Celebrities have always had a major influence on what is deemed “beautiful” in terms of clothing, style and even body shape. Everyone has their celebrity role model or someone they look up to for style inspiration, what’s trendy and even what they should look like.

Celebrities like the Kardashians have had a large influence on the younger generations; however, their influence has not usually been admirable. While their drama can pose as entertaining for some, the standards they hold themselves to along with the influence they promote can be very damaging for adolescents and young adults. The Kardashians have always been known for their hourglass curves, which at the start of the curvy culture, many thought this was bringing more body inclusivity to the early 2000’s. However, it became apparent this wasn’t the case as their looks were going beyond natural and people were beginning to follow suit with the surgical transformations to achieve this new beauty standard. 

After previously being in the media for their curves and family drama, they are now gaining attention for their sudden weight loss and promotion of diet culture. Earlier this year, Kim Kardashian made headlines for wearing Marilyn Monroe’s famous 1962 “Happy Birthday President” dress to the MET gala, not for how stunning the dress looked, but more for the weight she lost to fit into the dress in such a short amount of time. Not only has Kim aided this unrealistic skinny standard, but her sister Khloe Kardashian is also at fault for promoting extremely skinny standards which many people continue to point out.

Not only does going under for body enhancing surgeries pose a large health risk, it also furthers the issues of self esteem.

In a study conducted by disability charity Scope, they found that, “…almost half of 18-34 year olds said their various social media feeds made them feel ugly or unattractive, while 30% said it also made them feel lonely,” said Debbie Bines.

With the heavy influence Hollywood stars like the Kardashians have on current trends, it is important to recognize the impact they can have on the public. Beauty is not defined by one’s Instagram feed or looks, but more so by how one carries themselves.