Aqsa Manzoor
With two billionaires and four multi-millionaire women, a combined following of 979.5 million on Instagram alone, and multiple business ventures of each sister, The Kardashians(America's unofficial royal family) are unarguably one of the most significant cultural phenomena in today's age of social media. Being famous for being famous is an art well versed by the Kardashians, a skill that has earned them an immense influence.
And one of the ways in which this fame has manifested itself is the rise in plastic surgery; This rise in plastic surgery is so influenced by the Kardashians that there is a whole cultural term for it, "The Kardashian Aesthetic". Post-2013, after Kim Kardashian's rise to prominence, there has been a 51% increase in breast augmentations, buttock augmentations, buttock lifts, and tummy tucks compared to other cosmetic surgeries. Results show a 20% increase in cosmetic surgical procedures performed. Results also show as Kim Kardashian's celebrity interest rises by 1%, the consumption of Kardashian and Minaj-style cosmetic surgeries increases by 2%.
On the one hand, this family has revolutionized the entertainment industry, and the matriarchy that exists in the family has broken so many societal norms, but since their brand is almost entirely based on their bodies, it has set such unrealistic standards of beauty and desirability for women across the globe; standards that continue to make women around the world insecure about their natural bodies.
They just recently had a very critical interview when they were asked about the unrealistic beauty standards they have a role in creating, they all rolled their eyes and began whining and saying things like "uhh no, we WORK for our bodies! we like looking good"
no recognition of the fact that the privilege to pay for surgeries, eat expensive organic food, have home gyms, trainers etc all help them achieve their aesthetics.
It's funny and also upsetting how recently Khloe made a video talking about how her pictures are not photoshopped and at the same time she was furious that an un-edited picture of hers was leaked by the Paparazzi! It's a shame that power and influence lies in the hands of such people who are teaching young people that you need to have a specific body type to reach far.
It’s so sad to see women following one body type and features etc. Also in a recent interview of the reunion episode the reporter asked the same question that do you think you influence people to change their body types by setting unrealistic body type standards. Kim answered “ No, I don't. Because I think we get up, we do the work, we work out." When in reality their bodies are a product of repeated cosmetic surgery. It’s sad to see that.
It was amazing to see how the Kardashians embodied body altering cosmetic procedures to live in a body they are most comfortable in but at the same time, like you said, it does influence young girls especially who feel like they have to look a certain way to be viewed as attractive and spend more than they can afford :(