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Decoding the Instagram Beauty Standard
By | Health & Fitness
Influencers have now become the new beauty standard.
But what exactly is the new beauty standard? Well, I decided to find out for myself. I made a list of the Top 100 female Instagram stars purely based on following. Then I came up with 22 attributes that each woman would be judged on. These included things like:
Hair color
Hair length
Neck length
Face shape
Body shape
Eye color
Clothing size
Flatness of stomach
Lip size
Eye size
Nose size
Skin color
Chest size
Prominence of butt
Age
Height…etc
After a couple weeks of gathering data and categorizing data, I can tell you that there is most definitely a formula and a specific beauty standard that the 100 most followed women on Instagram adhere to.
Watch the video to find out the results and to see me get photoshopped into a Top 100 Female Instagrammer!
Here is where I get all of my music! Epidemic Sound:
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Cassey Ho is an award-winning fitness instructor, entrepreneur and online personality. As the creator behind Blogilates, the #1 female fitness channel on YouTube, she’s transformed millions of lives through helping them achieve their strength and weight-loss goals. She focuses on making fitness fun and the results are evident. Cassey's unique format, POP Pilates©, which launched as a workout video on YouTube in 2009, has become a live fitness class that can be taken at gyms all over the world with over 3,000 POP Pilates classes being taught monthly. Her authenticity continues to shine through, making her one of the most relatable fitness icons online and beyond. She's also the author of the best-selling book, Hot Body Year Round and is the designer of her own activewear line, POPFLEX.
With a wide range of free workout videos available, Cassey's channel focuses on ab exercises, butt & thigh exercises, arm exercises, pilates, cardio routines, fat burning workouts, high intensity interval training workouts (HIIT), stretching and flexibility routines and so much more!
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DISCLAIMER:
Blogilates and oGorgeous Inc. strongly recommend that you consult with your physician before beginning any exercise program.
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Such an important topic! Thank you Cassey you are so uplifting 💕
agree xx
I really think this video’s gonna blow up over the internet.
And I hope it does and people get a slap on their face and start loving themselves the way they are and don’t try to fit in.
@Alannah Rowe plus-size models tend to be around size 10-14
@writerspen010 I would definitely put nicki as a UK 14 or 16
Amen
I don’t think it’s gonna blow up I think Cassey is doing what should have been done long ago BE HONEST. Awesome Cassey.
This was uploaded just as I finished my blogilates workout haha
I actually found this really interesting. I’ve always loved and appreciated you Cassey, thank you for always providing us insight and words of wisdom. And of course for always encouraging us. I love you as you are, and who you will be as you continue to improve. This was something I’ve come to learn from following you after just a year. Thank you Cassey!
Instagram can also be very toxic, even though people just like to scroll and have a little laugh but still get slapped in the face with “perfect models” and how thin and beautiful they look. We fail to realize that most of these popular people have someone editing their pics behind the camera which means what they put out is FAKE. No one could possibly reach those standards and no one is FORCING us to do so. Let’s learn how to love our bodies the way they are and not follow any trends cuz we’re all different and beautiful in our own way. You keep going, you’re doing good. ♡
sadly I have friends that think that those pics are real and not photoshopped
totally, the photoshop aspect is not something I ever really think about when I’m scrolling through Instagram
Thank you so much for this comment. <3
Let’s also realize that these people that we consider beautiful also undergo surgery procedures to make themselves even more “more perfect” or somewhere close to that.
Diversity is beauty, realizing how we dont need to look like them instead accept ourselves the way we are is the true beauty in all this! Being diferent is also beauty!
I deleted mine last year because it’s just toxic af to constantly see this fake stuff. You start to criticize yourself and think you’re not attractive because you don’t look like that
Such an interesting video, Cassie. I am not suprised tbh that this is the new beauty standart. So weird how the ‘perfect’ woman fits perfectly men’s preferences when it comes to women.
@leave me alone yeah, but it shouldn’t be based on men’s desires
I’m not sure it’s completely centered around men’s desires. Most guys I meet don’t like enormous fake butts and disturbingly-tiny waists. Most prefer a normal healthy body type. It might involve competition between women over who looks the most noticeable and extra
There’s no perfect woman for men, men are individuals too and like a lot of different things. The fact that so many of these people produce music skews everything.
Sex sells and tbh I feel like little boys are told by society who or what a girl should look like so that’s what they have in their head if that makes sense?
