Walk by any magazine stand in America and you’ll likely see countless images of beautiful women, most of whom have been Photoshopped to perfection.
It’s an ideal that is impossible to live up to, and one actress is saying she’s had enough.
British actress Keira Knightley recently revealed that she posed topless for Interview Magazine on the condition that nothing be Photoshopped.
I think the photo is striking, and not just because the 29-year-old actress is shirtless. First, her breast aren’t huge and clearly aren’t enhanced. She has little breast tissue and one breast is significantly larger than the other, but I think it’s wonderful that she feels comfortable posing naturally and doesn’t feel the need to conform.
Knightley recently explained why she didn’t want to be Photoshopped, saying that she was tired of her body being presented in a way that wasn’t accurate.
“I’ve had my body manipulated so many different times for so many different reasons, whether it’s paparazzi photographers or for film posters,” she said. “That (shoot) was one of the ones where I said: ‘OK, I’m fine doing the topless shot so long as you don’t make them any bigger or retouch.’ Because it does feel important to say it really doesn’t matter what shape you are.”
I think many women could learn a thing or two from her. Everyone has imperfections, especially as it relates to their breasts. Some women aren’t happy with the position or shape of their breasts; others think they’re too large or too small. Whatever the reason, we all find things we’d like to “fix” about ourselves.
But I think it’s great that Knightley is taking such a bold stand. The message she’s sending is that no one is perfect and to be happy with who you are. It’s not about what other people think is beautiful, it’s about truly feeling this way when you look in the mirror every day.