As you (and the rest of the
world—let’s be honest) probably know, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was
earlier this week. Personally, it’s one of my favorite televised events of the
year. The lights, the runway, the performers, the Angels, and, of course, the
glitter, makes for an amazing show that doesn’t have a dull moment aside from
the commercials. More importantly, though, I find it inspirational. I find it
motivational. I find it as a reminder to constantly put my best foot forward.
There may be many critics of the
show’s contributions towards an unhealthy feminine image, but I disagree. These
models are not the overly skinny, starved, unhealthy women that you will find
on the majority of high fashion runways. They are extremely fit and toned. They
work for the bodies that they have.
Take Adriana Lima for example. She has two kids and she still has a rocking
body. Why? Probably because she boxes like a madwoman. She and all of the
models undergo intense training to maintain their figures, hence the visible
muscle tone rather than all bones.
Additionally, these women radiate
confidence. They are beautiful and they own their beauty. It takes confidence
to bare your skin for the world to see in heavy wings and tall heels, yet they
manage to strut their stuff with smiles and a fierce confidence rather than as stoic stick figures. After they put in the time and effort to
attain their goals, they are proud to show it.
Women everywhere could learn a
lesson in loving themselves for what they after working for their goals. Rather
than always picking apart flaws and never feeling good enough, rather than
comparing ourselves to a set of beautiful women that exemplify the modern idea
of beauty and griping about how we don’t look like them, let us take a moment
to reassess what we can learn from these exceptionally gorgeous women. Work
hard and continually push the boundaries of what you are capable of. Love
yourself for the work you put in. And perhaps most importantly, whatever you
do, do it with a smile. Do what you love and do it fiercely. The world is your runway, whether or
not you take that literally or metaphorically.
