Here we go again. Didn't we learn anything from the Ralph Lauren photoshopping incident last year? See a clip of Crystal Renn, a "plus sized model" (although only a size 10) discussing her outrage at being made to look thinner in a recent photo shoot. While the photoshopped pictures were not as extreme as those in the Ralph Lauren ad, they go against what Crystal Renn stands for.
It's no surprise that this incident hit a nerve with Ms. Renn, who was apparently told to "lose a third of her body weight" in order to become a model. This kicked off years of extreme dieting and eating disorders that significantly damaged her health. She finally accepted her body and turned her career around -- modeling at her natural size. Leslie Goldman, a body image blogger and writer, appeared with her on the Today Show discussing the impact and message of photoshopped pictures.
I like Ms. Renn's quote. It's one we all need to remember -- "Beauty is not a pants size."
The positive aspect of photoshopping controversies is that it gets us talking about photoshopping. If you saw the photos elsewhere, it's likely that you wouldn't have even known that they were cropped. We see altered photos all the time and don't realize it. It's a good reminder that our eyes can easily be deceived.
Did you know that BP used photoshopping to alter images of the oil spill? Whether it is women's bodies or an oil spill, sometimes it wouldn't hurt us to see things as they really are.
Susan Albers, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist, specializing in eating issues, weight loss, body image concerns, and mindfulness. She is author of 50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food, Eating Mindfully, Eat, Drink, and Be Mindful, and Mindful Eating 101 and a Huffington Post blogger. Her books have been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, O, the Oprah Magazine, Natural Health and Self Magazine and on the Dr. Oz TV Show. Visit Albers online at www.eatingmindfully.com