When a strong-willed, gorgeous, young girl decides that her Economics degree is not going to make her happy, she, of course, changes course and launches her new dreams.
This is what the beautiful Justina Pons did. Coming from a family that supported her emotionally, and observed low levels of perceived socio-cultural pressure from friends and the media, Justina has been blessed with a more positive body image.
Ironically, whilst the modeling and marketing industry promotes the visual view of a positive body image, it does not help develop such an image in the models/artists. Severe dieting, ongoing criticism of hair, body shape, and skin are among the systemic criticisms that seep through. “Bring the hair forward over her ears, they are way too big”… a passing comment. The little phrases here and there build up to quite a load of negativity.
Justina shares knowledge with newbies in the industry. She encourages them to develop a strong self-image, to believe in themselves, and to understand that the words that are flung at them are based on the insecurity of the observer, not the reality of their body.
Justina takes the lead in showing individuality in an industry that doesn’t celebrate it with her tattooed arms.
She believes in feminine sexuality to be natural, to be beautiful, and to be acceptable to society. That is unacceptable in the beauty industry, far too liberal, far too individual. Yet, individuality is exactly what the beauty industry should be celebrating.
Her age of 27 is on the higher end for a model, but Justina believes her beauty is still acceptable to the market of real people. Her massive group of social media followers agree – they are blown away by her beauty.
So who is the industry serving? Justina is a visionary, achieving more than 200k followers on one social media platform with the “wrong” age, the “error” of tattoos on her arms, and the “vulgar” way of presenting an intense, sexual delight in the female form.
Justina is representing a change that the industry and, indeed, society needs to take seriously.
Women express far greater anxiety about their looks than men do, according to Seth Meyers, Psy.D, a licensed clinical psychologist and relationship expert. Meyers says he sees that “the pressure women feel from men and the media to fit a certain physical type of thinness, beauty, and behavior gets transformed to the point that they turn it on each other.”
He believes mothers and family have a significant influence on their daughters, but we also have to talk about social learning theory. Social learning theory reminds us that modeling has much to do with how children learn. It’s critical to note that much of what is said and done by her family members is ultimately hurtful but was engaged under the intention of ‘having her best interests in mind.’
And therein is the perpetuation of the suppression of a woman’s right to be openly sexual and respected for it.
Justina smiles, melting hearts all around, and leans into another smoldering pose. In response, her social media following shoots up, and the outdated beliefs rattle in fear.