Facing up to our looks-obsessed society

Where does our superficial, unrealistic ideal of smooth skin and a perfect body stem from?

Skin is considered flawed if it doesn’t conform to that picture-perfect ideal. Editing a photograph to conform to our unrealistic expectations distorts our perception of ourselves.

Photographs on Facebook are an example of this trend. We strive so hard to maintain this pristine image of ourselves, and use social media sites as a stage to project how we want the world to see us. There is nothing wrong with looking well, but we should not change for others. How we look is now our priority. Why do we want other people to perceive us in a way that isn’t the truth? ‘Natural’ is now merely a word printed in the dictionary.

The media, in my opinion, are a leading cause as to why the picture-perfect body and flawless skin are so sought-after. Models, who have undergone an array of procedures to enhance their looks, parade on the front covers of weekly magazines primarily targeted at women. These models sport a heavily photo-shopped finish that showcases an unobtainable look that women crave.

People should never try to emulate how others look, because, after all, what we see and what is the truth are two completely different things.

Danny De Vaal, aged 15

James Street North

North Strand

Dublin 3.