Cover Image Courtesy: Alvin Balemesa // Unsplash
The recent explosive growth of the global beauty industry reflects society’s intensifying obsession with beauty. Surging from $100 billion in 2021 to over $1.1 trillion in revenue between 2022 and 2023, the industry generated $528.59 billion in 2022 and $579.20 billion in 2023, with projections indicating continued expansion to $648.60 billion in 2024 and $716 billion in 2025.
Like our counterpart Gen-Zs, millennial women are a generation of women influenced by idealised representations of womanhood and femininity and contrived social media feeds. Consequently, we’re driven to pursue unrealistic beauty ideals, as we suffer unnecessarily to achieve flawless skin, perfect bodies, and unattainable beauty standards.
This toxic beauty culture, fuelled by our insecurity and vulnerabilities, and is and perpetuated by ever-evolving social standards, contributes to body dysmorphia, which erodes self-love, self-compassion, and self-acceptance.
Understanding Body Dysmorphia in Millennial Women
Body dysmorphia, also known as body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a psychological condition under the broad spectrum of obsessive-compulsive disorders and characterised by an obsessive fixation on perceived flaws or minor physical imperfections in one’s appearance.
Body dysmorphia can manifest in daily life through various behaviours such as excessive mirror use and self-checking, often accompanied by critical self-examination and a perpetual cycle of self-scrutiny.
Some women may also engage in repetitive body-focused behaviours, such as skin picking, excessive grooming, or overreliance on beauty products in an attempt to “fix” perceived flaws.
Among some millennial women on social media, this may manifest as expensive skincare routines.
The financial strain of purchasing these products can be significant, with some individuals spending exorbitant amounts on makeup, artificial hair extensions, and other beauty treatments just to feel more confident.
Additionally, constant comparison to others, often fueled by social media, can perpetuate feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. Ultimately, harsh self-criticism and negative self-talk can become a pervasive and damaging pattern, significantly impacting daily life, relationships, and overall well-being.
The Illusion of Perfection
As each generation gets more and more obsessed with perfection, it becomes easy to fall into the snare of believing that a woman’s value is indeed intrinsically tied to her physical appearance.
Constant exposure to celebrities’ curated perfection also breeds unrealistic expectations of the self causes low self-esteem among some women.
With the seemingly perfect lives of celebrities, they create an illusion of perfection. But the truth is, this perfection is merely a mirage.
What we do not realise is that these lives are carefully curated to mask the inherent complexity that accompanies the beauty of the human experience.
Rather than succumbing to the allure of unrealistic lifestyles, we should embrace our humanity and courageously accept our flaws and imperfections, giving ourselves permission to be fully human.
Embrace your flaws and imperfections – it’s okay to be human.
Breaking Free: Liberation through Self-Acceptance
As a mental health disorder body dysmorphia affects women of all ages and backgrounds.
Whether it’s the superficial fixation on wrinkles, cellulite, or body shape and/or size, the constant self-criticism in relation to our physical appearance can take a toll on our mental, emotional and even physical well-being.
Self-acceptance is the act of embracing one’s entire being, acknowledging and accepting past and present flaws, imperfections, and vulnerabilities, to cultivate self-awareness, self-compassion, and inner peace.
It doesn’t mean running away from doing the work on yourself. Rather, it is simply when a person is free enough to accept the reality of what their life is, and is willing to work on becoming better, without becoming fixated on superficial beauty ideals and flawlessness.
A simple shift in perspective can bring liberation. Instead of fussing on your smile lines, why not see them as a testament to the many hearty laughs you have shared with yourself and your loved ones?
Why not celebrate the map of life etched on your skin as cellulite wrinkles, and stretch marks, as they represent the journey of your transformation and growth?
Authenticity as Cure
The crippling grip of body dysmorphia stems from self-loathing, fuelled by a culture of unrealistic beauty standards perpetuated by celebrities and influencers who have lost touch with reality. This inadvertent contribution has become an epidemic, now threatening the mental well-being of successive generations.
Embracing your imperfection isn’t just about accepting your physical appearance – it is also about letting go of the need to constantly measure up to external standards of beauty, success, happiness, and fulfillment. Instead, turn inward and search your innermost parts for wisdom and uncommon insight to guide you on the journey of life.
Authentic living is about honoring your values, passions, and aspirations, and allowing them to shape the trajectory of your life in an impactful, purposeful, and meaningful way.
Ignite the true self within and draw others to your light by simply, very simply, living, and being.