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Sketching the Distortions of Self-Perception

Self-image Image of God Beauty

Source: “You ARE more beautiful than you think: Dove hires FBI-trained forensic artist to prove women judge their appearance more harshly than strangers” by By CATHERINE TOWNSEND, published 4/16/13, retrieved 4/17/23

Link to Source: Click here to view source

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2023-04-26

Scripture: Ephesians 4:24 ; 1 Samuel 16:7

Author: Illustration Exchange
5

ILLUSTRATION

Dove Soap is an icon in the American health and beauty industry. They have long been celebrated for their targeted ad campaigns exploring true beauty. One of Dove's recent tag lines is "You are more beautiful than you think." So, for its campaign titled Real Beauty Sketches, the company used a forensic artist to prove it.

Dove asked an FBI-trained forensic artist, Gil Zamora, to create sketches of seven women. The women were hidden behind a curtain; he never saw their faces. Rather, he “blind sketched” each one based on their self-descriptions. He then created a second “blind sketch” based on the descriptions of strangers who spent time “observing” the seven subjects.

The sketches were then revealed, side-by-side, to the subjects for them to observe the often startling difference between their self-perception and the perception of others.

Can you say “eye opening”?!

Dove says, as a company, they are committed to helping all women realize their personal beauty potential. This particular campaign was all part of a broader marketing campaign to help women discover their “real beauty.”

APPLICATION

God is all about helping us to see our "real" beauty — not the beauty of external features, but the true beauty revealed from within as we conform ourselves to the image of Christ. There is no other, no greater image to which we can conform ourselves or compare ourselves.

Alternate Application: The question is not how we see ourselves, or even how others see us. The only question is how does God see us? In Him, we are declared perfect, blameless, holy. We are His beautiful Bride for whom He is returning. Walk in the light of how HE sees us!

"For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7, ESV).

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them" (Genesis 1:27, ESV).

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV).

"And to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:24, ESV).

Beautiful or Average, You Choose

Beauty Self-image Women's Concerns

Source: “Watch what happens when women are forced to choose between walking through doors marked 'average' or 'beautiful'... as it is revealed that 96 PER CENT of women rate themselves as average looking” By ANDREA MAGRATH FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA, PUBLISHED: 8 Ap

Link to Source: Click here to view source

Contributed By: Barnett Gushin | Date Posted: 2015-04-13

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:3

Author: Barnett Gushin
10

ILLUSTRATION

Beautiful or average? As a woman, how would you categorize yourself?

The makers of Dove soap asked that question in a worldwide survey. To demonstrate the results, they set up signs at the entrances of buildings around the globe. At each location, one door was marked “Average” and the other was marked “Beautiful.” (Click the link to source above to view the video that has gone viral. )

Across the board, women overwhelmingly chose to walk through the door marked “Average.” In fact, a staggering 96% chose that door. A mere 4% chose to walk through the door marked “Beautiful.” Sure, some stopped and pondered the possibility of choosing “Beautiful,” but all too often they abandoned the choice. The reasons were varied. Many felt that it seemed like vanity to admit that they considered themselves beautiful, while others genuinely believed themselves unworthy of walking through the “Beautiful” door. 
 
One woman from Shanghai picked the average door, saying: “Beautiful, to me, is too far out of reach.”
 
The DAILY MAIL reports:
 
Dove says that feeling beautiful is a personal choice that women should feel empowered to make for themselves every day.
 
However, many found that when they had to behave in a way that revealed their image of themselves to the world - they balked.
 
Many said afterwards that they regretted their decision, and that it had affected how they felt about themselves. …
 
The company's marketing director Jennifer Bremner said: 'Dove Choose Beautiful urges women to embrace this personal choice, because when we do, it unlocks happiness and confidence that impacts women's self-esteem.  
 
Women watching the campaign took to social media to express sadness that so many people felt the need to put themselves down.
 
One woman nailed it, saying, “I choose beautiful because if I don’t think it myself, no one else will.”

