Renowned model, Bella Hadid, has earned her place as a headliner for her candid style choices and her key modelling achievements. But this time she grabbed headlines when she posted an announcement about starring in a new Victoria's Secret campaign on social media. In her behind-the-scenes image of the shoot, the actress, who has been a muse for Victoria's Secret for a while, wore black couture lingerie from the popular fashion label with her toned body on display. Harmless enough it would seem, but many fans were quick to pick up on the fact that her ribs were showing and called both her and the brand out for promoting body dysmorphia.
Also Read: Bella Hadid Radiates Glamour In A Black Vintage Versace Gown On The Cannes Red Carpet 2022
With this controversial post, Victoria's Secret has come under the scanner as have conventional beauty industry standards that have been facing constant backlash over the past decade. This is not the first time that Victoria's Secret has been faced criticism for its brand image. 'The perfect body' ad campaign in 2014 was slammed for its cookie-cutter, stereotypical beauty standards. In the midst of this controversy, the brand introduced the 'VS Collective' which is more inclusive and body positive, represented by a female football player, a transgender model and more. After years of keeping her distance from the brand, Bella agreed to model for Victoria's Secret after they asked her to be a part of the VS Collective'.
Bella fans had mixed reactions. One comment read, "The company that instilled body image with no diversity of sizes, perpetuating body dysmorphia to young women. Inclusion of sizes above 4 is very important". Another user commented, "She doesn't look healthy".
Another user called her out for perpetuating 'toxic beauty standards, "This girls it's the momento but her image feed the toxic beauty standards, she even looks sick #heroinchic"
While many comments tended towards body-shaming too, many supported the model and commented, "Gorgeous but her rib cage is showing poor things it's unhealthy ❣️❣️❣️ my favourite literally."
Another yay-sayer said, "Slim and skinny bodies are real too. A healthy body is the only thing that matters", and "she's so fine."
While still another defended the brand too. "The brand is seeking to be inclusive, the picture you are seeing is on Bella's profile not the brand's. Pointing out your "rib" would be like opinion on a body that isn't yours and criticizing your decision to be thin or not"
Bella Hadid has not responded to the comments or reports, but while her image may come across as contradictory, her stand on a body-positive image has been clearly conveyed in the past. In an interview with a leading lifestyle magazine in March 2022, the model revealed that she was a heavy smoker since age 14 and suffered from body dysmorphia herself. "Whether it was eating disorders or smoking a pack of Marlboros since the age of 14, I'm like, 'Oh, this is what all of the kids are doing'. I realised that maybe that was me trying to figure out why I felt that way. And in reality, all I needed was therapy... I was so out of body, disassociating so much... I was so confused by what people saw of me."
In light of Bella's own body image and health struggles, this post raises questions about both the brand and Bella that still remain unanswered.
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