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Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, the mainstream idea of the “perfect body shape” for women has shifted almost as often as fashion trends. The contrast in the “perfect woman” idea between decades is shocking and speaks volumes of public attitudes at the time—the beauty standards depended on whether or not people thought it was okay for women to have curves.
Countless diets, pills, and celebrity icons later, we’re still going wrong in 2024 by encouraging women and girls to constantly compare themselves to others and gain the “perfect female body” rather than loving the female body in their own right. At the very least, however, we’ve come farther than using such beauty trends as cigarettes and Wonder Bread to slim down.
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The Changing Body Trends Over the Years
Take a walk back in time with us and marvel at the varyingly ridiculous expectations of the body types (female figures) over the years. Scroll down just a bit and see for yourself.
More info: (h/t: Vintage Everyday, DM)
Image credits: Leo Delauncey
Camille Clifford
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Image credits: Leo Delauncey
Alice Joyce
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Image credits: Leo Delauncey
Jean Harlow
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Image credits: Leo Delauncey
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Image credits: Leo Delauncey
Elizabeth Taylor
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Image credits: Leo Delauncey
Twiggy
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Image credits: Leo Delauncey
Farrah Fawcett
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Image credits: Leo Delauncey
Elle MacPherson
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Image credits: Leo Delauncey
Kate Moss
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Image credits: Leo Delauncey
Christina Aguilera
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Image credits: Leo Delauncey
Is There Really a Perfect Body Shape?
As you saw, body trends over the years have changed according to society’s perception of the perfect body image. Makes you realize that there’s no such thing as the so-called perfect female body type. Each body is unique and should be cherished just as it is instead of fitting into the societal norm. Wouldn’t you agree? Let us know in the comments!
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Jeff Tan 8 years ago
It would be interesting if someone made a post about the "perfect" male body through the decades. There seems to be a lot more posts and information about the female body. Could it be because females are constantly being objectified and scrutinised more closely than males?
Aunt Messy 8 years ago
The look for men just hasn't changed much over the course of time. All you have to do is look at Greek statuary to see that. We saw an uptick in men with heavier musculature in the '90s, and there is a slight trend now towards skinny gits with neck beards, but these are not the mainstream.
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IRefuseToBePoliticallyCorrect 8 years ago
Kim Kardashian is here as a joke? Famous becouse of sextape. O tempora o mores! BTW, ugly face, ugly body.
Amanda Panda 8 years ago
I guess I"m in the small minority that goes for hearts not parts. I can appreciate a nice body, but someone kind hearted is sexy imo
Too Lazy To Care 🐼 8 years ago
Agreed. I never really found people's looks/bodies attractive, I mostly find their personality attractive.
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Miklós Nagy 8 years ago
Women telling women what men should prefer. As a man for example I find this bootylicious trend disgusting, so deoes everyone else I know.
Wezbie 8 years ago
I think a lot of it has to do with women being in a constant state of confusion... I have seen so many comments by men saying 'how do women not understand that we know women don't actually look like this?' when they see something photoshopped, as if women are overreacting. I've also seen someone post a photo of a skinny woman with the comment 'If I wanted a skeleton I'd go to a graveyard' (I'm not joking) or comment on a photo of a beautiful girl stating how she has 'no a*s'. I think women criticise other women more on their fashion style rather than their body and you will rarely see comments such as those written from women. The issue is that no one can bloody shut up about what they think a perfect woman should be when it is completely subjective. Like skinny girls? cool. Like bootylicious girls? fine. But no one should be telling anyone they should modify their genetically given bodies because of the opinions of a few that simply shout louder.
Load More Replies...
Ana T. 8 years ago
big booty was a kardashian trend?? hhhmmm NO it was JLO the queen of sexy booty , sexy natural round butt , kim k and minaj those are fake and so big look like clown a*s, not sexy not attractive period.
Mibo Dumplings 8 years ago
I don't believe in trends. We should be alive to look how we want and choose our own body style without the media judging us.
