Did you know that 96% of women do not choose the word ‘beautiful’ when they describe how they look? Mind blowing that!
Given this research, Dove decided to launch their Choose Beautiful campaign because they believe feeling beautiful is a personal choice women should feel empowered to make every day.
The wonderfully uplifting ‘Choose Beautiful’ campaign is a candid, eye-opening short film was shot in five countries across the globe to encourage women worldwide to reconsider the choices they make about their beauty and how those decisions make them feel.
The Choose beautiful film captures real women considering their own beauty. The women are asked to make a choice about the way they see themselves: ‘average’ versus the frequently avoided ‘beautiful’. The film reveals that women struggle with recognizing their own beauty.
“Although the majority of women don’t describe themselves as beautiful, 80% agree that every woman has something about her that is beautiful. It’s time women think differently about this choice,” said Steve Miles, Senior Vice President, Dove. “Dove Choose Beautiful urges women to embrace this choice, and inwardly challenge our tendency to not ‘choose beautiful’ because when we do it unlocks happiness and confidence that impacts women’s self-esteem.”
I was lucky enough to nab an exclusive interview with Julie & Olivia, the mom and daughter in the video.
Olivia, you first wanted to go through the Average door before your mother quickly pulled you away, what made you want to choose Average in the beginning?
I wanted to go through the average door because as a teenage girl I felt as if I would appear big headed if I chose beautiful and other people would judge me. Also I would nearly always pick out flaws in my appearance instead of looking at myself as beautiful.
Julie, what made you instantly decide to go through the beautiful door?
Age – I feel good about being 51. I feel happy and confident, I’m not catwalk model beautiful but I’m not average – no way! Also as a single mum to 2 daughters, I want to be a positive role model to them, they are beautiful and I want them to embrace that and not worry about other people’s reactions.
How did you both feel about your decision once you had walked through the beautiful door together?
Olivia: After walking through the beautiful door, I felt a sense of empowerment and I radiated confidence, hence my little hair flick!
Julie: I felt good – I felt proud and really happy that I hadn’t classed myself as average. I know I would’ve regretted that. It was a lovely moment to choose beautiful with my daughter.
What have you learnt from the Dove Choose Beautiful campaign?
Olivia: I’ve learnt that no one is average; there isn’t one type of beautiful. As individuals it’s up to us to create our personal definition of beauty and choose beautiful for ourselves.
Julie: I have learnt that women and girls can and should be kinder to each other and more supportive of each other’s choice to walk through the beautiful door in life!
What would you say to other women out there about choosing beautiful?
Both: Do it! This experience has genuinely changed the way we both feel about ourselves. Just take that step, once you choose beautiful it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. We both walk taller through all doors these days!
Juana (beauty editor of Cosmopolitan) & I choose the Beautiful door.
7 Simple and Practical ways to #ChooseBeautiful everyday
- One Beautiful Thought – At the end of the day, reflect on the positive impact this thought had on you and capture it in a journal
- Surround Yourself with Beauty – Spend time beautifying and enhancing your space. Surround yourself with the smells, sights and sounds that make you feel and function your best.
- Practice Mindfulness – Notice your default thoughts, beliefs and conditioning at play. Don’t believe everything you think. Question the negative thoughts and let go of thoughts and beliefs that don’t serve you. Focus: On the positive and more resourceful thoughts. Override: Your default beliefs, stories and thoughts through conscious choice. Repeat.
- Be Kind, Feel Beautiful – Research shows that 30% of South African women feel more beautiful when they do something nice for someone else.
- Exercise Self-Care – 72% of women agree that beauty is not about being born with the most, but about making the most of what you have.
- Practice Gratitude – Each night, before bed, write down three good things that happened during your day, or three things that went well.
- Self-Compassion – 72% of women globally agree that when they feel loved, they feel more beautiful.
GIVEAWAY
To help make you feel even more beautiful, I have 10 hampers from; each containing the products above, valued at R650 per hamper. To enter, tell me what makes you feel beautiful. Leave your comment in the comment section below this post. Please ensure you add your email address (only I can see it) so I can contact you, should you be one of the 10 winners. I’ll announce 10 winners next week Thursday 28 May.
