Keira Knightley has decided to stand up to the media on behalf of every woman out there that has had her body reshaped and touched up by Photoshop.

The 29 year old actress posed topless for a photo-shoot for last month’s issue of Interview Magazine, with one request: that they do not touch up any of her images in Photoshop. Keira told The Times that:

“I’ve had my body manipulated so many different times for so many different reasons. I am fine doing a topless shot as long as my breasts aren’t made bigger or retouched, I feel it is important to say it really doesn’t matter what shape you are”

If this is how protests against Photoshop are going to be from now on, you have to think this movement will be a big success?

I recognize her demonstration and I applaud her for standing up for what she believes in. We are living in a culture defined by the media. If we are subjected daily to perfect, spot-free, smooth slender “role models”, then we can not help but compare ourselves. We have let ourselves become indoctrinated by this false representation of beauty. Perfection is not achievable, therefore we will always fail in striving to obtain this. Instead of berating ourselves for our flaws we should be praising ourselves for the qualities that we do bare. Women do not simply decide to hate their bodies, media teaches them to.

Unfortunately we are faced daily with a constant bombardment of media. We live in a consumer society, which is heavily manipulated by the media and advertising companies. Artificial needs are created for the consumer in order for a company to sell their product. We see various adverts and all of a sudden we believe that;

‘This latest product will clear my skin and rid my cellulite’

‘Maybe if I buy her lipstick I will grow 4 inches and drop a dress size‘

In the Western world we are so developed that most our immediate and basic needs are met. We are sheltered, fed, watered and educated. In order to keep the wheels of economy turned we are subjected to constant advertisements creating a false need. We are made to believe that celebrities such as Keira are perfect and that her perfection is achievable if you just ‘buy this magazine and find out how‘ or if we ‘Take Kim Kardashian’s latest weight loss, ass gaining pill’ (if only).

We all have that burning desire to lead richer and more meaningful lives. However we do not live in a society that creates the right environment for us to realise how we achieve this. Instead we are sold a ‘cheap fix’, which we all know never satisfies for long. Realistically we are just pawns in a societal chess game.

Keira’s protest is just a little baby step to abolish this representation of a ‘perfect’ image, but at least it is a step in the right direction.