New Victoria’s Secret adverts suggesting that their slim models have ‘the perfect body’ have come under fire for their “unhealthy and damaging message”.
The American lingerie company, which now has seven shops here in the UK, has launched a marketing campaign to go along with its new bra range, entitled ‘Body’.
But the ads - which show models with the phrase “The Perfect ‘Body’” emblazoned across their torsos - have sparked a petition, which has already gathered more than 500 signatures since it began last week.
Frances Black, a student at Leeds University, began the Change.org petition calling for Victoria’s Secret to 'apologise for, and amend the irresponsible marketing of [its] new bra range'.
“I just think it’s a really, really damaging message to send to young women,” said Black, 22.
“A brand like Victoria’s Secret is hugely popular in America and in the UK, and they mainly market to young women.
“It’s really hurtful to women’s self-esteem. I’d like them to apologise and take accountability for choosing the wrong words for the campaign.
“I’d like them to amend the wording and pledge not to use such harmful language in the future.”
Black saw the advert when she was walking through Trinity Shopping Centre in Leeds.
She decided to launch the petition along with fellow students Gabriella Kountourides and Laura Ferris.
It states: “Every day women are bombarded with advertisements aimed at making them feel insecure about their bodies, in the hope that they will spend money on products that will supposedly make them happier and more beautiful.
“Victoria’s Secret’s new advertisements for their range of bras Body use this tactic, and send out a damaging message by positioning the words ‘The Perfect ‘Body’’ across models of exactly the same, very slim body type.”
Perfect body
Perfect body
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Perfect body
I'm not sure I understand the "unhealthy" comment; yes, they are slim, but none appear unhealthy.
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Sue U
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Re: Perfect body
I suspect the purpose of this thread is to give Gob an excuse for posting pictures of women in their underwear.
GAH!
Re: Perfect body
My thought was that is your self esteem can be "damaged" by a bra advert, you have some serious issues to work on, rather than starting petitions,
ETA: like I need an excuse Sue?
ETA: like I need an excuse Sue?
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Perfect body
For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
~ Carl Sagan
~ Carl Sagan
Re: Perfect body
BigRR, I'd bet $100 that at least half the 'women' in the Victoria's Secret ad are not experiencing normal menses, which is unhealthy. I'd also bet they'll have bone density issues later in life, if not already, due to inadequate nutrition and hormone imbalances caused by low body fat %.
"Thin" is very often NOT healthy - it's become the normative expectation drilled into us for the past 50 years by the lamestream media and advertising folks, but historically speaking it's never been the ideal to aim for least possible body fat percentage consistent with life v. death.
Most of those fashion models in the VS ad probably suffer from eating disorders, anxiety issues and drug abuse issues coincident with their lifestyles - not a 'healthy' model for our daughters to aspire to.
"Thin" is very often NOT healthy - it's become the normative expectation drilled into us for the past 50 years by the lamestream media and advertising folks, but historically speaking it's never been the ideal to aim for least possible body fat percentage consistent with life v. death.
Most of those fashion models in the VS ad probably suffer from eating disorders, anxiety issues and drug abuse issues coincident with their lifestyles - not a 'healthy' model for our daughters to aspire to.
For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
~ Carl Sagan
~ Carl Sagan
Re: Perfect body
BSG, I'd bet $100 that at least half the 'women' in the your ad are not experiencing normal menses, which is unhealthy. I'd also bet they'll have bone density issues later in life, if not already, due to obesity issues and hormone imbalances caused by too high body fat %.
Stereotyping much? Speaking from personal experience, before I met Hen I lived with a model for ten years. The emphasis was on healthy diet, regular exercise, and keeping as healthy as possible, otherwise you looked shite and did not get work. I do not doubt that in the women's fashion industry there are the Vogue type models who are anorexic and beyond. None of those are present in the VS advert though.Most of those fashion models in the VS ad probably suffer from eating disorders, anxiety issues and drug abuse issues coincident with their lifestyles - not a 'healthy' model for our daughters to aspire to.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Perfect body
Several in the upper group look like they are anorexic, #1, 2, 6, and 10 look especially bad.
In the lower group #2, and 9 are obese and #9 looks like her knees have already suffered permanent damage from shifting far too much weight. Her right knee looks hyperextended like the cartilage has eroded away. #8 looks underweight but I can't tell if she has a slight belly or that's her hand.
The women in the lower group all wore black camisoles which cover most of their torsos because they know how they look and 'everything is beautiful, right on' only buys you so much visual cred.
A few members of each group look healthy. A few from each group look bad.
yrs,
rubato