In the social media world where nudity in any form is typically banned and penalized, the website Model Society provides a platform to showcase the beauty of the human body through fine art nude photography. The do so in a tasteful way and have done a great job of navigating the issues or complexities around societal attitudes towards nudity.
In a recent newsletter, director David Bolt came to the defense of models after getting this email:
These models are not real people! By showcasing “flawless” bodies, you’re reinforcing toxic, unattainable beauty standards that have plagued society for decades. Why do you keep promoting these unrealistic standards? Much of this so-called “art” caters to a narrow, privileged group of people who already fit the mold.
In short, this person was saying that athletic or aesthetically idealized models are somehow not “real” people.
Model Society doesn’t have their response published online, but it was extremely thoughtful and I thought I’d share the core of their response with some thoughts of my own. [After the fact: I summarized some of the key points here in this post, but just found out that they do have the newsletter posted online. You can read David’s actual response here. He’s much more articulate than I am.]
The sentiment behind this comment comes from a good place. Beauty standards have excluded so many for so long. And the media, advertisers in particular, weaponize beauty by manipulating self-esteem to sell products.
But, as Model Society points out, “calling models “not real people” erases their humanity. This judgment, intended to advocate representation, instead imposes its own exclusions. It suggests that to be considered “real,” a person must conform to a particular vision of relatability.”
By labeling models as “not real people,” we ironically fall into the same trap of exclusion we’re trying to dismantle.
We wouldn’t call an elite athlete, a great writer, or a brilliant scientist “not real people” because they are not representative of the people around us. But somehow, we have no issues calling a beautiful person not real.
Models, whether they fit traditional ideals of beauty or not, are as human as anyone else. I can confirm from experience that even the most athletic or “idealized” models don’t feel flawless. To the contrary, because they are often judged on their physical appearance alone, they are more acutely aware of their imperfections. They frequently feel dehumanized as they are objectified as a just pretty face.
Inclusivity means embracing all facets of human diversity—whether it’s the raw vulnerability of imperfection or “the transient blessings of symmetry, youth, or athleticism.” Denying the reality of models who inspire admiration simply creates a new exclusion, when true representation should bring all experiences to the table.
As a photographer, I want to capture the full spectrum of humanity. If you’ve seen my work you know I have captured my fair share of beaten, damaged, scarred, and flawed bodies. I still do art modeling myself in an aging 60+ year old body. I believe there is a beauty in the complexity of the human experience. But that does not negate photos that celebrate aspects of idealized or aspirational beauty.
Whether we’re inspired, challenged, or even triggered by what we see, the deeper question is how we can grow our own capacity to recognize and celebrate the humanity in everyone.
So let’s be mindful of how we talk about beauty and those who embody it. Models are not separate from the rest of us. They aren’t some separate category of people. —they are us, in all our beautiful, imperfect reality.
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