Rachel Leff

Entertainment Editor

As I scroll through my Instagram feed, I see and admire so many models, hoping one day I can aspire to look just like them. These girls appear to be flawless — not one imperfection, not one pimple, not one stretch mark. Businesses cleverly use these Instagram models to sponsor their products, having society believe that if they buy these items, one day they may be as “perfect” as the girls they follow on Instagram. I, too, am guilty of buying pointless products that people claim will enhance one’s appearance and make them more “attractive” in society’s eyes.

Recently, there have been many debates over Kim Kardashian and her almost completely naked pictures that she uses to promote her new fragrance. While some people think that it is great that Kim Kardashian is being body positive and she should be allowed to express herself, others think that it isn’t appropriate to be showing so much skin on social media and that it negatively impacts the way people see themselves. I personally am conflicted because, while I do think that Kim can do whatever she wants with her body — and in one sense, it’s great that she has a positive body image — I don’t know if she’s posting nearly-nude images of herself to try to get others to “feel comfortable with their bodies.” Instead, it seems that Kim Kardashian is simply using her famous curves to endorse her new fragrance bottle. While that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I do think posting these pictures makes girls insecure, and places an unrealistic body expectation in their heads. After all, Kim Kardashian and others who spend a great deal of their time “in front of the camera” probably also spent a great deal of time in front of the mirror, figuring out how they can look “perfect” because they are almost always on stage.

As a young girl, I always loved watching reality TV shows like Keeping Up With The Kardashians because it was enjoyable to watch the seemingly perfect lives of others: perfect hair, perfect skin, perfect lives; they had the lives that I thought I wanted to lead. As I got older, I started to realize that I wouldn’t want to live a life where I would be constantly monitored by others and expected to look and act in a so-called “perfect” way. In addition, I also grew to accept that no one is perfect, and though these celebrities or models may appear to be flawless onscreen, in real life, they have imperfections just like you and me. I’m not saying that I don’t watch reality TV at all, but as I have gotten older, I have learned to watch without envying their lives.

People in front of the camera only show you what they want you to see which tends to make us “regular” people insecure because we don’t live the same “perfect” lives they do. However, behind the scenes, their lives and bodies are just as imperfect as ours. It is important for people to embrace their flaws because that is what makes them special and unique.