Opinion | No one commodifies women’s impossible beauty standards quite like Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian's latest lingerie line is a perfect example of how lucrative it can be to commodify women's impossible beauty standards. The "Faux Hair Micro String Thong" sold out in just days, with the 12 shades and textures available for $32 each. This trend cycle may seem trivial, but its impact on society and the economy cannot be ignored.

In recent years, the body positivity movement has gained momentum, advocating for acceptance of all shapes and sizes. However, this shift was short-lived, replaced by an obsession with super-skinny bodies. Kim Kardashian's influence in perpetuating these unattainable standards is undeniable. The "BBL era" of buttock-enhancing surgeries saw a significant rise between 2015 and 2021, coinciding with the Kardashians' pop culture dominance.

Fast forward to today, and another trend has emerged: the quest for an impossibly slim body. This phenomenon has been linked to the increased popularity of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, which can lead to rapid weight loss. The Kardashians have once again capitalized on this trend, reversing or reducing previous procedures to slim down and comply with yet another impossible beauty standard.

Kim Kardashian's success lies in her ability to tap into a gray area between sex positivity and shock marketing. She expertly navigates the line between offending and selling out. By releasing a product that is both provocative and profitable, she has tapped into the zeitgeist of women's desires for self-expression and liberation.

However, this trend highlights a deeper issue: the commodification of women's bodies. Petra Collins, a millennial photographer who had her Instagram account deleted after posting an unretouched photo of herself, serves as a cautionary tale. The visibility that got Collins banned on social media is now being sold back to women online – in lingerie.

The normalization of body hair has also been subject to its own trend cycle. In the 1970s, the "bush" was all the rage, only to be replaced by waxed and lasered bare vulvas. This correlation between hairlessness and purity and youth is deeply ingrained in society, with historical roots across cultures.

The release of Kim Kardashian's new line is a stunning example of the ouroboros of capitalism – where an entire generation of women is forced to buy back their own bodies. The "Faux Hair Micro String Thong" embodies this paradox: a sanitized and profitable version of Margiela's fashion provocation, reaping the benefits of a trend that has already begun to emerge in fashion.

The commodification of women's bodies will continue to be a lucrative industry, as long as there are willing customers. The question remains – how far will this trend cycle take us? Will we ever break free from these impossible beauty standards, or will we continue to perpetuate the same toxic narratives that have been passed down for generations? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Kim Kardashian's latest lingerie line has only added fuel to the fire.

I'm just saying, it's crazy how fast trends come and go... remember when everyone was about the "bush" back in the 70s? Now we're all about being hairless and "pure". It's like, what's next? A new standard for our bodies every year or so? I'm not hating on Kim Kardashian or anything, but it's wild how much she can make us want something just because she's selling it. And don't even get me started on the GLP-1 meds...

omg i'm literally exhausted thinking about how much pressure society puts on women to conform to unrealistic beauty standards it's like we're constantly being told what's beautiful and what's not, and if we don't fit that mold, we're somehow less worthy kim k's latest lingerie line is just another example of this toxic cycle, where a product can sell out in days because women are desperate for something to make them feel sexy and confident but at what cost? our mental health, our self-worth, our very bodies? it's like we're being sold back the same old narratives that have been perpetuated for generations, and it's just so frustrating

Ugh she's just so extra ! I mean i get it, people wanna look good and feel empowered but can we please stop trying 2 achieve unattainable beauty standards? It's like, hello let's celebrate all shapes & sizes instead of trying 2 conform 2 these unrealistic expectations . The fact that ppl are buying into this trend cycle is just wild and it's not just Kim K's influence, it's a whole industry built around commodifying women's bodies . Like Petra Collins' story? Yikes, so sad . We need 2 break free from these toxic narratives & celebrate self-love . Can't we just be happy with who we are ?

i mean think about it - she's making a ton of money offa these super skinny ideals, and ppl are just eating it up like ice cream. its like weve created this entire industry around whats considered beautiful, and kylie, khloe, kim, etc r just the face of it all. what bothers me is that ppl think they need to buy into these unrealistic beauty standards 2 feel confident in their own skin. its not healthy and its so damaging

I mean, can't she just promote self-acceptance for once? Instead of perpetuating these unattainable beauty standards, shouldn't she be using her platform to help women love themselves? The fact that this lingerie line sold out in days says a lot about how desperate people are for something they'll never be able to achieve. It's like, we've been conditioned to believe that we need to conform to these impossible beauty ideals, and companies like Kim Kardashian's are just cashing in on that desire.

And let's not forget about the impact on mental health. The constant pressure to look a certain way can lead to body dysmorphia, low self-esteem, and all sorts of other issues. It's like, we're selling out our own worth as women to keep up with these unrealistic beauty standards. I wish more brands would focus on promoting real beauty, rather than just trying to make a quick buck off women's insecurities.

I'm not saying that Kim Kardashian doesn't have a right to her own business venture, but can't she use her platform to promote something more positive? Like, instead of selling lingerie that perpetuates these beauty standards, why not create a line that celebrates all shapes and sizes? I think that would be a great way for her to make a real impact, rather than just adding fuel to the fire of an already toxic industry.

