The Kardashians have a lot to answer for when it comes to unattainable body standards. They’ve made selling unrealistic ideals a successful business strategy, from heavily Photoshopped selfies and tweakment endorsement deals to fitness shows and well-documented weight loss journeys. I’d be skeptical of anyone who claimed they’d never looked at a Kardashian photo and felt insecure about their appearance. Nonetheless, it appears that the Kardashians are not immune to the adverse effects of the pressures they help to create.
Consider the uproar surrounding Khloé’s unfiltered bikini photo in 2021. Khloé was so determined to remove this image from the internet that she threatened legal action. Naturally, there was a social media uproar: what kind of example does it set when a woman is so concerned about an image of herself that is less than perfect? What chance do ordinary women have? But, when you consider Khloé’s ongoing struggles with her body and appearance, after years of being compared to her sisters and relentless online trolling, it’s clear that the situation is far more complicated. Being wealthy and famous does not eliminate insecurity.
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Khloé has now shared some apparently unfiltered bikini photos on her own terms, two years after bikini-gate. The photos, taken by Khloé’s sister Kendall Jenner, show her posing sideways in front of a doorway, her body bathed in natural light, and some cellulite on display.
So, what are your thoughts on this latest move? Khloé should be applauded for embracing her un-retouched body with all of its perceived flaws. If even a Kardashian is embracing self-acceptance, we may be witnessing a sea change when it comes to impossible beauty standards. Can a single post, on the other hand, truly mitigate the messaging of a decade of aggressively filtered selfies? Maybe not. However, it is unquestionably a step in the right direction.
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