Makeup and diets: is that really what makes you pretty?

Magazine pictures of models are retouched to make them look like they have perfect skin and skinnier legs when that’s not what they really look like. Perception isn’t always reality.

Society struggles to find a balance between pretty and unhealthy. There is a lot more than being pretty that comes along with being a model, including drug abuse and eating disorders. Some models even  go as far as eating cotton balls and tissues.

“I don’t know if there’s enough awareness, they just know about the models,” guidance counselor Mrs. Tamme Westbrooks said.

Many models only drink protein shakes for nine days before a photoshoot or runway show. They do everything they can possibly do to appear as skinny as they can. They may look pretty to you, but is this really healthy?

“The media portrays what is the perfect body and girls try to emulate that,” school nurse Ms. Merrilyn Pysher said.

This affects a wide range of people not limited to girls; it affects some boys too. The majority of people affected are in their teens and are still trying to figure out who they are.

“They are trying to keep up with what they think is beautiful,” Ms. Pysher said.

Teens may think that this is what they are supposed to look like but it comes with consequences they don’t see at first.  It all comes down to self esteem.

“Some people struggle with their self image by always comparing themselves to others. However, those with more self-confidence can accept their flaws,” junior Angie Rizzo said.

Eating disorders are often the result of lack of self confidence.

“One thing they can control is eating,” Pysher said.

Teenageres think their parents have control over everything else in their lives; the one thing that they can control is how much or how little they eat. This can be hard to treat because there are very rarely any self reports.

“Throughout the last 15 years I don’t think I’ve ever had a self report for an eating disorder; we often hear it from a friend or family member,” Mrs. Westbrooks said.

It is sometimes difficult to get help, but it is essential for friends and family to understand the seriousness of it.

Some companies seem to be doing something about it by only hiring models with a BMI of 18 or higher.

“The last 15 years have been better, they are using more plus sized models,” Pysher said.

There seems to be some improvement, but will it ever change completely?