The Beauty Industry brought down to Earth

To construct a better representation of beauty and style separate from the standards set up by the beauty industry, we bring to light a few individuals who discuss how their unique styles and thoughts on the beauty industry break the mold.

OLIVIA MCCUNE 

Olivia is a 16 year old junior at Santa Barbara High School who describes her personal style as modern and feminine. We had a chance to talk with her about feminism and the changes that to take place within the industry.

"The beauty industry shapes our society."

Would you call yourself a feminist? If so, what does it mean to you? 

O: Yes, I think it means equality in social, political, and vocational settings.

What do you picture when you think of the beauty industry? 

O: I picture artifice.

Do you believe the beauty industry has a significant impact on our society? 

O: Yes, the beauty industry shapes our society by creating standards and aspirations.

Do you see yourself represented in the beauty industry? Does it affect how you view yourself?

O: Yes, to a certain level, but not specifically. It does affect how I view myself in the way the beauty industry creates expectations.

Do you find the current rise of feminism within the beauty industry a mark of change within our culture?  

O: In terms of the mentality yes, but it hasn't necessarily translated into action. There is definitely a growing mentality of people that think that way, but it doesn't change how we still photoshop people.

How do you feel about representation of minorities in the beauty industry and its impact on society?

O: Its definitely lacking and further whitewashes our society.

If you had the ability/power to change anything within the industry, what would it be and why?

O: I would normalize flaws and increase representation not only of minorities, but also different physical appearances.

AMANDA WEYMOUTH 

Amanda is a 17 year old junior at Santa Barbara High School involved with the theater department and the Visual Arts and Design Academy. She would describe her personal style as thrifty chic. 

"Women are taught from a young age to want to look pretty and wear makeup."

What is your definition of feminism? 

A: A movement that just wants equality between the sexes. 

How do you think the beauty industry influences society or yourself? 

A: We grow up watching the beauty industry on tv and it becomes apart of us. We're raised in a world that is very exterior focused and women are taught from a young age to want to look pretty and wear makeup. 

If you could change one thing about the industry, what would that be? 

A: Women are expected to look a certain way, while men are expected to act in a certain way. Its exhausting and I just want them to go away. 

KATIE BUCKLEY 

Katie is a 17 year old junior at Santa Barbara High School in the Visual Arts and Design Academy. She would describe her style as a mix between edgy and vintage. 

"...people are easily tricked by what they see..."

What is your definition of feminism? 

K: Equal rights for women and women supporting each other.

How do you think the beauty industry influences society or yourself? 

K: Women are pressured to look and act a certain way thats impossible to achieve.

If you could change one thing about the industry, what would that be? 

K: I would have beauty companies be more natural and honest as people are easily tricked by what they see. 

GIRLS, GRILS, GIRLS 

MADISON HOAGEN 

Madison is a 17 year old junior at Santa Barbara High School involved with the Visual Arts and Design Academy. She describes her style as comfy and casual. 

"Feminism is mostly a mindset."  

What is your definition of feminism?

M: Its about how I view myself in relation to other people more so than what I do or how I act. Its mostly a mindset. 

How do you think the beauty industry influences society or yourself?

M: The beauty industry has an effect on the women that lets it. 

If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be? 

M: More representation of different kinds of women.

FLOWER F***ING POWER 

MARINA REYES 

Marina is a 16 year old junior at Santa Barbara High School who enjoys to mix and match different styles to create unique looks. 

"People pay more attention when young people try to change society..." 

Would you call yourself a feminist?  If so, what does it mean to you? 

M: Yes, the way I think about it is when people say things like, "oh what you're doing is girly," when in reality anyone can do it, its discrimination.

What do you picture when you think of the beauty industry? 

M: Makeup, a lot of it. Also models, which is what people want to look like.

Do you believe the beauty industry has a significant impact on our society? 


M: Definitely, when a women goes into Victoria Secret to buy a bra they're disappointed because they don’t look the way that they want to in it due to standards set up by the industry.

Do you see yourself represented in the beauty industry? 

M: Yes, I look up to Selena Gomez, I admire her ability to overcome people's body shaming through self love and acceptance.

Do you find the current rise of feminism within the beauty industry a mark of change within our culture? 

M: I think more people are starting to embrace it, both men and women. With the increase of diversity within the industry, people can start to identify more with themselves.

How do you feel about representation of minorities in the beauty industry and its impact on society?

M: There needs to be greater representation.  People pay more attention when young people try to change society because we tend to value a younger perspective.

If you had the ability/power to change anything within the industry, what would it be and why?

M: The lack of diversity among female body types/shapes.

CHEYANNE RUSSELL 

Cheyanne is a junior at Santa Barbara High School who participates on the cheerleading team. When asked what her favorite item of clothing in her closet is she responded her bomber jacket. 

"Everyone looks the same, but thats just not how women are." 

Would you call yourself a feminist?  If so, what does it mean to you? 

C:  Yes, being a feminist is standing up for women’s rights in any situation, from all standpoints.

What do you picture when you think of the beauty industry? 

C:  I think of a lot of petite women, majority of them have small boobs and a small butt. Most of the time they are white, blue eyes, and blonde hair. They all just look the same, there’s really no diversity. Everyone looks the same, but that’s just not how women are.

Do you believe the beauty industry has a significant impact on our society?

C: Yes, definitely. As far as young girls, they're watching tv, youtube videos, listening to music, and are constantly being shown the "perfect women" and they crave to look like that. They don’t really think about their body image and what they can offer the world.

Do you see yourself represented in the beauty industry? Does it affect how you view yourself?

C: I really look up to Brandy Norwood, an r&b singer. She’s a single mother, black women- obviously- and she may not be a model, but she’s always struck me as a very strong, down-to-earth woman, and I would really love to meet her.

Do you find the current rise of feminism within the beauty industry a mark of change within our culture?  

C: Yes, I would love to see more diversity whether it be race, size, or different styles of clothing, like edgy, boho, chic, sexy even. Overall I would like to see more of a change.

How do you feel about representation of minorities in the beauty industry and its impact on society?

C: Obviously there aren't many black models and as for curvy women, I don’t think there's enough accurate representation.

If you had the ability/power to change anything within the industry, what would it be and why?

C: For people to be okay with seeing plus size models. I feel like people look at them in a very negative light. They are considered fat, ugly or abnormal, and I just hope that people can push that thinking away.

AURA GREIG 

Ms. Greig is an English teacher at Santa Barbara High School and an advocate for veganism. She has also taught in Uganda. 

"Minority people are shown as white-ish." 

Would you call yourself a feminist? If so, what does it mean to you? 

G: Yes, I just think it means to put it bluntly, we are not secondary, we are superior.

What do you picture when you think of the beauty industry? 

G: I see it as wasteful, unnecessary.

Do you believe the beauty industry has a significant impact on our society?

G: Yes, because we’re bombarded with it. Even men are, but women are on a whole other level. It’s everywhere.

Do you see yourself represented in the beauty industry? Does it affect how you view yourself?

G: I feel like I do because they’re generally white, but not obviously me because they don't go up in age, they kind of just stop at twenty. Usually girls look a smaller size. It’s a goal that’s unattainable to us and it’s depressing.

Do you find the current rise of feminism within the beauty industry a mark of change within our culture?  

G: Yes, it’s already happening.

How do you feel about representation of minorities in the beauty industry and its impact on society?

G: It’s getting better, people are consciously trying to show it, but minority people are still shown as white-ish.