Globalization of Beauty Makes Slimness Trendy

When a Nigerian woman won the Miss World in 2001, she created a buzz in a nation that thought it would never win a competition based on western standards of beauty. Suddenly, Nigeria was number one and modeling agencies were looking for more 'It' girls in Africa. But many Nigerians never found the winner very beautiful. As some said, she was 'a white girl in black skin.' For Westerners slim is beautiful, but this is not the case for many Africans, especially those of an older generation who prefer a more robust figure. Since the Miss World, younger Africans are beginning to prize thinness more and more. This may clash with a culture whose history celebrates voluptuousness. And when modeling agencies offer contracts worth over $100,000 - a lot of money in developing countries - culture may suffer attacks from the market. Thinness will be prized for its possible paycheck, rather than just an aesthetic ideal. Will beauty itself become reduced to market forces? And if it does, will the West be accused of another imperialism: one of beauty? - YaleGlobal

Globalization of Beauty Makes Slimness Trendy

Noritmitsu Onishi
Thursday, October 3, 2002

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