Diverse Female Beauty from Dove

What do you think of the Dove Real Beauty campaign?

Would you like to see more diverse images of feminine beauty? Does it make you feel more confident about your own beauty?

For a positive video experience exposing the follies of the media world click on this icon:

Comments

[anybody]

When my daughter (13) saw this poster she thought it was sexist because these beautiful women were flaunting their curves and that's all they seemed to be up there for. It never occured to her that these stunning ladies were making a courageous point because they were not actually beautiful according to the norms of advertising.

[susie orbach]

Wow, that's really interesting.

[the cheshire cat]

This poster is great - the girls on it are adorable.
I live in Central Europe and everyday I see the "contest" between girls. It's all about beeing slim like the stars of hollywood. But most of the girls just eat less instead of working out... The whole thing is ludicrous.
I advocate this page... Thank you for trying to chance something. I hope you'll be sucessfull...

[Sue Thomason]

I like these ads very much, but they don't really address the real problem - and that is that image is nothing to do with self-esteem. Self esteem and self image are entirely different things. One is what you think of yourself and one is what others think of you. No matter how well you're admired for your beauty or no matter how much weight you lose or plastic surgery you have - or even how much you accept yourself as beautiful in the face of an unrealistic ideal - if you don't like yourself, nothing will change.

The whole world needs to stop perpetuating the message that image can affect self esteem. While this Dove campaign is utterly brilliant at making women feel more comfortable in their bodies, women should also be told that they are not what they look like and if they rely on other people's opinions of their looks to formulate judgements of themselves, whether those opinions are good or bad, they will never feel happy or live at ease in the world.

[Danie]

The ads haven't aired on South African TV, but featured on Oprah. I found the girls incredibly sexy. I found your site while surfing for a decent sized pic. I have not found any btw. It really is a pity that there aren't more of these girls in adverising. Part of the problem might be the high percentage of gay men in advertising and fashion. A gay friend of mine told me the sight of a so-called 'shapely' female bottom puts him off completely. After all, he likes skinny, rock hard male gluts!

[elise]

I have also experienced your dilemma danie - ie of not being able to source pictures of more shapely role models - which is exactly why this site is in place - so we can convince the advertising and fashion industries that these women are gorgeous, and that we do want to see them. If I think of any pictures for you I'll let you know - but you might find it easier looking at art imagery rather that fashion or marketing imagery. Best of luck!

[ella]

I just discovered this website at 11.20pm on saturday night. Its great! thank you so much.

We have had the same Dove billboard campaigns here in Australia and I really dislike them.
As far as I'm concerned the sight of more women in their underwear, in public places, defeats the purpose of Dove's supposed stance of diversity and inclusivity. Why must we still be directed to oggling at their breasts and crotch? Why do the models have to be almost naked? It smacks of the same old exploitation of womens' bodies that we are so sick of. Its still advertising up to it's usual tricks, cashing in on the latest politically correct gag, while still catering to the lowest common denominator.

[Emily]

I agree with Ella. If Dove wants to portray "real" women, they shouldn't have a bunch of women modeling in their underwear together. Women can be sexy while leaving a bit more to the imagination. I think the general concept is good; I think the media should definitely model a more realistic variety of women. But women are still being exploited when they're dancing around in their underwear! I don't know about you....but I never see women doing that.......and that isn't what being sexy is all about......

[Luci]

It doesn't work at all. I still feel horrible about my body and want to throw up when I look at myself in the mirror.

[anybody]

Dear Luci,

Body image propaganda can be overwhelming,try diverting your attention away from advertisements, negative television and magazines for awhile (not easy to do in this media savy world we know)...And have a look at some of the exercises in our 'body image workshop' section, hopefully it will help you understand why you feel horrible about your body and you can start to change those destructive thoughts.