APPLICATION

Dove is onto something here. All women are intrinsically beautiful. Sadly, most are hesitant to embrace their true inner worth, either because they don't believe it, or for the fear of appearing vain.
 
As children of God, we are indeed ALL intrinsically beautiful. Feeling valued is a choice the cross of Christ empowers us to make everyday. God wants us to embrace our beauty—own it. Not the outward beauty of personal appearance, but the inner beauty of a heart and soul redeemed and perfected by the perfect love of a perfect God. 
 
It’s not vanity to acknowledge the value that God attributes to each of us. It’s the truth and it is liberating. Don't balk at the opportunity to behave in a way that reveals your self-image in Christ. For how are we to convey to others their worth and beauty in the eyes of God, if we cannot acknowledge it and embrace it within ourselves?
 
Unlock the joy and happiness that comes to those who choose beautiful in the eyes of God.
 
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight" (1 Peter 3:3-4).

A Reflection We Cannot Deny

Self-image Beauty God's Image

Source: "Lupita Nyong’o: 'I Got Teased and Taunted About My Skin'" By Rebecca Zamer, published Yahoo! Celebrity, 2/28/14

Link to Source: Click here to view source

Contributed By: Barnett Gushin | Date Posted: 2014-03-13

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:3

Author: Rebecca Zamer/Illustration Exchange
1

ILLUSTRATION

Yahoo! Celebrity News reports:

Lupita Nyong'o attended Essence magazine's Black Women in Hollywood luncheon on Thursday, where she was given the award for best breakthrough performance for her role in "12 Years a Slave." There wasn't a dry eye in the house during the actress's moving acceptance speech, in which she confessed that as a little girl, she wished she had a lighter complexion.

She said, "I got teased and taunted about my skin. And my one prayer to God ... was that I would wake up lighter-skinned. The morning would come and I would be so excited about seeing my new skin that I would refuse to look down at myself until I was in front of a mirror because I wanted to see my fair face first. And every day I experienced the same disappointment of being just as dark as I was the day before."

But Lupita began to accept her darker skin after she saw supermodel Alek Wek. She explained in her speech, "When I saw Alek I inadvertently saw a reflection of myself that I could not deny. Now, I had a spring in my step because I felt more seen, more appreciated by the far-away gatekeepers of beauty."

Now the 30-year-old hopes that she can inspire young women everywhere. "I hope that my presence on your screens and in the magazines may lead you, young girl, on a similar journey," she said. "That you will feel the validation of your external beauty, but also get to the deeper business of being beautiful inside."

APPLICATION

Like Lupita, we are all on a journey of self-acceptance as we grapple with our self-image. If you're looking for validation, for affirmation that will add a spring to your step, all you have to do is turn to the true "far-away gatekeeper of beauty," God Himself. He is all about the "deeper business" of inner beauty.

"Don't be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God." (1 Peter 3:3-4). 

Dare To Date A Real Bird

Marriage Dating Beauty

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2014-02-07

Scripture: Proverbs 31:10

Author: Illustration Exchange
3

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Plastic Surgery Surging

Beauty Cultural Trends Authenticity

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2013-12-16

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:7

Author: Illustration Exchange
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God Makes Beautiful Things

Beauty Self-image God's Image

Contributed By: Andrew Francis | Date Posted: 2013-09-02

Scripture: Psalms 139:14

Author: Andrew Francis
3

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Beauty Is God's Signature

Beauty God's Holiness Apologetics

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2013-03-17

Scripture: Psalms 96:9

Author: unknown
3

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Super-model Wants To Be A Super Woman

Women's Concerns Beauty Aging

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2012-07-06

Scripture: Proverbs 31:10 ; 1 Peter 3:4

Author: Illustration Exchange
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Israel Crowns Miss Holocaust Survivor 2012

Israel Beauty God's Promises

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2012-06-30

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1

Author: Illustration Exchange
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World's Ugliest Woman Wins!

Beauty Judging Victory

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2012-05-04

Scripture: Proverbs 31:30 ; 1 Corinthians 15:57

Author: Illustration Exchange
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