Social media has revolutionized nearly every aspect of modern life, and according to a study, it’s also had a sizable influence on the standards of beauty.
Historically, beauty standards for women have been narrowly defined. From Marilyn Monroe’s curves in the 1950s to the waifish figures of 1990s supermodels, the ideal body type has changed with each generation. Yet, one consistent thread persisted: the expectation for women to conform to a single standard was often dictated by pop culture and advertising.
Social media, however, has diversified beauty standards like never before. Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are home to creators of all sizes, shapes, and colors. This shift toward inclusivity is reshaping the way people view their own bodies and for the first time, audiences see representation beyond size 0 models in mainstream media.
Plus is the new average
Interestingly, as American women are embracing body positivity and size inclusivity, research reveals they are also getting bigger than befor
Previously, American women were told that the average size is 14 but the study suggests that “contrary to popular assumptions, the average American woman’s (AAW’s) clothing size is larger than anticipated.”
“The average American woman wears between a misses size 16 to 18, which corresponds to a women’s plus size 20W,” reveals the study. that also determined the average waist size increased from 34.9 inches to 37.5 inches over the last two decades.
