Aging and Self-Worth: Tyra Banks, Body Image, and Redefining Beauty

Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about Politics and Pop Culture

In this episode, Becky and Taina dive into a thought-provoking conversation about aging, beauty standards, and the lasting impacts of media on body image. They reflect on the recent Victoria's Secret fashion show featuring Tyra Banks and unpack the mixed messages around body positivity, age inclusivity, and harmful beauty stereotypes. The discussion highlights the complex journey of self-acceptance and empowerment as women age, while critiquing how media and brands often fail to reflect true diversity. With a feminist lens, they tackle the role of diet culture, the contradictions of beauty ideals, and the experience of finding freedom in aging.

Whether you're navigating the pressures of aging gracefully, rejecting the outdated rules of beauty, or simply trying to find your own place in the world, this episode offers a candid exploration of these important topics.

Discussed in this episode:

• Tyra Banks' return to the runway and the Victoria's Secret fashion show controversy
• The lasting harm caused by America's Next Top Model and its critique of body image in media
• The disconnect between body positivity movement messaging and actual inclusive beauty standards
• Struggles with self-acceptance and dealing with body changes as we age
• The journey of aging gracefully and embracing it as a form of empowerment
• How diet culture and harmful beauty stereotypes have shaped perceptions of beauty and aging
• The feminist critique of how media often forces women into narrow beauty categories
• Reflections on aging and self-worth and the power of redefining beauty
• A deep dive into the idea of embracing middle age and finding freedom outside of societal expectations

Resources mentioned:

• Dacy Gillespie’s "Unflattering" Substack: https://dacygillespie.substack.com/p/from-the-vault
• Charlotte Palermino (@CharlotteParler on TikTok), skincare expert: https://www.tiktok.com/@charlotteparler
• The Chronicon Community: https://www.thechroniconcommunity.com/
• “Face: One Square Foot of Skin” by Justine Bateman: https://amzn.to/3BN5pWN

Make sure to subscribe to Messy Liberation on YouTube so you can join us on November 6th for a live post-election discussion!

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LEARN MORE:

• Taina Brown WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | THREADS
• Becky Mollenkamp WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | THREADS | FEMINIST FOUNDERS