Perfect Me

Thinking philosophically about the demands of beauty.

Body Image
The Showgirl Without Her War Paint?

Heather Widdows Ph.D. on April 25, 2025

Anderson is not just receiving publicity about her acting, but also about her choice to go bare faced at numerous public events, including, on the red carpet.

Anderson is not just receiving publicity about her acting, but also about her choice to go bare faced at numerous public events, including, on the red carpet.

Beauty
Million-Dollar Smiles

Heather Widdows Ph.D. on April 4, 2025

The recent furor around "White Lotus" and "Sex Education" star Aimee Lou Wood’s natural smile suggests we are more obsessed than ever with people's teeth.

The recent furor around "White Lotus" and "Sex Education" star Aimee Lou Wood’s natural smile suggests we are more obsessed than ever with people's teeth.

Beauty
Netflix's 'Uglies': a Yassified Dystopia

Heather Widdows Ph.D. on December 10, 2024

Whilst the delivery may be a bit clunky, "Uglies" ultimately shows us, however inadvertently, how impossible it is to live up to the beauty ideal.

Whilst the delivery may be a bit clunky, "Uglies" ultimately shows us, however inadvertently, how impossible it is to live up to the beauty ideal.

Beauty
Bustles and Butt Lifts: What Won’t We Do for Beauty?

Heather Widdows Ph.D. on April 19, 2024

For beauty, we paint our faces, starve ourselves to the bone, feel the burn, suck out our fat, freeze our faces, cut into our skin, and place foreign bodies into our skin.

For beauty, we paint our faces, starve ourselves to the bone, feel the burn, suck out our fat, freeze our faces, cut into our skin, and place foreign bodies into our skin.

Social Media
Social Media and Unrealistic Beauty Ideals

Heather Widdows Ph.D. on January 29, 2024

Whilst the algorithms’ sole aim is to keep us scrolling, they give us beauty content because we’ve voted with our fingers and thumbs; this is the content we want to see.

Whilst the algorithms’ sole aim is to keep us scrolling, they give us beauty content because we’ve voted with our fingers and thumbs; this is the content we want to see.

Body Image
AI Confirms Our Unrealistic Body Ideals

Heather Widdows Ph.D. on May 23, 2023

Last week a report revealed what artificial intelligence concludes is the ideal body, drawn from its interpretation of social media data.

Last week a report revealed what artificial intelligence concludes is the ideal body, drawn from its interpretation of social media data.

Beauty
Beauty Without the Beast: Can We Learn From Lockdown?

Heather Widdows Ph.D. on August 3, 2020

If we could take the freedom to do less which some have felt in lockdown, and together make our beauty culture kinder, these would be good lessons to have learned.

If we could take the freedom to do less which some have felt in lockdown, and together make our beauty culture kinder, these would be good lessons to have learned.

Body Image
Body Image in Lockdown

Heather Widdows Ph.D. on April 16, 2020

Some people might think talking about body image is inappropriate. But for others, it is a continuing concern and one which is intensified in lockdown.

Some people might think talking about body image is inappropriate. But for others, it is a continuing concern and one which is intensified in lockdown.

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The Friend Effect

Having friends protects you in multiple ways, from slowing cellular aging to deterring bullies to bolstering your self-esteem.

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