Jameela Jamil sparks debate - Is the media to really to blame for harmful beauty standards?
Ah, The Met Gala. One of the most anticipated fashion events of the year, with dresses (or should we say costumes) becoming more creative and outrageous than ever before.
Of course. They are all bidding for our attention.
And whose outfit garnered most of the attention.
You guessed it. Kim Kardashian.
Why? Her corseted silhouette has kicked off a familiar debate - celebrities and unreality beauty standards.
Seriously though people were genuinely concerned about her health (‘Can she breathe? Where did your organs go Kim?’).
So what’s the deal here, exactly?
A recent Grazia article with the headline ‘Why are we still letting Kim Kardashian set out beauty standards for us’ just got weighed in by Jameela Jamil. Among many titles, Jameela is a body positivity advocate who is not shy of voicing her opinion; we love her for this.
But her response to this article had many people scratching their heads…
Jameela Jamil criticises the misplaced outrage surrounding Kim Kardashian's recent Met Gala look. She argues that the focus should be on the media machine that cultivates this obsession with celebrity bodies, not the individual celebrities themselves.
And people aren’t entirely convinced.
The media's relentless obsession with celebrities' bodies is undeniable. However, Kim Kardashian isn't a blameless bystander. Who remembers how she elbowed her way out of Paris Hilton’s shadow and forced herself into the media and public eye? (We’ll let you do your own research there).
The Kardashians practically wrote the playbook for the current era of celebrity, building an empire on meticulously crafted appearances that redefined beauty standards for well over a decade.
BBLs, big lips, big curves – their carefully constructed image constantly beauty extremes establishing a whole new global aesthetic.
Data backs this up. Between 2000 and 2020, Brazilian butt lifts skyrocketed by 112%, while lip augmentations saw an 84% increase, coincidentally mirroring the Kardashians' rise to fame in 2007. The correlation is hard to ignore, don’t you think?
And let's not forget the Kardashians' are literal Queens in self-promotion - and Kris Jenner is their mum, aka the ‘momager’ and she knows how to create a media storm. I mean, she even has her own Master Class on Personal Branding… “Stand out and stay on top, whether you’re selling or sharing”. So who is leading the charge here…. And remember when Kim Kardashian released an entire book, of her selfies?
Kim Kardashian is a brand - a meticulously curated image. Say what you will, but Shapewear lines, endless photoshoots, makeup tutorials, and a constant bombardment of her "perfect" images all contribute to a singular message: beauty requires financial investment and adherence to a specific, Kardashian-invented ideal.
So whilst Jameela Jamil argues the media dictates beauty standards, there is no denying that the Kardashians have a powerful voice.
They can choose to use their platform to advocate for body positivity or simply remain silent.
The extreme Met Gala corset wasn't just about generating buzz; it reinforced the very standard Jamil critiques.
Even Kim acknowledged this was her vision in this Instagram post.
And look. WE KNOW that Maison Margiela Couture is not everyday fashion, but do young impressionable girls who look up to Kim really get the difference? Same as when she drastically dropped 16 pounds to fit into Marylin Monoes dress?
And, looking deeper, it is not just about THIS corset. There is an underlying drive with Kim and her brand to have a tiny waist - I mean, hello, SKIMS?
Kim Kardashian, like other celebrities, have a choice. The Met Gala outfit, while undoubtedly designed to generate buzz, could have been different. She could have opted for a showstopping sustainable outfit (think the Olivier Rousteing dress he created from sand for Tyla), or it could have sparked a conversation about something more meaningful than squeezing yourself into oblivion.
the bottom line
We understand Jameela Jamil’s perspective. Dismantle the system and hold the media accountable for the unrealistic narratives they push. And how do we, the consumers do that? Be mindful consumers. And she is right. Curate your social media feeds, support brands with a positive message, follow celebrities who are decent role models for our children and support those who celebrate beauty in ALL its forms.
The whole "toxic beauty standards" thing is a complicated mess, but one thing's for sure: Kim Kardashian, with her deliberate choices unrealistic and unattainable image and fame obsession, isn't exactly helping to clear it up.
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