Fitness blogger Cassey Ho is receiving major applause for her inspiring Instagram post about beauty standards through the ages.
Cassey is a trainer in Los Angeles who runs a popular Instagram page all about fitness. In 2018, she posted a set of photos in which she repeatedly Photoshopped her body to match the "ideal" body shape of specific eras.
"If I had the 'perfect' body throughout history, this is what I'd look like," she captioned the post.
In the 2018 version, her body has wide hips, a tiny waist, and a huge butt. By contrast, in the 1920s version, her body is slim and boyish. And in the 1400s? She's ever so plump.
"Why do we treat our bodies like we treat fashion?" Cassey asked in her post. "'Boobs are out! Butts are in!' Well, the reality is, manufacturing our bodies is a lot more dangerous than manufacturing clothes. Stop throwing your body out like it's fast fashion."
Cassey hoped that her photos would help put these beauty standards into perspective, and it worked. Her post has over 180,000 likes and counting. Women need to see this.
Cassey Ho is a blogger and fitness trainer in Los Angeles. Recently, she posted a set of Instagram photos that are inspiring thousands of women.
Cassey and artist Daniel Kordek Photoshopped her body to look like the ideal body shape in several different eras, going all the way back to the 1400s.
Cassey captioned the post with descriptions of each era's ideal body type:
“Mid 2010s-2018 — Big butts, wide hips, tiny waists, and full lips are in! There is a huge surge in plastic surgery for butt implants thanks to Instagram models posting ‘belfies’. Even cosmetic surgery doctors have become IG-famous for reshaping women. Between 2012-2014, butt implants and injections rose by 58%.”
“Mid 90s-2000s — Big boobs, flat stomach, and thigh gaps are in. In 2010, breast augmentation is the highest performed cosmetic surgery in the United States. It’s the age of the Victoria’s Secret Angel. She’s tall, thin, and she’s always got long legs and a full chest.”
“Early 90s — THIN IS IN. Having angular bone structure, looking emaciated, and super skinny is what’s dominating the runways and the magazine covers. There’s even a name for it: ‘heroin chic’.”
“1950s — The hourglass shape is in. Elizabeth Taylor’s 36-21-36 measurements are the ideal. Marilyn Monroe’s soft voluptuousness is lusted after. Women are advertised weight gaining pills to fill themselves out. Playboy magazine and Barbie are created in this decade.”
“1920s — Appearing boyish, androgynous, and youthful, with minimal breasts, and a straight figure is in! Unlike the ‘Gibson Girl’ of the Victorian Era, women are choosing to hide their curves, and are doing so by binding their chests with strips of cloth to create that straight figure suitable for flapper dresses.”
“1400-1700 The Italian Renaissance — Looking full with a rounded stomach, large hips, and ample bosom is in. Being well fed is a sign of wealth and status. Only the poor are thin.”
After the last Photoshopped picture, Cassey followed up by posting a photo of her actual body.
Her point? "Stop throwing your body out like it's fast fashion."
Cassey urged her followers to "treat your body with love and respect and do not succumb to the beauty standard." Unlike our wardrobes, we can't just replace our body parts every time they fall out of fashion — at least not without a ton of time, money, and pain.
In reflecting on the project, Cassey says she was surprised that she didn't prefer any of the Photoshopped photos to her own real body.
"I actually prefer my body just as it is," Cassey wrote. "Sure I've got a small butt, small boobs, a soft belly, and hip dips, but I've also got powerful legs, strong shoulders, and a figure that is all mine — unlike anyone else's."
Now Cassey's comments are full of women who found these photos incredibly eye-opening.
Some have discovered that, in another era, they'd be considered even hotter than they already are.
Others loved that Cassey subtly highlighted how society influences us.
Most importantly, this new perspective has helped a lot of women to embrace their bodies more, regardless of what they look like.
And ultimately, that was Cassey's only goal.
"My question to all of us women is this: Why do we treat our bodies like we treat fashion? Who's telling us what's in and what's out?"
"Embrace your body because it is YOUR own perfect body," Cassey wrote… no matter what the year's trends say!
