Beauty brand Dove, who've always been championing 'real beauty' commissioned a study that threw up some more alarming statistics about how Indian women feel about themselves, especially in front of a camera.
Apparently 69 percent of us, quotes the study, feel self conscious in front of the camera and 62 percent of us feel posing for a picture or sharing it gives them more anxiety than public speaking.
For those who fall into this significantly large demographic, Dove Global Self-Esteem Ambassador Jess Weiner has some advice.
- "Ban beauty-bashing comments such as 'I look so fat' or 'I'm having bad hair day', she says, "Negative talk makes everyone feel anxious about their looks. The more positive affirmations you make about her own beauty, the more her self-confidence will soar."
- "Nobody is perfect. Remember that those 'perfect' images of celebrities have been styled and retouched by a team of professionals from start to finish," says Weiner, "There is no such thing as perfect beauty."
- "Women should not get caught up about how they look in a photo," she advises, "But rather think about when they are 70 and remember how great it will be to have captured that time in life."
- "Focus on Making Memories," is her mantra. "Instead of stressing about looks in a photo, women should think about how they will FEEL when looking back 5, 10 and 50 years from now remembering the joy they had at the beach with family or the celebration shared with friends. When women focus on the type of memory being made, they will find that their face and body will relax, resulting in more natural, genuine smile and true enjoyment."