The Illusion of Perfection As
I watch TV, images of famous, beautiful celebrities and their amazing lifestyles
are drooled over. At first I find myself sharing in the admiration of these
models with their skinny bodies and protruding bones.
1 Behind the pretty exterior is a lifestyle full of
insecurity, eating disorder and self-harm. It’s something I shouldn’t look up to
or mimic in order to be what society considers flawless. A
typical morning of a teenage girl such as myself consists of painting a not so
immaculate face with expensive makeup to cover up any imperfections, continuing
with a strict diet in the hope of losing more weight, and dressing in clothes I
don’t necessarily like in a desperate attempt to be more like the gorgeous women
I see every day. 2 However, seeing the
increasing problem of eating disorders, especially in the celebrity world, has
opened my eyes to the importance of not succumbing to the influence of the
glitter of Hollywood. Every day there are images of celebrities such as Mary
Kate Olsen, Lindsay Lohan, and Nicole Richie, who are viewed as role models,
even idolized, although they continue to live unhealthy. lives for the whole
world to see. 3 4 Instead of being filled with
self-doubt and dissatisfaction, I have come to feel the need to be full of
self-confidence and pride in my individuality and appearance, regardless of the
media and the way celebrities are portrayed. I feel sure that I should not allow
myself to be defined by the expectations of others but rather hold fast to my
own standards and convictions. I have come to realize just how much our media
has become obsessed with thinness and weight loss and how I have been in danger
of being affected by it as a teenage girl. 5
This is why I now try to live my life free of the constant worry
to be something I’m not, and to live a healthy life. A. Such
celebrities in effect promote eating disorders in young people.
B. I believe in striving towards being happy with my own self-image and in
resisting pressure to the world’s standards of perfection. C.
However, I believe it is important for teens not to give in to media
pressure. D. But then I realize what a false and sugar-coated
image I am falling victim to. E. This is part of daily
life. F. Falling under this spell could easily lead to serious
self-image issues as well as the stress of measuring up to the all too thin role
models of today.