I'm getting really frustrated with the way women are being objectified and commodified in the fashion industry . Like, can't we just celebrate all body types and shapes already? The fact that Kim Kardashian is making a fortune off of an "impossibly slim" beauty standard is just wild . It's like, we're living in this world where women are constantly being bombarded with unrealistic beauty standards and then we wonder why mental health struggles are on the rise . I'm all for self-expression and body positivity, but when it comes down to it, I think we need to take a step back and evaluate what's truly valuable here - our bodies or our bank accounts .

omg yall, kim k's new lingerie line is like the ultimate example of how capitalism can make us all just wanna buy stuff we don't need lol & it's so sad that women are still buying into these unattainable beauty standards the "faux hair micro string thong" might be selling out, but i'm sure kim k's bank account is getting a major boost meanwhile, petra collins is like the real hero here, speaking truth to body positivity & self-acceptance

I just saw this thread and I'm still trying to wrap my head around it... like what even is the deal with people wanting to shell out 32 bucks for a thong that's supposed to be "faux hair"? isn't the point of a lingerie line to make us feel good about ourselves, not rip us off? and btw, can we talk about how messed up it is that people are still buying into these super-skinny body standards? didn't we learn from all the years of body positivity movement?

omg yaaas kim kardashian is like a mastermind of making money off our insecurities she knows exactly what sells and how to keep us wanting more. its wild how we're willing to pay good $$$ for products that perpetuate unrealistic beauty standards meanwhile, ppl are still struggling with body image issues and self-acceptance

omg u can literally feel the pressure on women's bodies thru out this whole thing kardashian's fam is killing it with these new lingerie lines tho, like we all know they're gonna make a ton of $$$ off our insecurities but seriously though, its wild how society is still stuck in this cycle of beauty standards that are literally impossible to achieve. like, when will we break free from this toxic narrative? and btw, who thought it was a good idea to market lingerie as a way to sell back our own bodies? that's just low anyway, its def interesting to see how capitalism is like an ouroboros - where the same cycle of consumption repeats itself, but now we're all forced to buy in

I mean, what's up with our society and its obsession with physical perfection?! It's like, can't we just be ourselves without feeling pressured to conform to these unrealistic beauty standards? The fact that Kim Kardashian's new lingerie line is selling out in record time and perpetuating the idea of an "impossibly slim body" is just, like, wow... I get it, she's a businesswoman and all, but can't we be more than just our physical appearances?

And don't even get me started on the commodification of women's bodies. Like, Petra Collins' story is crazy – her Instagram account was deleted for posting an unretouched photo, but now Kim Kardashian is profiting from the same thing! It's like, we're selling our own bodies back to each other... not cool.

I'm all about self-expression and empowerment, but this trend cycle just feels so toxic. We need to break free from these impossible beauty standards and focus on what really matters – being confident in our own skin!

It's crazy how much money can be made off of making women feel inadequate about their bodies . The "Faux Hair Micro String Thong" is like, super hyped and now everyone's talking about it . But honestly, isn't this just a never-ending cycle? First it was all about the #BBL era, then the emphasis on being super skinny, and now we're back to the quest for an impossibly slim body .

And let's be real, Kim K is a master at playing with people's emotions . She makes these provocative products that are both shocking and sellable – it's like she has this magic formula . But what's really concerning is how these trends affect women's self-esteem . Petra Collins' experience is so eye-opening – her Instagram account was deleted for posting an unretouched photo of herself, but now those same "perfection" standards are being sold back to us online.

I'm not sure if we'll ever break free from these toxic beauty standards , but it's up to us as consumers to think twice before buying into them . Maybe it's time for a new trend – one that celebrates our unique bodies and imperfections ?

I'm so tired of these unrealistic beauty standards that influencers like Kim Kardashian keep pushing on us. Like, who needs to pay $32 for a thong that claims to be "faux hair"?? It's just a way to make us feel like we need more when really, we're already good enough. And don't even get me started on the BBL era and now everyone's going for this super-skinny body thing... it's all so exhausting

I feel like we're stuck in this crazy loop where people are making money off of things that are supposed to make us happy and confident about our bodies . It's like, what's next? Will we have a trend for selling out our own self-worth? I mean, the fact that Petra Collins got her Instagram account deleted for posting an unretouched photo is just wild... and then Kim Kardashian's new line comes out and it's all about embracing "faking" hair? It's like, can't we just be ourselves without having to buy into some idealized version of beauty?

this trend of perfecting our bodies is so crazy lol imagine being born with a "flaw" and having to "fix" it your whole life and it's not just about looks, it's also about control, women are selling their own bodies for profit the impact on society is huge, ppl need to wake up to this

omg i am so over kim k's latest lingerie line she just keeps pushing these unattainable beauty standards on us like it's okay to want to look a certain way and it's not just her influence that's the problem it's all of us buying into this toxic cycle of trying to fit into these impossible molds

i mean think about it - we're already living in a world where body positivity is a thing, but then we turn around and we're like "oh wait nope let's just go back to the whole super-skinny bodies are best" it's like we can't even have one conversation without someone being like "you need to lose weight"

and don't even get me started on petra collins - i feel so bad for her, it's like we're punishing women for just wanting to be themselves and take their own photos

i think the thing that really gets me is that we're all just buying into this lie that these companies are selling us something that's going to make us happy and fulfilled, but really they're just making a profit off of our insecurities

it's like, can't we just break free from all these impossible beauty standards already?