Despite enhancing her features with rumored procedures like fillers and botox, it’s no secret Kim Kardashian has become a bit of a blueprint for today’s beauty standards. So much so, as Vogue reported, one Beverly Hills plastic surgeon says 30% of women show a picture of Kim as their end goal. It’s not a question anymore—the reality star’s impact on women’s body image is indisputable.
Still, while many people aspire for Kim’s famous silhouette, fans have been questioning the 42-year-old’s contribution to “unrealistic” beauty standards for years. This time, fans slammed the comments section on an Instagram post by @pagesix, which showed the reality star flaunting a revealing pink bikini on a Malibu beach in a completely unedited shot, presumably shooting for a new Skims swim collection.
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Fans Slam Kim Kardashian’ For Promoting “Unnatural” Features In Latest Paparazzi Photo
The SKIMS founder and her famous sisters have normalized perfectly toned hourglass figures and completely airbrushed skin free from flaws. And despite already having extremely modified bodies, the Kardashian clan still goes the extra step to photoshop and edit their images beyond recognition—so much so, fans are quick to call it out and even expect it from this family now. With the latest image posted to @pagesix, fans took to the comments section to express discontent over the latest shot of Kim.
Acknowledging that these photos become extremely edited photoshoots, one fan wrote, “Can’t wait for the photoshop version of these pics,” followed by a laughing face. A fan replied writing, “These grainy photos are still edited.” From arranging scheduled paparazzi shots to editing Getty Images’ red carpet photos, some fans know they need to be skeptical when reviewing celebrity imagery. The line between reality and truth gets increasingly blurred, and its become easier than ever to manipulate ourselves on the Internet.
In a clear bout of sarcasm, one fan wrote “Looks totally natural. A great example for our kids,” which garnered over 700 likes in agreement. Still, some fans took to the Kardashian’s defense, noting that it’s not their responsibility to be an example for children. In reply, someone wrote, “The fact that you expect her to be an example was your first mistake.” They continued, “*anyone* can ‘be an example’ because kids have eyes and can/will take in what they see… I don’t think she ever claimed to be an example to kids (definitely not defending, just stating facts).”
Kim Kardashian has taken a similar stance in defense of her image. In her cover interview with Vogue last March, she acknowledged that her family has been blamed for promoting “everything,” but also hinted that it’s not her job to manage other people’s children.
“There’s definitely an influence, both positive and negative, on how a whole group of people view themselves because of social media. I can see that. I’m not blocked off to the idea that it exists,” she told Vogue. “But I try to think, ‘Okay, if I’m raising my kids, how would I react if I felt like there were things on TikTok or Instagram that I wouldn’t want them to see and be a part of?’” she added. “We would have those conversations.”
Kardashians Have Failed To Hold Accountability For Their Impact On Unrealistic Beauty Standards
While of course, Kim's not in charge of other's children's media exposure, they still see her image constantly on the Internet, and some fans note that there needs to be some accountability for promoting toxic, unattainable standards. In response to the latest paparazzi shot, one user wrote on Instagram, "What message does this send to young girls who and the ladies follow her?" The Kar-Jenners have limitless access to high-end personal trainers, cosmetic procedures, and famous makeup artists, yet claim their looks can be accomplished with workout routines, and they just promote being "healthy," not necessarily a standard of beauty.
Andy Cohen famously asked the sisters during the KUWTK reunion (before their new show Kardashians came out) if they thought they were responsible for today's world of unattainable beauty standards. In response, Kendall said that she and her sisters promote the idea of "health" above all, and Kim said, “No, I don’t, because I think we get up, we do the work, we work out.”
The famous family may not deem themselves accountable for today's unrealistic standards of beauty, but in the age of the Instagram face and AI-generated filters that can completely glam-ify a face to perfection with a click of a button, there's no question their presence is felt. While they certainly face an immense amount of pressure surrounding their looks, it's also true they have promoted and profited off of modified images of their bodies.
