “X-Factor” judge, Demi Lovato, is another example of Hollywood’s crucial influence on body image. Demi Lovato has always suffered with low self-esteem due to appearance insecurities.
In fact, not too long ago she took a break from her career to herself check herself into a rehabilitation center. When she was done with her time off, she came back stronger and more powerful than ever.
In one of her most recent interviews, she told Vogue magazine, “My main thing about being in the spotlight with my fans is, I want to be real to them. I have my problem areas, but I’m happy in my skin right now. I’m not going to sacrifice my mental health to have the perfect body.”
Having the “perfect body” is not what life is about and even Demi can testify to that. What truly matters is to be happy and comfortable in your own skin.
I personally have never been influenced by Hollywood’s opinion on what the perfect body should look like.
I would be lying if I said I don’t enjoy eating Oreo cheesecake, acing my classes, and never bothered to care about anyone other than myself.
It’s not something I love to admit, but it’s not something I’m ashamed to speak about either. Like Demi, I realize there are plenty of girls out there that are under the impression that beautiful is only measured by a size zero, and that’s not okay.
Like most ladies in our society, I have been greatly influenced by media. Ever since I can remember I’ve cared about my appearance, wishing and praying with all my might that one day I would look like a Victoria Secret model.
Of course, it has been a long time since I realized that that dream was totally unrealistic. I am currently happy with who I am and how I look.
Yes, of course there is always room for improvement and trust me going to the gym is a daily routine for me, but I no longer wish to look like someone else- someone I will never be. I now exercise and work hard towards being the best version of me, no one else.
According to Google, beautiful is defined as, “pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically.” Urban dictionary, on the other hand, defines beautiful as, “a woman who has a distinctive personality, one who can laugh at anything, including themselves, who is especially kind and caring to others…who above all knows the value of having fun, and not taking life too seriously…”
Neither of these definitions speak of a woman’s looks, but of her personality and effect on someone’s else’s mind, and trust me not two people think alike. Beautiful comes in all shapes and sizes; don’t let media force you to alternate yours.