Victoria's Real Secret: You're Not A Feminist If You Hate On Models

Welcome back!

My cosplay feature actually went down pretty well on here so I thought I would share with you all another one of my opinion based articles. Since the Victoria Secret fashion show took place this month I thought I would modify an old piece of mine to bring it up to date. I wrote this last year when the Victoria Secret fashion show took place in London as a sort of mix of news and opinion all rolled into one feature. Just a little foot note I have referenced all of my quotes within the text itself but please keep in mind that this was written a year ago so some references may be outdated. I hope you enjoy! Remember to let me know if you like these sort of posts. Also you can catch the Victoria's Secret fashion show on TV on December 8th in the UK!

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past month you probably know all about the angels of Victoria's Secret gracing us with their presence for the annual lingerie extravaganza in New York city. For those of you that are less fashion conscious or simply have been living in solitary confinement for the past decade and a half, Victoria's Secret is an American brand of lingerie that is worth over five billion US dollars. The catwalk show boasted acts and celebrities such as Selena Gomez, Ellie Goulding and the Kardashians. Yes it's that big of a deal!

I don't know about you but everything about the show; the glamour, star studded cast and glitter (of course!) always gets me hyped up. When a renowned fashion brand that big puts on a show this spectacular you cannot help but be excited. However what doesn't make me excited is the negative reception that the angels receive about apparently supporting "blatant and destructive objectification" (tumblr.com, 2014) of woman from many so-called feminists.

As a handful of angels strut down the catwalk showing off the latest Victoria's Secret lingerie sets, press and bloggers took to the internet to voice their personal opinions of the models and what they stand for. One blogger wrote that the models "glorifiy women as sex objects" (Wilson, 2014). Many other critics slated the angels explaining that they promote objectification of women or bend to the expectations of what men want women to look like. Yes, these angels do work extremely hard to get their "sexy" bodies however it is not to support a gender inequality quota or bend to the expectations of men. It is for their careers as models. Yes readers, being a model is in fact a career!

Many supermodels say that the Victoria's Secret fashion show is the Olympics for their industry. They compare the experience of being in the show to winning a gold medal. Being sexy is a part of getting them to this career propelling show just like being strong will get any athlete to the Olympics.

In addition to the show boosting some models careers many models that have taken part in the show have said they felt empowered and would definitely described themselves as feminists. Original angel, supermodel and TV personality Tyra Banks was the first black American angel to take part in the catwalk show and was the first black American female on the front cover of Sports Illustrated: Swimsuit Issue. Tyra rightly describes herself as "fierce and feminist" in relation to all of her achievements regarding the Victoria's Secret show. If that is not empowering to woman alike all over the world I'm not sure what achievement is. (The Huffington Post, 2014).

Furthermore Tyra was not the "typical" angel. She describes her body as "thicker" than the average model. In her words her strutting down the catwalk at the Victoria's Secret fashion show "really meant something" in the fashion world. She was changing things and breaking the typical lingerie model stereotype in the fashion industry for women everywhere and the Victoria's Secret fashion show helped her do this. All over the world women of all shapes and size were praising Tyra for going against the model "norm" and felt like Tyra and the Victoria's Secret fashion show had made them finally love their bodies for what they are. (The Huffington Post, 2014). Victoria's Secret even stated that putting Tyra on their runway helped them "sell more bras and panties than any other model" (Mic, 2014) despite her being at least 20 pounds heavier than all of them.

Unfortunately even though this show has brought so many positives to many models' and other women's lives this still brings up many negative but complicated issues throughout the feminist world. Other women are still suggesting that a woman can't dress sexy or show off her own body proudly without bending to the expectations of men or supporting objectification. As stated by previous Victoria Secrete angels a woman can feel so empowered and confident when dressed in a sexy set of lingerie. It has also been proven that many other women feel this way too.

In a recent scientific study undertaken at the University of Manchester women were observed to see if wearing a cleavage enhancing bra had any effects on their social behaviours. Professor Geoff Beattie, head of Psychology stated that: "the study showed emphatically that wearing the cleavage-enhancing bra in comparison to an everyday bra had a significant effect on non-verbal behaviours that are crucially associated with levels of self-confidence". Women were smiling more and their body language was perceived as being more friendly and open (Mail Online, 2012).

Self-confidence is so important especially as majority of the media skew our perceptions of what the perfect female form should look like. If putting on some sexy lingerie like the Victoria's Secret angles makes us feel better about ourselves then why shouldn't we stick our fingers up at so called feminists and celebrate our bodies and sexuality without being an "object" or "bending to a man's will"?

By wielding the Victoria's Secret fashion show as an weapon woman are knocking other woman down for dressing a certain way and this is not right. Women dress sexy majority of the time for themselves. It gives us a boost of self-confidence. As a feminist I do not understand why another woman would criticize or judge another woman for boosting her own self-esteem. This just gives men another excuse to do it to us as well. If we don’t all stick together on this issue we will never be able to achieve gender equality in our society.

The Cosplay Crusade: Why Cosplay Is Good For You

Welcome back!

