Week 9: Race and Beauty

Week 9

(Re)making Identity through Fashion

Race and Beauty: A Comparison of Asian and Western Models in Women’s Magazine Advertisements

Zoe Martin

Beauty Standards Around the World

“Race and Beauty” by Frith, Cheng, and Shaw discussed the differences in Asian and Western models used in magazines. To do so, they compared beauty types, gaze, sensuality, and product categories. The article stated, “European American women choose body-sculpting surgery such as liposuction and breast augmentation, whereas Asian American women most often request “double-eyelid surgery,” which is related to the face.” This made me think about Asian beauty ideals. Asians value youthful skin, which is evident in the magazine advertisements that many Asian models are used for, such as skin care. 

In my experience with Philippine culture, the common beauty ideals are to look mestiza, rather than indigenous. For instance, all the local celebrities have very light skin, which is not common among the average Filipinx. Often times they lighten their skin using products such as papaya soap, which my mother has even tried to get me to use. Additionally, I know many people who get their noses and eyelids done to look more “white.” Moreover, the past two Miss Universes from the Philippines are mestizas, and are biracial. Pia Wurtzbach (2015) is half German while this year’s Miss Universe, Catriona Gray, is half Australian. Kelsey Merritt, a Filipina-American model was the first Filipina to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Although there is nothing wrong with having biracial representation of the Philippines, in a way it discourages indigenous, traditional Philippine beauty. Why isn’t there any representation of traditional Philippine beauty in the fashion industry?

Miss Universe winners from the Philippines