All the best,
AnyBody

[fran]

I disagree slightly with Ella and Emily. My perception of this advert is that these women are showing body confidence as well as beauty, and what better way then to be photographed in underwear? I would love to look like any of those women as I am very scrawny! It is definately time for the young "super waif" image to disappear and for all shapes/sizes/ages to be given merit for their own individual beauty.

[heike]

I just came across your website: it's really great!!!
Indeed, I love these "dove" ads! Even if I see the point, that it's the usual way of showing women in ads, just with unusual (pc) women, I'm so tired of seeing skinny models everywhere, that it was simply an eye-candy for me. And it - nearly - worked: If I didn't use only organic cosmetics, because of these advertisements my choice would have been "dove"...
But a journalist friend from Munich told me, that they in fact sold less products after publishing these ads, and therefore stopped this sort of campaign. Does anybody know more about that?
The very best for you all from Germany!!!

[Helen]

The dove advert was great, it makes a change seeing normal curvy women instead of the media's concept of the way we should be practically skin and bones.

[Sandra]

I find this advertisement insulting. Here we have these "models" who yeah, are a bit larger than what we see in magazines, but the images are nicely photoshopped to remove those unwanted "flaws" most women fear. I don't see any stretch marks, dimples, cellulite, saddlebags, large tummies, etc. I also notice that all of the models have perfectly proportioned boob-to-hip ratios. No wrinkles (they are all young), no gray hair, no imperfections! They all look the same to me. Where are the apple shaped and the pear shaped ones, and everyone else in between? As a matter of fact I find this advertisement insulting. To me the message is "yes you can be bigger, but must still be flawless which you can attain if you use our product." I see why Luci says in her post that this doesn't make her feel better, of course not! This isn't "Real Beauty." Is not real. It is just another spin of the same old message.

[Kasia]

I`m from Poland and the whole idea of that action is not as popular as in another countries. But I really love the commercial and those women... I think I'd like to be one of them, concerned about their beauty and sex-appeal. Unfortunatelly, I`m one of these, who suffer from anorexia, and next (from 8months) it turned into bulimia.I try to fight with it- and I think I`ve been winninig, I stopped vomitting and starving, I don't even want to lose on weight more (52kg-167cm), but the vision of putting on weight is just unbearable! That just cannot happen! Food never will be sth normal for me. Alcoholic may drop out drinking as well as drugs, but food - it is impossible to give it up.
I`d like to look like those women, I think they are beautiful, but on the other hand I know I would feel horrible in such body. Why? Because of bigger size, fashion...? I`m not sure.
The whole action made me to think and today I`ve eaten NORMAL dinner without vomitting. Thank you.

[Elise]

Dear Kasia,
I work on the AnyBody website, you know are not alone in your anguish with food... I recommend you have a look on our website at the 'Body Image Workshop' section; then you can work out why you are scared of about being a bigger size...And congratulations on a positive eating day today....:o)

[alexandra]

wow - that video link is fablous - I will look at the magazines with a more sceptical eye now!

[Lisa]

I find the hypocricy of the Dove Beauty Campaign insulting. First, has anyone noticed the Dove corporation sells skin firming cream for cellulite!? Obviously it's o.k. to love yourself but not too much, or the Dove corporation might not make enough money off of you. Second, "real" beauty according to whom? The Dove corporation is no better qualified to define beauty than the modelling or advertising industry. Finally, why is it that there are no thin women or really fat women in the campaign? I am certain if there is such a thing as "real" beauty thin and fat women would be represented too.

[Mitora]

You feminazis piss me off. Do you want all women to cover themselves from head to toe, only showing their faces like they do in some Middle Eastern countries? And if she shows alot of skin, be labeled as a whore and undesirable?

Feminazism pisses me off.

[Nicole]

I am insulted by this ad, and in fact have contacted Dove about it. The idea that "real women have curves" is what bothers me. I don't have curves, I'm a petite woman from a petite family. I am reminded every time I go to a department store to buy a bra. Everything in an A is either a push-up, or for little girls. Real women come in all types.