I hate narrow minded nonsense, her standards have nothing to do with men
Holy crap. This was such an amazing video! Hands down, Cassey! The media, despite it being open to everyone, still somehow makes it hard for majority of people (especially ones belonging in the younger generation) to accept their bodies for how they are and I think that it’s a big wall to break down, but I’m always grateful that there are celebrities who speak up genuinely about their struggles of accepting themselves and their body, despite what media shoves to the public as a “perfect figure”.
Thank you! I am so happy you liked it!
@blogilates No, thank YOU for taking the time and effort to make this video informative without getting all up on other people’s faces. You truly are a blessing! 💖 You’re doing amazing on your journey, by the way. More power to you!
What fact blew your mind the most?
2% redheads 👩🏻🦰🙀sad but proud of my fellow redheads. Wasn’t expecting much
Phew… I actually didnt follow any of the top 100!
The “perfect” beauty standard still exist, even though there are a lot of campaign like body positive, body shamming, etc.
I like this video because now we all know that the “perfect” beauty standard still exist, although it’s not spoken directly
That you think middle eastern and Latino is Caucasian. The rest was great.
I like to think I’m someone who’s not swayed by media or standards but seeing this video made me think why I am eating healthier and working out. My instinct is to say because I care about my health and I like how it makes me feel but seeing this made me realize there is at least a little part of me that wants to look like that. I’m guilty of looking up VS model diets and workouts and small things like that. But seeing Cassey’s videos help. She doesn’t look exactly like every one of those top 100 models but that doesn’t mean she’s not fit. I’ve seen her dominate ab workouts alongside guys with 6 packs who can’t keep up. She’s been an encouraging voice through shin raises and squats. Part of me wants to look like the top 100 girls but a bigger part of me wants to look and be like Casey because on top of being incredibly strong, she’s incredibly caring and hardworking.
georgiaisprocrastinating same honestly. To all of it. When I think about what I want to “fix” about my body, slimming my thighs is the first thing I think of, then a small waist and finally strengthening my upper body and back 😕 I don’t use Instagram much but maybe in some small ways, I am still being influenced by it
Lenka Su there are so many “health” influencers who put a lot of focus on how they look, it would be hard not to! Cassey is the exception, she’s gorgeous but she doesn’t make that her selling point. Her strength and endurance and positive spirit are what make her channel exceptional in my mind.
Cassey your incredible.
Yes! I would rather look like a real person than a mannequin any day.
your photoshopped pics especially the selfie.. I’m scared!!! i wish people would stop idolizing these beauty standards and appreciate natural beauty!!!!
I would think some people follow those girls because they are pretty looking,I have seen someone in my country run an account where they post pictures of pretty girls (some turned out to be underage) and just get likes and followers off guys on its own, like the girl who DM-ed a instagram model to block her boyfriend because he was saving that model’s photos.
Awesome Cassey She’s touching on Topics that others won’t. Awesome Cassey.
i i understand some girls are naturally pretty like that but going under the knife and all the crazy stuff to look a certain way just irks me really
@Vernon Katipa she really is!!!
that’s so accurate after watching this video I realized that this is exactly how the most popular women look like right now.
“the hot girls of instagram” they all look the same to me. I don’t understand why would people follow her, her, her, her, her and her too.
Elif B. Ikr it’s like you are following the same person 😂
I can understand why people want to follow Cassey ho – Her heart is to encourage us all to get Fit. This incredible Video Show’s us what other Fitness Clones won’t. Cassey is incredible touching on these Topics.
Yup all i see is the same tanned skin big lips and the same dumb face poses its so boring
Same nose, same lips, same small pointy chin, and big bum 🤔
Exactly.
In your selfie you looked so much better without all the slap on your face.
I had the same thought! I was looking at the before pics and all I could think was “Wow Cassey is gorgeous the way she is”
I totally agree Cassey is Awesome – She’s Inspiring. Who ever said Slap on your Face well we should see your Face.
yes, Cassey your natural look is beautiful and real!!!
Also straight hair not curly. And you should have mentioned most, if not all have had surgeries – from botox to huge silcone butt implants.
Oh yh definitely. Most models, influencers and celebrities have had cosmetic surgery, so it’s impossible for the the every day girl to compare themselves to that
This is so true!
Demi Lovato and Katy perry have never had surgeries like that. Demi Lovato is a genuine person, she is actually suffering from an eating disorder. Little mix also have never had surgeries, the member Jesy just released a documentary on body image. You can’t assume these things, I’ve got a large chest, big eyes, big lips and dark hair and I can’t help that
LittleMix Lyrics Like she said, most.
