To each country, its standards of beauty…
updated the 6 October 2015 à 23:59
With photoshop, retouch professionals can now create images that illustrate their idea of beauty. And it varies greatly from one country to another. An American journalist has taken the challenge and got her photo edited in 25 different countries. The results are surprising and invite us to question the role of culture and software in the perception of the perfect woman.
A VISUAL SURVEY AROUND THE WORLD
American by birth, freelance journalist Esther Honig decided to compare the perception of beauty in different countries. Her project, “Before & After”, highlights the cultural differences that dictate the perception of beauty and the role of software in the construction of the ‘perfect’ female. To do this, she sent her portrait – non-retouched, no makeup, hair tied in a bun and bare shoulders – on gray background to tens of retouching pros around the world. Via exchange services platforms such as Fiverr, she came into contact with forty specialists in more than 20 countries. From Sri Lanka to Ukraine, The Philippines and Kenya – she asked these experts to improve her portrait and make her “look beautiful.” This was her method to compare the standards of beauty prevailing in each country.
THE MIRACLES OF PHOTOSHOP
Unsurprisingly, the reporter received back very different images. From the eyebrows thickness, hair and makeup style to complexion and eye colour, face shape… everything seems to have been transformed under the magical wand of Photoshop – and in some case, the changes were dramatic. Ironically, the most retouched portrait or at least one of the most spectacular ones is the one made in her own country, the United States. The end result is – you will agree when looking through the slideshow above – very far from the original, and somehow entertaining.
Grégoire PROVOST
