Kim Kardashian-AP Photo/Peter Kramer
Cellulite is not a medical term or condition. The word was coined by European spas several decades ago and later took hold in the U.S. in the early 70’s. Now that beauty icon Kim Kardashian has said, “So What!” to her cellulite, can we all finally agree it’s natural and not nasty?
Ninety percent of women have dimpled skin around their thighs and hips that is referred to as cellulite. And we’re obsessed with getting rid of it because the current accepted beauty norm says it’s a problem. The key word: current. What’s in and out with beauty changes like the wind so why fall victim to it? Less than 100 years ago, dimpled flesh was considered beautiful. In the 19th century, having a super thin waist was so important that women squeezed their internal organs out of shape in a tight corset. In the 1920’s flapper era, small breasts were in. Women bound their breasts flat—it was the only way to look good doing the Charleston.
In the 1990’s, the acceptable female form became super skinny with big boobs. That’s probably a shape that’s the most unnatural to achieve without a little anorexia and a lot of plastic surgery. So then we’re left with two choices: accept and love our bodies as they are naturally or continue to loathe our bodies for not being what the media says they should be. Where do we draw the line? What if women’s feet over a size 6 were suddenly considered grotesque? Would we start binding them as children or cutting off some toes as adults?
Who decides that one perfectly normal feature is better than another—tall or short, thin or full-figured, big lips or small, wrinkles or not. If you work out, eat healthy and stay within a good weight range, you can still have cellulite. Out of the hundreds of women I know, only one doesn’t have cellulite; that’s her natural make-up.
As Kim Kardashian says about her cellulite, “Who cares?” And we shouldn’t!
Comments
Hmmmm...I find it a little ironic that the ad right below this article talks about reducing cellulite.
My own unscientific observation...My cellulite almost disappears in the Summer when I get a little tan on my body. I have often wondered if the sun has some extraordinary ability to burn some of that ugly, bumpy cellulite.
Wow...I didn't even notice that ad! I just write the articles. I have no idea how the ads are placed but I would assume companies ask for placement near related editorial.
And regarding the tan...yes, I agree. I don't think having a tan gets rid of the cellulite. I think it just looks less noticeable on darker skin.
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