In an era in which Instagram is the mentor to which we all refer, the idea that there is a beauty standard that each of us is forced to respect is something that is always more real and palpable, and it brings with it a ruthless behaviour: the body shaming. Its users are its spokespersons, who never fail to make judgments on the web, and often forget that the aim of the critics are human persons and not phones. That we live in a world that revolves around the image is an awareness everyone has, but how much self-confidence do we need to get out of all this unharmed?
Chiara and Valentina Ferragni, struck first with critics to their physical appearance, did not hold back from finally spreading an important message that we want to share with you and which, in our small way, we hope will inspire you all so that you never stop to believe in your beauty that is and must be synonymous with individuality: “I’m sorry my being normal is seen as not being normal. I’m a healthy girl who eats well, sometimes I give myself something more, sometimes I’m more careful. Without anxiety. Over time I have learned to love myself. And now I tell everyone “You are beautiful all the same, girls! We should love each other more. Who are the others to tell me how fat I am or how much I should lose weight, or that I don’t have a physique for Instagram? Never mind the extra pounds or the pounds less, because we always have to look for perfection. If I want to eat 10 pounds of pasta a day for a month, I do it. If I want to lose weight, I lose weight, if I want to put on weight, if I want to stay, I stay like this. Love yourself, try to be comfortable with yourself and do your best, always trying to improve, because it is right to improve “.
Chiara follows Valentina with an important post on Instagram: “Yesterday, while I was getting out of a cab to go to work, a woman surprised me with an awful comment. She was probably in her 40s and, after she saw me, she told her daughter (who was probably around 8) in a very loud way: “don’t even give her attention, did you see she looks like shit without makeup on”. My reaction was just looking at her in shock for such a rude and loud comment, and that feeling stayed with me the whole day. I kept asking myself why people have to talk shit about others, and why do people always have to criticize the way you look, more than anything else? And why do women do this the most, and against other women? In a poll I made on Instagram stories on Tuesday, after my sister @valentinaferragni was “socially attacked” for not wearing a model size I asked my followers if they’ve ever felt bad for bad comments about their physical appearance: 89% of you said yes. Isn’t this crazy? In a world where we all have felt judged for the way we look and where we’ve all, at least at times, felt victims of a beauty standard that we couldn’t live up to and felt bad about ourselves for other’s comments, why do we often do the same?”
“We know the feeling of not feeling the 100% best version of ourselves, so why trying to make others feel bad as well? Why would a mum tell her daughter that another woman looks like shit without makeup on (and I felt so cute that morning) instead of teaching her that beauty comes from within, from self confidence and self love? That everybody is beautiful in their own way, that a “model standard of beauty” doesn’t exist anymore? That a fresh face and a real smile is better than any kind of makeup? That’s what I will teach to my son, that’s what I try to tell you everyday on my social media. Real women support each other. Together, we can make a difference. It starts with baby steps: try to tell yourself something good about your body everyday. And try to empower others around you, instead of tearing them down”.