The Last Thing I Look Like When I Work Out, Is A Model

Many clothing brands are scared to feature varieties of female builds other than sky-high, skinny women. This creates a problem of inadequate representation for the women purchasing the products, who come in all different shapes and sizes. For example, Victoria's Secret Sport presents only women with a slim and tall physique. This is just one of the many body types and athletic builds for women; the rest nowhere to be seen. See this recent Facebook ad, for instance. 

Some criticized the photo in the comments claiming the model wasn’t even holding the weight with the proper form and that it was laughably light. Do you think Victoria’s Secret Sport and other companies need to step up their advertising of athletic wear? 

It is definitely a safer route to stick to conventional and traditionally feminine beauty standards. Using tall and slender models has obviously worked for selling clothing retail in the past. But, shoudn’t sportswear showcase more sportiness? Victoria’s Secret models are highly athletic, but this is not the only build of an athletic woman. Many women work out to gain bigger, sometimes bulkier muscles than typically advertised in fashion. Not to mention, when working out most of us are sweaty, turn red, and do not look anything like a Victoria’s Secret model. 

Is advertising supposed to represent real life? Or is it supposed to promote the most (subjectively) beautiful, polished version of the product? Which presentation inspires you to purchase athletic wear?