Recently, Gillette Venus shared a photo of plus-size model Anna O’Brien, trying to celebrate diversity. However, their attempt has its share of critics who claim that the company is normalizing an unhealthy life. Similar to what other companies with super skinny models are doing, just on the other end of the spectrum.
Image credits: gillettevenus
Image credits: gillettevenus
Anna has an online blog, called Glitter + Lazers. “I run my online personality with heart, which means my opinions cannot be bought,” she writes on her website. “If I review something positively- it’s because I actually like it. I might be provided goods or in some case ever paid to try out and experiment with a product, but every collaboration comes with the caveat- I will write what I believe. I blame this on the bad case of ethics and morals I was born with.”
Image credits: GlitterAndLazers
She has over 318k Instagram followers and nearly 100k YouTube subscribers but that’s not it. “I’m also an accomplished global speaker- having presented in over 10 countries,” she says. “I’ve graced the stage at events such as SXSW, Adweek, Social Media Week, emetrics, M2C and more. I’m known for creating a candid and captivating presentation style and my ability to transform difficult concepts into executable steps.”
Image credits: GlitterAndLazers
Gillette Venus claims it features models with no retouching and no restrictions. “No one way to have beautiful skin or to show it off,” they write. “Venus stands with all women who right the rules.”
Image credits: GlitterAndLazers
Some people think this ad isn’t a good idea
This marketing move by Gillette reignited a heated discussion about body size and eating disorders. According to the National Eating Disorder Association, 20 million women and 10 million men will suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lives in the United States. “Eating disorders are serious, life-threatening illnesses that affect all kinds of people, regardless of gender, ethnicity, size, age, or background. In fact, eating disorders have the second highest mortality rate of all mental health disorders, surpassed only by opioid addiction.”
If people are consuming fewer calories than they need, their bodies break down their own tissue to use for fuel. “Muscles are some of the first organs broken down, and the most important muscle in the body is the heart. Pulse and blood pressure begin to drop as the heart has less fuel to pump blood and fewer cells to pump with. The risk for heart failure rises as the heart rate and blood pressure levels sink lower and lower.”
On the other hand, obesity because, as well as causing obvious physical changes, leads to a number of serious and potentially life-threatening conditions, too. These include type 2 diabetes, coronary heart diseas, various types of cancer (such as breast cancer and bowel cancer), and stroke. It can also greatly affect ones quality of like and lead to psychological problems, for example, depression and low self esteem.
While others love it
Twitter user Internet Historian has even created a poll, asking people whether or not it was a good idea
Image credits: Internet Historian
This is NOT a healthy body. A young person might just about manage to function at this weight for a time, but it will soon catch up with them. Why do you think you never see a morbidly obese person of either sex who is over 60? Or one over 50 and independantly mobile with no serious health issues.
Sorry, but my 135 lbs body isnt a healthy body either. Yeah, I "look" like a healthy body, but looks dont define what a healthy body is. I used to work with a guy , damn near my hight, 5 foot 6, and obese for his body type. But damn, he could hike hills and out do me constantly in any outdoor activities we'd do. My mother is my size has high cholesterol and hypertension. Her sister, who's definitely obese has none of those issues. There are other reasons why someone might be over weight, and it doesnt always have to do with stuffing their faces with food.
Load More Replies...Great attitude, body not so much. Not only because she's very overweight, but she's putting herself at a serious health risk and is promoting that she's okay with it. Same as agencies using ultra skinny stick figures for models- equally bad and risky. Be a bit on the thin side, or on the chubby side, and that would be normal. This is not.
You misunderstand my point Merlyn Emrys- everyone is human, I couldn't care how anyone looks, but validating that anorexia or obesity is okay is not. If you have an underlying medical condition that is treatable, treat it. Sometimes meds have an adverse effect of putting on more weight- then eat healthily, exercise if you able to. If you are not eating, sticking a finger down your throat or gorging on food and saying you are happy, there is an underlying issue. But don't make your issue other people's and glorify it.
Load More Replies...I dont care who they hire in ads for razors but they need to stop showing women shaving already shaved legs....
Apparently, any body hair belonging to a woman, (unless it is the head hair, eye brows or eye lashes) is extremely extremely offensive, so they can't show that, or teenagers the world over will have nightmares and the razor company will have to pay a massive fine, large enough to bankrupt them. It is a similar situation with the blue liquid used in sanitary product ads.
Load More Replies...This is NOT a healthy body. A young person might just about manage to function at this weight for a time, but it will soon catch up with them. Why do you think you never see a morbidly obese person of either sex who is over 60? Or one over 50 and independantly mobile with no serious health issues.
Sorry, but my 135 lbs body isnt a healthy body either. Yeah, I "look" like a healthy body, but looks dont define what a healthy body is. I used to work with a guy , damn near my hight, 5 foot 6, and obese for his body type. But damn, he could hike hills and out do me constantly in any outdoor activities we'd do. My mother is my size has high cholesterol and hypertension. Her sister, who's definitely obese has none of those issues. There are other reasons why someone might be over weight, and it doesnt always have to do with stuffing their faces with food.
Load More Replies...Great attitude, body not so much. Not only because she's very overweight, but she's putting herself at a serious health risk and is promoting that she's okay with it. Same as agencies using ultra skinny stick figures for models- equally bad and risky. Be a bit on the thin side, or on the chubby side, and that would be normal. This is not.
You misunderstand my point Merlyn Emrys- everyone is human, I couldn't care how anyone looks, but validating that anorexia or obesity is okay is not. If you have an underlying medical condition that is treatable, treat it. Sometimes meds have an adverse effect of putting on more weight- then eat healthily, exercise if you able to. If you are not eating, sticking a finger down your throat or gorging on food and saying you are happy, there is an underlying issue. But don't make your issue other people's and glorify it.
Load More Replies...I dont care who they hire in ads for razors but they need to stop showing women shaving already shaved legs....
Apparently, any body hair belonging to a woman, (unless it is the head hair, eye brows or eye lashes) is extremely extremely offensive, so they can't show that, or teenagers the world over will have nightmares and the razor company will have to pay a massive fine, large enough to bankrupt them. It is a similar situation with the blue liquid used in sanitary product ads.
Load More Replies...
105
308