Times Kim Kardashian ignited body image debate
Reality TV star Kim Kardashian is no stranger to controversies and many of them are flared up based on what she promotes or wears. Recently, at the Met Gala, she donned a Maison Margiela couture dress, that featured an ultra-tight corset that significantly reduced her waist size. Critics argue that the look, which appears to restrict breathing, promotes harmful and unrealistic body expectations. In a BTS Vogue video, Kardashian claimed that breathing while wearing the dress was an "art form."
Kardashian's corset wearing: An 'art form' or health risk?
Despite the evident discomfort, she expressed pleasure with her look, stating, "I'll feel so snatched, I won't even be able to communicate to you how snatched I feel." "It makes my b**bs look so good and the waist," she said about the corset and revealed that she was on her toes due to the design of her footwear. This was her 11th appearance at the Met Gala!
Earlier, too, she was slammed at the 2022 Met Gala
This isn't the first time Kardashian has faced backlash for her fashion choices. In 2022, she shed weight in three weeks to fit into the famous Marilyn Monroe dress. She explained her process, "I would wear a sauna suit twice a day, run on the treadmill, completely cut out all sugar and all carbs, and just eat the cleanest veggies and protein." "I didn't starve myself, but I was so strict."
She wore a similar corset in February 2024
In February 2024, Kardashian ignited a similar controversy when she posted photos wearing a cream corset by the luxury French brand Mugler. Much like the Met Gala dress, this one, almost made her (already thin) waist vanish. A user commented, "Yesss, let's set some more unrealistic standards and expectations for women," while another concurred, "This is an unhealthy, dangerous image to project."
When she advertised a hunger-killing lollipop
Earlier, in May 2018, she endorsed a lollipop that allegedly "suppresses" your appetite, once again negatively influencing young girls. Called Flat Tummy Lollipops, the product's website says, "Our Lollipops feature Satiereal, a clinically studied active ingredient extracted from a natural plant. It works to support satiety, which helps control food intake and cravings. So with 2 pops per day, you'll have your hunger under control and cravings in check."
How does it impact the larger populace?
Victor Schwartz, chief medical officer of the Jed Foundation (a mental health organization), talked to Huffpost about the far-reaching impact of such trends. "People often do not realize that the online look or image of a person can be highly curated or manipulated, and this can lead a viewer to have really inaccurate impressions or expectations of themselves ― how thin they should be and how to get there, what their hair or physique should look like."
Even more dangerous when quick weight loss is promised
"Ads or communications that show someone who appears very thin and are suggesting 'magical' ways to be super thin can create unreasonable and dangerous expectations about what is a normal or healthy appearance and how one gets there," Schwartz said. "When inevitably a person does not reach this level of thinness as quickly as they feel they've been promised, they can be left feeling like a failure. This can again lead to dangerous methods trying to reach the goal."
