Robyn Goodman Comments on Possible Effects from the “Skinny Chic” Aesthetic

University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Advertising Associate Professor Robyn Goodman is quoted in “What Are ‘Skinny Chic’ Red Flags? Experts Share Advice” published in Newsweek on Nov. 10.

The article focuses on Ariana Grande’s recent weight loss, which has stirred conversations on social media and among fans as she prepares for the release of the movie Wicked on Nov. 22. According to the article, Grande’s “transformation has reignited discussions around the resurgence of the ‘skinny chic’ aesthetic, a trend noted for extreme thinness, reminiscent of the early 2000s ‘heroin chic’ aesthetic.” Experts, including Goodman, weighed in on the situation.

According to Goodman, “Bodies should not be fashion trends, but in the past 50+ years, fashion trends and ideal beauty go hand-in-hand. Each ideal is often elusive for the average woman to attain with extreme measures like dieting and exercise, purging, weight loss supplements, or cosmetic surgery.

She adds, “Social media makes the ideal easier to disseminate, for women to socially compare with the ideal, and for women to learn how to achieve the ideal through unhealthy means. However, social media can also be the antidote because it provides a readily available platform for alternative voices and images and social support.”

Posted: November 13, 2024
Category: College News
Tagged as: Advertising, Newsweek, Robyn Goodman, Social Media