Sick of the Love Island aesthetic

[Raspberryclouds]

Don't know what else to call it, and don't want to name names or post pictures of people as that's unfair but it's everywhere and makes me feel inadequate.
They've all got a tan, gleaming white teeth, microbladed eyebrows, mermaid hair (they never have short hair like me!)
Plump lips, false eyelashes, freckles, perfect cheekbones and perfect figures, flawless skin. Oh and all have these perfect tiny noses whereas mine is wide.
I know a lot of it is Instagram/filters but most of them look the same in reality.

I feel like some sort of potato in comparison because it seems that this is what's considered attractive. I live in Manchester city centre and there are ten a penny slim, statuesque stunning women with long flowing hair going on a night out.
I didn't think I was awful, but just feel so basic and unremarkable.
I can't afford to get consistent beauty treatments, eyelashes are expensive, I put a fake tan on myself but can't afford constant spray tans, constant teeth whitening and so on.
I need to learn to be happier with what I've got, but just feel so dull, does anyone else feel like this.

I think Bella Hadid has said herself that she’s not very happy.

I find it all pretty sad. I can’t lie and say that I don’t see the appeal, I do. I’m 39 and feel I’m losing my looks, peri menopause has hit, I’ve gained a lot of weight, getting a few wrinkles and some grey hairs… I don’t want to look like this. I’m glad I lived through my 20s without the pressure young women have these days though and I hope things have changed before my daughter reaches her teens.

There are still lots of alternative/indie/metal/goth gigs, night clubs and pubs in Manchester - 42s, Satans, Factory, The Ritz, Rebellion etc.

It’s a bit weird because the teens all dress like me and my mates did 30 plus years ago (Grunge era) deffo not Love Islandy but it makes me feel WELL old!

But I find as time goes on in all balances out.

I agree with this. I wasted my time hating every part of my body when I was in my teens and twenties. Everyone seemed to look better than me. I grew up in the 70s and 80s when there was no social media and still managed to feel utterly crap about myself - magazines, films, newspapers, adverts, TV shows, the beach, all full of beautiful people with beautiful figures and faces. My brain seemed to airbrush out anyone ordinary. Anyone like me. Even when I was dressed up and looked pretty good, I still felt unhappy about the flaws I knew were underneath my clothes. Now though, I'm 56 and I don't think look I any worse than anyone else. Of course there are some people my age who look amazing - BUT I DON'T CARE. Wish I could have made my younger self see sense though.

This absolutely isn’t true.

Whilst I’m not a fan of surgical enhancements, it’s ridiculous that people are saying they see those with them as a bit thick. LOADS of highly intelligent women (and men, as it seems people on here are only referencing women) in high power jobs have this look or a variation of. Some people in LI have held positions from bomb disposal experts to doctors to engineers to solicitors. Just because you have a certain aesthetic doesn’t mean you aren’t highly educated, smart, highly skilled.

The snobbery on here, and misogyny, is fucking depressing.

The look you are chasing seems to me to age younger women, rather than the opposite.

I think a big issue here is also when women do get older, the chasing to maintain this look. nature ages and then people can end up looking like caricatures of themselves (Madonna).

It doesn’t bother me at all as I think they all look like sex dolls.

I actually think we are more accepting of different kinds of beauty these days. Most people I know don't find the love island look very attractive. Maybe I've become a little bit more confident as I've gotten older but I feel prettier at 35 than I did at 18 (even though I'm clearly older and about a stone heavier). I feel like there are a lot more options in terms of clothing and make up, there's so much more information out there about how to style your hair, your clothes, more affordable too. So many plus size models out there now too. This is your own lack of self esteem talking.

*Fairislefandango"· Today 11:24

I just don't see them as looking like normal human beings really. It's not worth comparing yourself to these plastic people. They might as well be cartoons really, with their filters, surgical alterations and fake everything.

I agree, who thought that brick dust orange was good skin colour? Or crinkly, flaccid sausage lips? It's tragic, it's not a good look, but so many young girls feel pressured into making themselves look - as many have pointed out - like sex dolls.

I personally don't like the "fake" look. And imagine getting plastic surgery only for the fashion of what looks good to move on and now your face looks like a plastic mess. Try to be the healthiest happiest version of yourself and you'll be beautiful!

I do like make up not necessarily on me but if someone has an imaginative approach to it. I liked Amy Winehouse's make up at the start and beehive. My MIL still wears quite dramatic 1960's eye liner but she is an ex - hippie, she is Jewish and I don't know it sort of suits her, she has the right eyes and cheekbones but this look from Love Island just looks too generic. I associate it with oppressiveness as it seems like they wouldn't leave the house without it which seems ashame. That said, where I live the Mum's are competitively 'natural' it is all about the skin care, the other day I happened to have a tiny bit of mascara on and DD's friend's Mum pointed it out.

What's fucking depressing is doctors and solicitors enhancing themselves for the male gaze and going on love island.

My cousins all look like this and they all look identical. They all get Botox as well. Sometimes I think how I must look to them… wispy hair, low level makeup, crows feet, “characterful” teeth. I must literally look like a crazy old lady to them 🤣 all their homes are exactly the same inside as well.

Your idea of aesthetic isn’t the only one. If people want to have various surgeries that’s their business, no matter their profession.

Your judgemental attitude is embarrassing. Also, some of the people I was referring to were men. Keep your misogyny in check.

Exactly. If I were back on the dating market as it were I would probably have to make more effort with some of this stuff but I’m not.

“Feminine interests” 🤦‍♀️FML

@InTheOrchard Right, OK. I don't watch Love Island. If some of the people you were referring to were men, how many actual women on there have been doctors, solicitors etc? Not many I expect.

As for whether an aesthetic is their business...I disagree actually. When that aesthetic centres around looking like a sex doll for the male gaze, and creates unrealistic ideals for everybody else (the reason why the OP started this thread) it's all of our business.

Keep your internalised misogyny in check.

Oh you mean the sex clown look.

Not many of the women have had such professions? And you’re saying I am the one with internalised misogyny? Why, because only the men can have big scary jobs? or because women who decide to have fuller or whatever have to be imbeciles? Of the four professions I mentioned, two were held by men and two were held by women. I haven’t watched LI for years so since then I don’t know who has done what. But your assumption that none of those women could have held such professions reveals a LOT about you, and none of it nice.

The 1940s called and they want their shitty attitude back.

Re botox. I think in years to come injecting a lethal toxin i to yourself will be regarded with absolute horror. It hasn’t been going long enough to see real long term adverse effects but I think there will be some.

Yes. I maintain that the majority of female GPs, solicitors, engineers etc do not subscribe to the Love Island aesthetic. Obviously there will always be the occasional exception, but on the whole, this exaggerated aesthetic is linked to intelligence/level of educational attainment/career.

You may not like that fact, but it's true.

If it makes people happy then why care

They are just a bunch of young people in good physical condition, most people in real life don't look like that. Think of it as crufts for humans op.

Of course, if people want to ruin themselves and look like plastic chavs then that is entirely their business. But that doesn't mean other people aren't allowed an opinion about it.

Except that’s not what I said, nor what you said. At no point have I said that at all. You can try and switch what your original argument was but it’s clear in black and white. You are judging women by archaic male standards.

Again, not what the conversation was about at all.