Australian model Meaghan Kausman, 23, is a natural beauty. While she knows that companies do use Photoshop to enhance photos and eliminate some “flaws,” she was shocked when Fella Swim — an Australian swimwear company — basically photoshopped an image of her that cut her in half size-wise.
We hear these stories almost every day, but this one has an interesting twist. Kausman’s dad is Dr. Rick Kausman, a leading body image expert and the author of If Not Dieting Then What?
From his Facebook page:
Dr Rick Kausman is a medical doctor who is recognised as the Australian pioneer of the person-centred approach to healthy weight management. Rick has written two books including the award-winning ?If Not Dieting, Then What??, he is the creator of a number of other resources, and has had several articles on healthy weight management published in peer-reviewed journals. Dr Rick is a Director of the Butterfly Foundation, a Fellow of the Australian College of Psychological Medicine, and a Lifelong Fellow of the Obesity Prevention and Treatment Society.
Meaghan became aware of the photoshopped?photo when Fella Swim posted the image to Instagram and tagged her. Apparently, the photo was organized as a collaborative project and no money changed hands. Which means it wasn’t theirs to alter. From Newscom.au:
?They’ve taken something that wasn’t theirs and they’ve digitally altered it to fit what they think is the cultural ideal,? Ms Kausman said.
She described it as a “complete violation” and she used the opportunity to post the before and after photos to her Instagram account to encourage others to realistically see that images in magazines and advertisements aren’t usually what they appear to be.
From Kausman’s?Instagram account, via Haute Talk:
?This morning I was extremely shocked to see that Fella Swim had uploaded a photoshopped version of Pip’s original photo to their Instagram page. They had drastically altered my body, thinning out my stomach and thighs in an attempt to box me in to the cultural ideal of beauty. My body is a size 8, not a size 4. That’s my body! I refuse to stand by and allow ANY company or person to perpetuate the belief that ?thinner is better?. All women are beautiful, and we come in different shapes and sizes! This industry is crazy!!!! It is NOT OKAY to alter a woman’s body to make it look thinner. EVER!? Kausman wrote on Instagram with a photo that showed the original and altered photo together.
She further explains:
?I’m fortunate enough that growing up with my Dad (being) who he is, I’m comfortable with the way I look and I’ve looked like this for my entire life. That’s just my body and that’s what it is.?They’re portraying a false image to young people that think ?Oh, I really want to look like that? but, in fact, no one looks like that. I don’t look like that. That’s me and that’s not what I look like,? Ms Kausman said.
Meaghan’s father, Dr. Kausman, said:
“The key message that we’ve just got to keep at is to remind people that we’re more than just our bodies, that there’s so much more to us as people? and even though in our culture it’s hard to remember that when there’s so many messages about what is the supposedly ?right body?.
?But bodies are all different and we need to do the best we can, individually and (as) a culture, to get to the point where we’re acknowledging that and even to celebrate ? (that) we’re all different,? Dr Kausman said.
In the video below, Dr. Kausman cites studies that show a direct correlation between photoshopped and unrealistically altered magazine photos and depression in women and young girls.
Fella Swim made a statement.
?Meaghan is actually incredibly beautiful and we love the original image by @seagypsea_photography. We meant no disrespect for photoshopping the image and apologize that it has offended some people here. Unfortunately like most magazines, media and images you see on here, the girls have been retouched to look, taller, thinner and different to what they really (sic), and yes, all to see a product. Apologies to @meagsk you have made a point of us and we will remove the image. If we knew this would upset you, we would of never posted it,? the brand wrote in a screenshot provided to The Courier Mail.
Dr. Kausman, Meaghan, and Pip Summerville — the photographer whose photos were altered, without her permission — were interviewed on Today Australia, and as the host said “they picked the wrong family.” Watch the video below.
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Tiffany Willis is a fifth-generation Texan and the founder and editor-in-chief of Liberal America. An unapologetic member of the Christian Left, she has spent most of her career actively working with ?the least of these? and disadvantaged and oppressed populations. She’s passionate about their struggles. To stay on top of topics she discusses,?like her?Facebook page,?follow her on Twitter, or?connect with her via LinkedIn. She also has?a?grossly neglected personal blog?and a?literary quotes blog that is a labor of love. Find her somewhere and join the discussion.
h/t Haute Talk
