Ellen Coyne: Kim Kardashian-style beauty standards should only apply to those who can afford them

‘It’s liberating to see your insecurities as a reflection of the value of your bank account, rather than your personal worth.’ Photo: Getty Images

Ellen Coyne

A strange and sad phenomenon that I struggled to shake was letting awards shows make me feel terrible about myself. While I always loved watching events like the Met Gala, where preposterously glamorous outfits are served up on the red carpet like a conveyor belt of sushi, there was always an undertone of self-reproach for not being anywhere near as thin, tall or angular as the women I was watching.

Seeing Kim Kardashian side-shuffle up the famous Met Gala steps in a dress that had cinched her waist to gasp-inducing micro proportions this week, I almost got caught again. While we’re all talk about body positivity and body neutrality, I find I still have to work awfully hard against the social conditioning that made me perceive every beautiful woman as a threat to my own happiness. Other women’s perfections can sometimes feel like a direct challenge to our own imperfections. Size, weight, wrinkles, proportions, whatever. Comparing yourself to ever-increasing body and beauty standards can get pretty toxic, pretty fast.