Why this photo of Cindy Crawford gives me hope.....

This is what Cindy Crawford, the 48-year-old supermodel and mother of two, looked like in the un-retouched version of her December 2013 Marie Claire Mexico cover story. Marie Claire Mexico used Photoshop on the images, like most magazines do. But now, the U.S. version of Marie Claire is publishing the un-retouched images for all to see.
In a feathered coat, fedora and sexy lingerie, Crawford stands proud and provocative; showing she’s pleased with her body and happy to show it off. It’s simply a show of self-acceptance and positive body image that we should all be prioritize in feeling for ourselves. By releasing these photos, she proves that the most attractive quality isn’t washboard abs or super toned legs; it’s purely self-confidence and the ability to be comfortable in your own skin.
Crawford’s body is absolutely stunning and real in her non-retouched photos. Kudos to this beauty for giving us a real look at images free from airbrushing proving women are sexy at any age — and that even supermodels get wrinkles and cellulite.




I am no Cindy Crawford but she is a super model and probably one of the most beautiful women in the world but I can relate to this image.  This image gives me hope because I know it is real.  She is real and when I see this image versus all of the photo shopped images that surround us everyday.  I feel better about myself.  After having 4 kids, my body has changed so much in every way and even though I am eating right and exercising but I still look at myself (especially compared to those magazine photos that surround us that we all know are photo shopped) I get down on myself but then something like this comes along and I know I'm real. 

I know the madness of photo shopped images in magazines will never totally stop but if wonder why our young girls diet, exercise and critique themselves until their self-esteem is non existent it is because of the unrealistic image of beauty that has been so manipulated by editors.  the message we tell the world is "to yourself", "everyone is beautiful", "different is good", "celebrate all beauty" and "beauty comes in all sizes and colours".  But images in magazine and women on fashion runways don't share that message. 

I look at this image of Cindy Crawford and I see a woman.  A real woman. A woman who is a good shape.  A woman who has had children.  A woman who is beautiful and confident.  That's a message we should all be sharing.