Opinion: Aerie's New Campaign with Barbie Ferreira
Apparently Aerie’s new campaign featuring 19 year old model Barbie Ferreira, is sparking negative responses saying that the company is promoting an “unhealthy lifestyle”. So promoting body acceptance is unhealthy? First of all, let’s get one thing straight: this has nothing to do with food and diet, nor does Aerie have anything to do with that.
The campaign is meant to promote body acceptance and send the message that you shouldn’t feel unbeautiful just because you don’t fit certain standards. In my opinion, Aerie is promoting that we should take care of our body, not to abuse it too look a certain way. We should accept that we are humans that come in different body shapes and sizes.
I honestly love the new campaign, but many don’t because they think it’s promoting an “unhealthy lifestyle”. I’ve read some very harsh comments that have said things like “being a fat girl isn’t something to be proud of,” “She’s not curvy. She’s fat!”, and some have even said that the campaign is promoting obesity.
Personally, what makes me angry is that any model or celebrity that isn't skinny is thought to be promoting obesity. Conversely, if they are skinny they are thought to be promoting eating disorders. We humans, men and women, can’t win when it comes to our bodies. We are judged no matter what we look like. It’s important to remember that in order to have a healthy body we have to take care of it and not abuse it. That’s my definition of a healthy lifestyle. I think Barbie Ferreira is beautiful and so is her body.
Valerie is a writer for Beyond the Stage magazine, a music enthusaist, and college student. #authenticliving
