Photoshop Fictions: Meaghan Kausman

First off, I'll say that I think Photoshop is powerful, amazing and it definitely has its place in the art and photography fields.   Unfortunately it is also too often used in the worst way possible - to destroy the authenticity, diversity, and individuality of already lovely people.  Shaving a couple of inches off a waist here, adding a fuller bust there, making everyone essentially all the same in order to meet some ridiculous and clearly unattainable ideal of beauty.

In my aspiration to counter the torrent of unrealistic images we face in our cockeyed culture, I present my Photoshop Fictions series - where we see and discuss Photoshop before and after photos.  I find it so helpful in the constant battle with my inner critical voice to see what is real and authentic, and how we are tricked into believing lies about what is beautiful.

To start the Photoshop Fictions series, I celebrate and admire Australian model Meaghan Kausman, who was shocked to see the results of her swimwear photo shoot with them and the transformation the company had given her body.  So she posted the before and after (above) on her Instagram page and wrote the following:

"They had drastically altered my body, thinning out my stomach and thighs in an attempt to box me in to the cultural ideal of beauty.
Above is their version, below is the real version.
My body is a size 8, not a size 4. That’s my body! I refuse to stand by and allow ANY company or person to perpetuate the belief that “thinner is better”. All women are beautiful, and we come in different shapes and sizes! This industry is crazy!!!! It is NOT OKAY to alter a woman’s body to make it look thinner. EVER!"

Amen sister.  Look how beautiful that image is with her just as she is.

Liz Dwyer on takepart.com wrote a lovely article on this as well - discussing Kausman's father's thoughts and views as a doctor and "one of Australia’s most outspoken advocates against dieting and body-shaming culture".

I suspect having a father with such ideals was part of where Kausman got her ability to be confident in who she is and stand up for herself.  Parents have such incredible power, fathers especially.

In the language of flowers, the Chestnut flower means Do Me Justice.

Photo credit: Apple2000, WikiMedia Commons