Today, we’re seeing more body diversity in media, fashion, and beauty campaigns. Brands are expanding their size ranges, plus-size models are walking runways, and conversations around body positivity and self-acceptance are happening everywhere.

But let’s be honest—the pressure hasn’t disappeared.

Even as body positivity gains traction, the fashion industry still plays favorites. The “ideal” body may not be as rigidly defined as before, but there’s still an unspoken standard of looking toned, symmetrical, and “effortlessly” put together.

So if history has shown us anything, it’s this: beauty standards will always change. They always have.

???? The Body Ideal: More diverse than before, but the pressure to conform still lingers.

Why You Should Stop Being So Hard on Yourself

The problem was never your body. It was never that you didn’t fit the mold—it’s that the mold keeps changing.

“If there’s one lesson to take from the history of body trends, it’s that no beauty standard is permanent. Looking back, it’s obvious that fashion and beauty trends have never been about us—they’ve been about the times we were living in. Every decade, the “ideal” woman was expected to look completely different than the one before her.

So instead of asking, “How do I fit into the trend right now?” ask yourself, “How do I make my style fit me?”

Your body is not a trend. It’s yours—through every season, every change, and every stage of your life. Instead of trying to shrink, shape, or mold yourself into whatever’s “in” right now, embrace the fact that your body is the only one that’s been with you through it all.

Fashion is supposed to serve you—not the other way around.

So the next time you catch yourself being critical of your body, remember: beauty standards aren’t real. But how you feel in your clothes? That’s something you get to define.