Comic con has just happened this past weekend and usually I would be having post con blues. However, this year I haven't gone as I have planned an awesome holiday to Disney world with my partner and family. So to celebrate comic con I thought I would share with you an article I wrote while I was at university about cosplaying and why it is good for you, in particular women. This article was actually published in a student run, feminist magazine named BIA last winter. I hope you enjoy it!

It's nearly Halloween and as you scroll through costumes online you cannot help but wonder why every single ladies costume has the word 'sexy' or 'naughty' in front of it. You wish that you could just find a fun costume that wouldn't dispute your promiscuity or sexuality. There is almost never a 'sexy' Frankenstein or 'naughty' Dracula costume for men. You wish that women would kick the lingerie inspired costumes to the curb an sport a more intelligent costume, that not only empowers them but showcases their personalities. 

Stomping to the rescue, female cosplayers all over the UK are doing exactly this; empowering themselves, wearing their personalities with pride and celebrating their femininity. Female cosplayers are trying to change the stereotype that the world has of women in costumes. They aren't always desperate, unintelligent or lacking in confidence. Cosplayers dress up at different times of the year frequently and argue that it isn't odd or consistent with the stereotype as discussed above. It actually gives them more confidence, stimulates their minds and provides them with a creative outlet.

Frequent cosplayer, Zara Thorn, talks about her experience cosplaying "I love cosplay. It's like a huge costume party that everyone is invited to. I feel so happy and comfortable cosplaying. I feel more myself when I cosplay than any other time of year. I love expressing myself through my costume and having fun playing a character that I admire and follow". Not only is it an empowering and fun experience for Zara it is also a time to socialise with friends. "I meet so many different people when I cosplay and its a great excuse to see friends you don't normally see as much".

Recently a psychological study 'expressions of fandom' was taken out on a group of female cosplayers and a group of females who didn't cosplay. One part of the study revealed that when wearing a mask women who cosplay felt more comfortable with themselves in comparison to the women who don't cosplay. Psychologist Dr Rosenberg suggests "This can imply higher self-awareness. It could also show that women who cosplay are more aware of who they are and this could give them more self-confidence and result in a higher sense of self-love".

Leah Wilson works a nine to five job but enjoys cosplaying all year round and agrees with psychological studies concerning cosplay and self-confidence. "I love escaping my nine to five routine where there are rules and regulations into a community where I can really express myself. It's nice that people come up to me and compliment me on my cosplay. This definitely gives me more confidence in myself and my costume making skills. I used to be really self-conscious but since I started cosplaying I couldn't be more comfortable with myself and my body".

Not only are female cosplayers celebrating their new found confidence, they are feeling more empowered by doing so. It is no wonder 71% of female cosplayers participate in five or more events a year if it gives them such a boost of confidence and strong sense of who they are. If you too think it's time to suit up and band together and break the female costume stereotype then head over to mcm.com to find out more about cosplaying and how you can take part. 

And that's a wrap! If you enjoyed this article, let me know as I have a mass of others somewhere in my dusty document archives that I can share with you all.

*CIAO*

Negative Space and Self Esteem

Welcome back!

I have been thinking about posting another brainfood post for a while but I wasn't exactly sure what to write. My last post about introversion was better received than I thought so I thought I would do another personal mind post about what I determine negative space is and how you can improve your self esteem. As always I have included a few illustrations to help this post along.

First things first I do not suffer from any sort of mental health illness but like many other people I do struggle with self-esteem and how I perceive myself. This is a huge problem amongst the general population because today's society teaches us that self-love is arrogant and big-headed. But self-love is okay. As the famous saying goes how can you expect someone to love you if you do not love yourself? So grab yourself a cup of tea because we are going to be here for a while...

When a person suffers with self-esteem issues it does not always mean they are uncomfortable with the way they look, they could in fact be uncomfortable with what they are and aren't good at, what decisions they make ect. When I have days like this I know that I am in a negative space in my own mind, because the way I perceive myself is completely different to how other people perceive me. When I am in a negative space my day normally goes like this:

But I am here to say hell no to those days because there are ways that you can counter act these feelings.

1. CUT OUT NEGATIVE PEOPLE. 
The first way to combat negative space is quite simply to surround yourself with positive people- friends and family alike. Make sure that everyone in your life supports you and your goals. If there is one thing I have learnt it is that negative people can make your self-esteem worst. Even if they are not bashing your dreams or insulting you personally they can still influence your mood. People who are bitter, jealous or angry can make you feel that way about yourself. The best thing to do when you find yourself in this situation is just to distance yourself from this person therefore their negativity will not be able to affect you anymore.

2. SPEND TIME WITH YOURSELF. 
Another step that you can put in place is to spend a little bit more time with yourself. Enjoy your own company do things that you enjoy doing. It doesn't matter what. It could be anything from reading and writing to drawing and painting. Meditation is also a good way to relax whilst in your own company. Like all relationships, your relationship with yourself takes time to grow. Don't expect an instant fix from this step but over time you will discover more and more about yourself and eventually improve your self-esteem.

