Beauty and the Barbie

So Barbie is going to be in Sports Illustrated magazine and apparently the entire world is up in arms about it.  Well, I love Barbie.  I have always loved Barbie. I own a Barbie collection.  And her being in this magazine actually only makes me love her more.   However, I think the focus around it is ridiculous.  I think we have bigger problems to worry about than if Barbie is featured in a magazine wearing a sexy swimsuit.

#Unapologetic
http://www.barbiecollector.com/news/barbie-swimsuit-barbie-oped

There is so much discussion around this magazine photo and much of it centers on woman and self-esteem.  I don’t know about you, but I didn’t get my self-esteem (and sometimes lack thereof) from Barbie or a swimsuit model or a Sports Illustrated magazine.  And I am pretty sure the females in this world struggling with self-esteem on a regular basis, did not obtain those struggles from any of these things either.  Our struggles with self-esteem stem from the way Barbie, models and woman in general are viewed and/or treated.  I am blessed with what I consider to be an attractive body.  Sure, there are things I would change about myself (my bust being one of them) and there are things I would rather not give up (like my legs and hair) but overall I am blessed.  But I am so much more than my body.  And the overweight girl the world considers “less attractive” is so much more than her body too.  The problem is we don’t see past the body.  I had a guy I dated actually tell me, “You have a great personality and are super intelligent but I hope you realize, men don’t date you because of those things.  Men date you because you are a hot pair of legs.”  Nice…what a gem.  Can’t imagine why that relationship didn’t work out.  And I wonder if a lifetime of dating people obsessed with “a body” hasn’t left a scar or two (or ten) on my heart.  And I bet, being turned down by a guy because she isn’t consider “attractive” has probably left a scar on a girl a time or two as well.  I am almost repulsed by any obsession (or compliment) with any physical aspect of my being.  I am more than a body.  And you are more than a body. 

I want to be able to dress well, feel attractive, accessorize, flatter the parts of my body I love…and still be more than the body.   And the girl that the world considers “less attractive” desires to do the same and be made feel beautiful.  Beauty is not a body.  And the reason we have so many self-esteem issues is because we have allowed others to make us feel like beauty is our body.  Beauty is so much more than our bodies. 

1 Peter 3:3-4

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.  Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirits, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

So I fully support Barbie, models, Sports Illustrated celebrities, the Dove campaign, the Fruit of Loom underwear ads…because they are just advertisements and/or highlighting individuals in this world.  I don’t find my self-esteem from them…and neither should you. 

We need to embrace beauty in it’s real form…

Barbie dolls, magazines, and inner beauty,

Ashley Lucille

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