Teen Takes Stand Against Photoshopped Models

For 14 year old Julia Bluhm, simply going to the mall with friends and seeing a movie just doesn’t cut it anymore.

This motivated teenager from Waterville, Maine has chosen to take a stand against powerhouse magazine company’s and ask them to take responsibility for the way that they alter young girl’s self-esteem and perceptions of beauty through their photoshopped models.

Gaining national attention, Bluhm already has over 24,000 signatures on her petition that was launched on change.org. In it she explains her motives behind the movement.

“To girls today, the word ‘pretty’ means skinny and blemish-free. Why is that, when so few girls actually fit into such a narrow category? It’s because the media tells us that ‘pretty’ girls are impossibly thin with perfect skin” says Blum.

“Here’s what lots of girls don’t know. Those ‘pretty women’ that we see in magazines are fake. They’re often photo-shopped, airbrushed, edited to look thinner, and to appear like they have perfect skin. A girl you see in a magazine probably looks a lot different in real life….I’ve been fighting to stop magazines, toy companies, and other big businesses from creating products, photo spreads and ads that hurt girls and break our self-esteem….I’ve learned that we have the power to fight back.”

Seeking teenage driven publications in particular, Bluhm has already heard from Seventeen Magazine regarding her request for them to feature at least one unedited photo a month. Asking to see the petition, Editor-in-Chief Anne Shoket will hopefully adhere to the young activists requests.

Do you feel that Julia Bluhm is an inspiration to all young teenagers?

Do you feel Seventeen Magazine should agree to feature at least one unedited photo a month?