3. EXERCISE.
This is more of a scientific approach. It is a known fact that exercise releases feel-good hormones and chemicals in your brain called endorphins. This gives your body the feeling of positivity and better self body image. If you really hate exercise, start off slow- go for a walk by yourself or do some morning stretches. Trust me you will feel better for it, not just physically but also mentally and emotionally!

4. SLEEP AND DIET.
Sleeping and food? That's something we all enjoy. However stuffing your face with pizza and having afternoon naps is not going to make you feel better about yourself. But having a healthy sleep pattern and balanced diet will. Try to not stay up into the early hours of the morning, instead go to bed at a sensible time that will allow you have at least eight hours of rest. A lack of sleep can cause you to have exaggerated negative feelings which can make your self-esteem worst. Steering clear of junk food or food high in artificial sugars will also improve your mind set. Artificial sugars can make you feel happy for an instance but in the long run they will make your body crash out and feel sluggish, not a feeling that helps.

I hope these tips will help you on your way to a happier, healthier you! However it is very important that I literate that sometimes people get down and that is okay-  it does not mean you have a mental health illness. But if you think you need help and guidance you should always consult a doctor. There are also many helpful mental health charities that you could contact too such as: mind, sane and rethink. Additionally there are many other helplines in the UK you can call like the samaritans.

But remember everyone, you are all beautiful!

*CIAO*

Misconceptions of an Introvert.

Welcome back.

I haven't posted in a little while but if I am honest it is because I haven't felt very inspired lately. At the moment I don't feel very fashion forward or feel very much into my beauty regimes. I just feel thoughtful. So I figured the best thing to do would be to let my thoughts out on here. 

Lately I have been thinking a lot about my personality and the misconceptions that come along with it. I always knew that I was a rather withdrawn person, especially in new situations. However it wasn't until I took the Myers Briggs personality test that I found I was truly introverted, massively. For those of you that don't know what the Myers Briggs test is, it is basically a personality test that defines four aspects of your personality and the outcome is one of 16 personalities. Anyway, if you want to know more you could probably Google it. 

The traditional definition of introvert is a term to describe someone whose motives and actions are directed inwards. Introverts also seem to be more preoccupied with their own thoughts and feelings. That is me. Through and through. However growing up introverted I have found that there are a lot of things that people don't really understand about me. I am not speaking for all introverts, these misconceptions I have encountered could also be caused by other elements of my personality, I'm not entirely sure, I am not a psychologist, just a girl with a passion for the mind who has a blog. Nonetheless I have created this list for fellow introverts to enjoy, also for extroverts who want to know why we (well mainly I) can be so strange.

Before we begin I just to lighten up this post a little. Throughout you will find some simple illustrations that I personally think help explain introversion or I just think are slightly amusing. Enjoy! 

1. I DO ENJOY BEING SOCIABLE.

Many people assume that introverts don't like going out with friends to have a good time. Not all introverted people are anxious of social situations. I actually really enjoy spending time with people be it at the cinema, restaurant, bar or outside. Just because I am an introvert that doesn't mean I am that person at the edge of a group nervously flicking through my phone, pretending to be busy so I do not have to involve myself. I can actually be quite the social butterfly once you get to know me.  

2. I AM NOT RUDE. I JUST HATE SMALL TALK. 

When I got to a certain age I found that many people's parents thought I that I was rude. I didn't really get this at first but now I am older I can see why. I would only speak to people (who weren't my friends) very minimally. I am not good at small talk. I am very awkward, I never know what to say and when I do say something it is almost never engaging just answering. I am not like this because I don't want to talk to you, I just cannot stand small talk. So what if the weather is beautiful outside? I promise I don't want to talk about anything too complex though, just something more interesting than the weather.  

3. I AM NOT SHY JUST SELECTIVE.
A huge misconception of introverts is that we are all incredibly shy and quiet. I can tell you, I am not a quiet person around people I am comfortable with, just ask my best friend. She will tell you I'm crazy. I'm just selective about who I completely be myself around. This is not because I don't want you as my friend. I just need a little more time to work you out and make sure that my personality won't be a shocking sight for you. Trust me this is better for both of us.

4. I DON'T HATE NOISE. I JUST HATE CHAOS.
Introverts are known for drawing their energy from alone time. Yes, I do really enjoy being by myself to re-charge but this doesn't mean that I can't work in a slightly more social, team orientated environment. I like noise whilst I work and I really enjoy working with a team. Sometimes I even think it can help me learn new things and come up with new ideas. However what I do hate with a passion is working in a chaotic environment. When things are messy, unorganised and extremely loud, quite honestly I just find this unproductive and extremely unhelpful.

5. I CAN LEAD. 

Many people often identify introverts as the followers throughout life never the leaders. But I am going to stand up for my fellow introverts and say we can lead just as well as anyone else once given the chance. This misconception of follower vs. leader comes along with the other misconceptions of being shy and unsocialable. Furthermore people assume that introverts are not assertive enough when it comes to leadership. Now, whilst we may not be very over bearing leaders we will be passionate about the project and always give it our all.

*CIAO*