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Ariana Grande has just joined Kylie Jenner in opening up about the work she’s had done to alter her appearance. This poses the question: are we in a new era of A-lister authenticity?
As social media continues to wreak havoc on our self-esteem, it can be immensely frustrating to recognise that we’re being lied to by our favourite celebrities about how they’ve altered their appearances.
Take the Kardashians, for example. Despite the fact they’ve been in the public eye for well over a decade now – and have, as a result, openly invited us to bear witness to their ceaseless physical transformations – the sisters have, time and time again, assured the world that they are indeed ‘au naturale.’
Preserving the falsehood that their manicured-to-perfection faces, hair, and bodies aren’t the product of hours under the knife or, as is common with social media influencers, a few retouches on photoshop, they’ve repeatedly succeeded in upholding toxic beauty standards.
‘It’s important to remember that celebrities who rely on their physical appearance for profit have an overwhelming incentive to deny that their coveted aesthetic is sculpted by a doctor, and not a result of the products or the image of themselves that they are selling you,’ writes Jessica Rogers, offering us an explanation for the reason behind such evidently damaging marketing tactics.
This, as I’m sure you’re aware, has had a concerning effect on how young girls in particular perceive themselves and acted as the catalyst for recently introduced regulations on TikTok and Instagram that aim to nip misleading image-based claims in the bud.
It seems as though change may finally be afoot from the top, however, with the youngest of the 5 Ks to surprisingly thank for a burgeoning pivot towards more transparency.
