Women always had to deal with unrealistic beauty standards, and that’s something that has been happening for millennia. But the truth is that the 20th century in particular and the 21st as well have added even more pressure on how women should look, and how they need to be perceived. Viktoriia Osadchuk will tell you that things are even worse in the fashion industry. There’s always that stigma of having specific standards that you need to deal with, and you must adhere to those and change, otherwise you won’t fare well in the end.

However, over the past decade, things have changed and now we are seeing a better, more cohesive and unique approach when it comes to beauty standards. People started to realize that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Even if we have a specific standard, that doesn’t mean everyone thinks the same. That’s why even within the industry, there’s a lot more leeway when it comes to the beauty standards.

After all, there’s a reason why you can see plus size products on fashion sites like Mariemur and adequate models presenting those products. That’s because the stigma of being forced to look a certain way as a model is slowly going away. Obviously, there are still plenty of companies and situations where that old approach still remains valid. However, our society has changed, and it continues to highlight the importance of growing, expanding, and pushing the boundaries.

Transcending borders and breaking standards

Those old school standards might have been valid for a while, but these days, you can obtain pay stubs as a model from a variety of different industries. Not only that, but there are way less restrictions when it comes to how you look, how you are presenting yourself, and the boundaries that you can surpass. Of course, as a model, it’s difficult to show off your potential and knowledge if you can’t even get your foot in the door.

And that did happen for decades, where a lot of models were unable to get a job because they couldn’t fit a specific mold, if you remember the 90/60/90 moniker. But nowadays, that approach has changed, and it has a more cohesive, intricate system in place. Of course it can be incredibly difficult to bring ideas to fruition. But if you trust your instincts, scour the market for opportunities and believe in what you can do, then results will be much better.

However, you should be realistic and also realize that not everyone is breaking the boundaries and many companies in the industry are still very restrictive. It might not seem like an issue at first, but as you try to find a job as a model, some doors will be closed for that reason alone.

Thankfully, there’s also the upside of being able to break the beauty standards and expressing yourself. You always want to show what you are capable of, and these days, companies are willing to listen more. There’s also more openness to things like diversity, breaking away from the older molds and offering everyone a shot.

After all, you can find untapped, amazing talent that can bring in outstanding results for a very long time. There are obvious challenges that appear, such as dealing with hate, being judged and not even receiving a chance. However, people in the industry realize that there’s untapped potential in a lot of places, and you might end up obtaining some amazing results.

Understanding the customers

For a very long time, the fashion industry had a mold of how the perfect body would look like, and every model had to get as close to that as possible. Aside from dealing with tons of stress, unhealthy diets, models also had significant competition because everyone was trying to be the one featured in that coveted spot. However, things are changed now, and fashion companies focus more on understanding customers and learning about what they want and what would fulfill their needs.

And the reality is, you are selling clothes to customers as a fashion brand. That’s why presenting realistic designs that the ordinary person would wear is a much better idea. It certainly helps enhance the experience, and it also shows that the company cares about its clients. At the end of the day, breaking the old beauty standards and adapting the way you present them to the audience is what will set you apart as a business.

It’s also the fact why there’s no such thing as a very restrictive mold in the fashion industry. Yes, there are still certain barriers from those that have an old school way of thinking. But realistically, most companies are adopting the idea of diversity, modern beauty standards and sustainability. We live in a new era, and learning how to adapt to what customers expect, while also representing everyone is a great way of pushing the boundaries!

Is the fashion industry changing?

In short, yes, the industry is changing and evolving. Customers are changing, they have different expectations and demands when compared to 20 years ago or even 10 years ago. We all want sustainability, more focus on growth and finding new products that will fulfill our needs. But we also want to be represented, and that’s why you see a more diverse range of models when compared to decades ago.

It's clear that the industry is not as restrictive as it once was. Companies understand that instead of trying to achieve perfection and putting a certain mold on a pedestal is not how they will achieve growth. Instead, it all comes down to customers and constantly pushing the limits to fulfill their demands. That doesn’t come without challenges, of course. But it’s clear that things such as diversity, sustainability and improved customer support will always make a difference. That’s why we see the beauty standards being broken, while also being encouraged to innovate and come up with unique ideas!