Shauday Smith 8 years ago
honestly... aside from the Gibson girl, the figures didn't change that much. Mild fluctuations between slimmer frames and soft curves. Kim and Nicki do not rule this era's ideal body. They are outliers of the norm and not highly aspired to as they are the only ones i can think of that have these exaggerated forms. General health and fitness is what i would say is hot right now. Kind of like the supposed trend in the 80's and early 2000's.
Lily Mae Kitty 8 years ago
the inset 1940s round photo is Hepburn. the one below I also thought might be Ava Gardener.
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Dina Abd El Malik 5 years ago (edited)
this is not the kardashian who made the curve body popular IT STARTED all WITH JENNIFER LOPEZ , Beyonce of course and Rihanna . Kardashian became popular after that .. please pay tribute to JLO not to those fake women who uses filter and photoshop all day long (well other do but it looks way more realistic)
Jeff Tan 8 years ago
It would be interesting if someone made a post about the "perfect" male body through the decades. There seems to be a lot more posts and information about the female body. Could it be because females are constantly being objectified and scrutinised more closely than males?
Aunt Messy 8 years ago
The look for men just hasn't changed much over the course of time. All you have to do is look at Greek statuary to see that. We saw an uptick in men with heavier musculature in the '90s, and there is a slight trend now towards skinny gits with neck beards, but these are not the mainstream.
Load More Replies... IRefuseToBePoliticallyCorrect 8 years ago
Kim Kardashian is here as a joke? Famous becouse of sextape. O tempora o mores! BTW, ugly face, ugly body.
Amanda Panda 8 years ago
I guess I"m in the small minority that goes for hearts not parts. I can appreciate a nice body, but someone kind hearted is sexy imo
Too Lazy To Care 🐼 8 years ago
Agreed. I never really found people's looks/bodies attractive, I mostly find their personality attractive.
Load More Replies... Miklós Nagy 8 years ago
Women telling women what men should prefer. As a man for example I find this bootylicious trend disgusting, so deoes everyone else I know.
Wezbie 8 years ago
I think a lot of it has to do with women being in a constant state of confusion... I have seen so many comments by men saying 'how do women not understand that we know women don't actually look like this?' when they see something photoshopped, as if women are overreacting. I've also seen someone post a photo of a skinny woman with the comment 'If I wanted a skeleton I'd go to a graveyard' (I'm not joking) or comment on a photo of a beautiful girl stating how she has 'no a*s'. I think women criticise other women more on their fashion style rather than their body and you will rarely see comments such as those written from women. The issue is that no one can bloody shut up about what they think a perfect woman should be when it is completely subjective. Like skinny girls? cool. Like bootylicious girls? fine. But no one should be telling anyone they should modify their genetically given bodies because of the opinions of a few that simply shout louder.
Load More Replies... Ana T. 8 years ago
big booty was a kardashian trend?? hhhmmm NO it was JLO the queen of sexy booty , sexy natural round butt , kim k and minaj those are fake and so big look like clown a*s, not sexy not attractive period.
Mibo Dumplings 8 years ago
I don't believe in trends. We should be alive to look how we want and choose our own body style without the media judging us.
Shauday Smith 8 years ago
honestly... aside from the Gibson girl, the figures didn't change that much. Mild fluctuations between slimmer frames and soft curves. Kim and Nicki do not rule this era's ideal body. They are outliers of the norm and not highly aspired to as they are the only ones i can think of that have these exaggerated forms. General health and fitness is what i would say is hot right now. Kind of like the supposed trend in the 80's and early 2000's.
Lily Mae Kitty 8 years ago
the inset 1940s round photo is Hepburn. the one below I also thought might be Ava Gardener.
Load More Replies... Dina Abd El Malik 5 years ago (edited)
this is not the kardashian who made the curve body popular IT STARTED all WITH JENNIFER LOPEZ , Beyonce of course and Rihanna . Kardashian became popular after that .. please pay tribute to JLO not to those fake women who uses filter and photoshop all day long (well other do but it looks way more realistic)
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