A B-cup by most is still considered small chested. It’s only really when you get to a D-cup when you’re considered to have a large chest
@Dani Derpasaurus same! 😂😂😭
I was like damn, I guess being a C cup makes me qualified for the big tiddy title now lmao
Caris Not Charis Cup size is not a standard measurement of size though. A C cup with 32 inch can and a C cup with a 36 inch band have different volumes.
lessgraviity yeah like I’m a 32DD but I’m SUPER skinny and have naturally perky boobs… no one believes my cup size because my boobs are not round or big in any way😂 that’s just my fat distribution though
Kat Vinski I had 36ddd at one point and I definitely didn’t look like it either haha
I’ve noticed that while many influencers talk about body positivity on Instagram, they don’t talk about ig’s beauty standards. also how many ppl praise slim thick but don’t like when thicker people have a smaller chest or butt. they still don’t like visible hip dips and I haven’t seen any of the 100 with visible body hair. also, many followers do prefer eurocentric beauty, whether its physical features or being light skinned, hair (like texture) or part of your ethnicity
[also noticing that while it definitely influences younger ppl more, younger ppl are more likely to be “attractive” and I know its more of a society thing but still toxic for sure]
:/ I was so happy you talked about this, but also sad realizing you’re one of the only people addressing it so directly and thoroughly. thank you for helping the world in this way as well 💙
I kinda doubt any of these IG girls are naturally slim thick in the first place. It’s probably photoshop, fillers and surgery. It makes actual thicker girls feel inferior because we don’t always have the out-of-proportion tiny waist or perfectly round butt
The photoshopped photos makes you look like all the others, nothing special. The little ‘mistakes’ makes a face (and body) interesting and special
Jana Eiskonfektknisterpapier I’ve stopped using filters. It’s just not good.
Yo! Weiß nicht mal wie die die im echten Leben mit Insta Make-up rum laufen sich gegenseitig auseinanderhalten😱 mit dem geläufigem grad an contouring sieht ja selbst jede Gesichtsform gleich aus🤡
(Sry Eiskonfektknisterpapier ist einfach so ein süßer Name, da musste ich auf deutsch kommentieren🙈)
Jana Eiskonfektknisterpapier right she looks so much better without all that
@Soi Birki Danke 😀
Ja ist echt so, man ist super austauschbar
Please do a research on beauty standards for men too! I’m really curious to see.
@blogilates haha yes! I totally just commented similarly above. Except I bet the finding is that while it’s there, it’s not NEARLY as intense/narrow a standard for men as it is for women.
@Joyce Eleanor definitely, the standards haven’t changed much. Maybe with kpop rising V shaped with more feminine attributes are popular but who knows
yes! I just saw a post talking about this and showing the way standards have changed for men on the @beyondbeautiful instagram
Strong jawline, stubble, dark hair, muscular chest, abs, lightly tanned skin. That’s all I see on magazine covers
I agree!! Let’s see them
I think this is a really interesting video and that you did a great job with it. However, as a very very very light-skinned person, I don‘t quite agree on the light skin tone that you found to be the most common one, since a lot of these instagram influencers seem to try very hard on looking very tan. I agree that the majority of them are officially light-skinned caucasions, but I also think it says a lot about our beauty standards that they are tanning a lot to be less light-skinned. This post is not at all meant to be offensive and I really do think the video is great and well researched. This is just something that I notice on a daily basis on instagram and in real life and maybe I am the only person feeling that way, but maybe not. 🙂
Mariia R that is really sad knowing that the skin color does still have such a huge influence, I have heard stories like that from Latin American and Asian friends too… So it might be interesting to see where the people following those top 100 female instagrammers are actually from to see if these ideals are global and applying to the average world population or who „had a say in this“
There’s a big diff between a dark skinned POC and a tanned light skinned person, and therein lies the rub.
Yeah I agree with you but it would have complicated her message. But majority of the most followed women on ig are white and they do tan a lot. So tanned white women who are trying to look more ethnic. It’s another issue on Instagram they call it black fishing.
When she said “light skinned” and showed Huda I glanced at my pink-toned paper-white skin and chuckled lmao
Despite people “tanning” they are still tanning to a degree that fits them into the category of being light-skinned – none of those influencers could be termed as dark skin. So yes, the beauty standard still 100% glorifies light skinned / light tanned and white skin colour.
Statistics aren’t in a vacuum, I’d be interested in how these compare to the world population percentages