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A pair of completed portraits from the Real Beauty Sketches. Source: Dove YouTube
In our recent round-up of ways to boost your self-esteem, we reminded you that often we are our own harshest critics when it comes to our looks and overall body image. If you wanted even more proof of that fact, then you need to watch this new video from Dove’s Real Beauty campaign.
This new project is called “Real Beauty Sketches,” and the premise is simple, yet powerful. Women were asked to describe their own looks while a sketch artist drew it. Then another person described that same woman to the sketch artists. The completed portraits were hung side by side and shown to the subject.
The differences between the pictures – all done just from verbal descriptions – were apparent, with the subjects commenting that their self-described sketch was less flattering than the one drawn from others’ descriptions.
I’ve always respected the Real Beauty campaign, but I think it’s often easier to see other women and be sincere in saying that they possess natural beauty. But when we have to turn it onto ourselves? That’s ultimately harder to grasp and I think this particular campaign really explores that.
I know that I describe my features in pretty harsh ways – ways I would never in a million years even think to use to describe someone else. This video also got me thinking about how a couple weeks ago, Audrey Hepburn’s son talked about all the different flaws the actress saw in her own appearance. Women of all lifestyles grapple with body image.
What struck me as the most important lesson isn’t just that other people see our beauty in positive ways, but we can use that knowledge to remind ourselves that we are beautiful and become more secure in our own looks. It’s not about trying to impress people around us, but feeling secure and confident in how we are. A reminder that other people see us in a really positive light (which may be hard for us to see ourselves) can help put us on the path to self-acceptance.
Watch the video below, and you can see more of the sketches and hear longer interviews with the individuals featured over on Dove’s Real Beauty Sketches website.
What did you think of this video? Do you agree that many women would describe their looks more harshly than other people would describe them? What are ways you think we can work to encourage healthier body image? Tell us in the comments!
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Seriously? Nearly all the women in this video are white (which makes sense, because that’s the main demographic that Dove is trying to sell to.) And of course, this is just another way to sell products. It’s just another way of saying “this is why our company is better than other cosmetics companies”. It never says what women really need to hear: that physical “beauty” doesn’t matter. It doesn’t tell you that your physical appearance isn’t important to who you are as a person, it just tells you that you look better than you think. After all, a message that said that it doesn’t matter how you look wouldn’t sell products for Dove, would it? The only reason that there isn’t a message that says “buy Dove products because they show your inner beauty” is because there doesn’t need to be one. It’s clever marketing–that’s all it is.
I agree!
I find this entire thing soooo inspiring! Especially if you go to the website and watch the other videos. The interviews mention how hearing that you look good from someone else makes you feel better. And that someone with confidence is more beautiful but, otger women find it hard too! being conifdent isnt easy!I am a huge fan of dove and the real beauty campaign!