MEDIA, SOCIETY AND MODELS: GOOD OR
BAD INFLUENCE?
Savannah Sappington
Dr. Moschetta
QUESTION

What do YOU think of when you hear the word model?
CRYSTAL RENN
Size: 2; Age: 14
Size: 8; Age: 24
WHY DID I CHOOSE THIS TOPIC?
After graduation, I plan on going into the beauty
industry as a beautician.
 I plan to study at Empire Beauty School to get my state
cosmetology license and then go back and get my
cosmetology instructor certification.
 I’ve had friends that look up to movie stars, actresses
and models and they’ll do anything to look like them, so
I wanted to know why.

THESIS
With all the drama in the beauty industry, the media,
society and models can be a positive and negative
influence on young women.
 They can be a good inspiration, you work flexible hours
as a model, and its money.
 They also can influence you to obtain an eating disorder
and the beauty products commercials make you always
second guess yourself.

50’s
60’s & 70’s
80’s
•Very covered up
• More freedom
• Tighter clothes
•Barely any swimsuit
modeling
• Women became
trendsetters for
clothes & physical
appearance
• “All-American” girl
look was in (blonde
hair, blue eyes)
•Considered risqué
for showing too much
skin
• Exotic looking girls
90’s &00’s
• Super skinny runway models returned
• Form-fitting, low cut clothing became more popular
• Models of varying ethnicities made mainstream
• African American models Tyra Banks & Naomi Campbell lead the
modeling industry in early 2000’s
PLUS
SIZE/FULL FIGURE MODELS AREN’T FULLY ACCEPTED
IN THE INDUSTRY, BUT THERE IS MORE ACCEPTANCE FOR
CURVIER MODELS.
THE
MEDIA PORTRAYS PEOPLE WHO
GAIN WEIGHT NEGATIVELY.
Sending message that being thin is beautiful and being
overweight is ugly.
POSITIVE

Financial Stability

Flexible Hours

Inspiration
NEGATIVE

Beauty Products

Self Esteem

Imitation of Behavior
TOP MODEL
Tyra Banks has apologized
for showing a commercial
for her hit show Top Model
showing a girl with a
dangerously thin waist.
CONCLUSION
I think that the media only affect us in negative ways. I
don’t see why someone would want to go into the
industry as a model, actress, or anything of that nature
because you’re going to be judged on how you look,
how you act and who you hang out with.
 Most compelling research?
 Most interesting idea?
 Satisfied?
 Future research?
