Did you know that Kylie Jenner got a boob job? I didn’t think so. I mean, when we opened up Twitter and started scrolling, all we saw were bikini pictures of the beautiful royal. It was only when we started analysing the data that we found out that she got a breast augmentation. And I bet you didn’t know that she got a boob job either. But, here’s the thing: we’re not really supposed to talk about it. Like, at all. Ever. We’re not even supposed to joke about it. Because, apparently, getting a boob job is no laughing matter.
The subject of breast augmentation is a very touchy one. If you’ve ever gone under the knife, you’ll know exactly what I mean. And, while we’re not suggesting that you all go and get a boob job just to fit society’s so-called “standards”, I’m also not suggesting that you shouldn’t. I mean, as long as you’re happy with your body, I’m happy for you. And everyone deserves to be happy with their bodies.
It’s not like this is the first time that a celebrity has gone under the knife to fit society’s standards. Remember when Demi Moore had her implants removed? Or, when Miley Cyrus had her implants removed and became a vegan? Maybe because they realised that their perfect breasts weren’t real. Or, maybe it was just to shock the public. Either way, it’s an issue that’s close to my heart. Especially since I had to go through the same thing. Only, in my case, it was more like a bilateral mastectomy. Which is, I guess, what Kylie Jenner had to go through as well.
In September 2018, I underwent surgery to remove my breasts. For most of my adult life, I’ve been wearing a prosthesis, or an alternative form of breast dressings. After much deliberation, I decided to get rid of my breasts. For a variety of reasons. The main one being that I just didn’t feel comfortable with them anymore. So, after trying out various alternative forms of breast dressings, I decided to go au naturelle. Which means, no prosthesis. And no bra. To be exact, I had a bilateral mastectomy. Which simply means that I had both my breasts removed. Because, for some reason, my left breast was more developed than my right one. Which, as you can imagine, left me a little lacking when it came to modesty.
Unlike many of my friends who were incredibly supportive and encouraging, I found the majority of the reactions to my decision to get rid of my breasts to be deeply problematic. Especially considering that I’d had to go through such serious health issues to get to this point. Wherever you fall on the societal spectrum, you cannot deny that there is a large degree of cultural influence when it comes to bodies. From billboards and magazine covers, to social media accounts and online forums. That’s why it’s so important to pay attention to what we post on social media, as well as what we allow to be promoted to us, through various media channels. Because it’s all around us. And, while it may not be directly influencing our decisions now, it’s something to keep in mind.
Why Did Kylie Jenner Get a Boob Job?
Well, let’s be honest, shall we? The beautiful, the famous and the rich are always going to be more appealing to us as humans. And, in the case of Kylie, she is literally rolling in the money. With a net worth of around $30 million, she is one of the richest and most famous people in the world. With a Twitter following of over 54 million, she is undoubtedly one of the most influential people in the world as well. Considering that her father is Michael J. Fox, who has Parkinson’s disease, she clearly has inherited a lot of his entrepreneurial spirit. Even if her breasts don’t show it. Yet.
I mean, just check out some of her former Instagram posts. She is always showing off her incredible collections of expensive shoes and luxury handbags. And, considering that she is the daughter of Kris Jenner, who has built an empire of her own around her famous family, I’m sure that there are plenty of opportunities for her to display her wealth. Even if that meant getting a boob job.
Now, before you start feeling too sorry for Kylie, it is important to remember that she has chosen this path deliberately. And, judging from the data, it seems that she is more than happy with the decision she’s made. According to Celebrity Insider, she has tweeted that getting the surgery has been the best decision of her life. And, considering that she is 25 years old and still hasn’t gone through puberty, it’s easy to see why.
In a statement to E! News, a representative for Kylie said: ‘As she has stated previously, she is very happy with her body and feels proud to show it off to the world. She is also proud of the new role models that having the procedure has opened up for her.’
So, while it’s true that she might have been given a lot of money and fame at an early age, she has also used her position to help others. One of the beneficiaries of Kylie’s good work is the children’s charity, Stand Up To Cancer. As I’ve previously mentioned, she is an ambassador for the charity. And, last year, she was even featured on the cover of Forbes along with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, to raise awareness and funds for the charity.
This, of course, is not to suggest that all rich, famous and attractive people deserve to be objectified and diminished. As I’ve said, it’s important to keep in mind the cultural influence that comes with being rich and famous. Especially when it comes to women and body image. Which is why it’s so important to pay attention to the media we are consuming as well as what celebrities are posting on social media. Because, at the end of the day, it’s all around us. And, while it might not be directly influencing our decisions now, it’s something to keep in mind.
The Psychological Impact of Social Media
So, here we are. Back to the beginning. Why am I writing this shite? Because I’m worried. Really worried. About you. And everyone else who uses social media. Especially since the world became aware of the extreme psychological effects of social media on users during the height of the pandemic. When it became apparent that people were becoming more comfortable with their bodies and less likely to feel that they had to fit into a certain mould. Which, in turn, decreased the occurrence of eating disorders, particularly among girls and young women.
This, of course, was mainly attributed to the fact that people were spending more time at home. Rather than going out and about. Which, in turn, caused a significant decrease in social media usage. Since people were, essentially, using social media to fill the social gap that the isolation caused. Now that we’re starting to see people going back to work and normal social interactions, it’s fair to say that the psychological effects of social media aren’t entirely over. Especially since it’s now possible to access social media sites while on the go. Through mobile phones and tablets. Which, for some, could bring about a completely new set of problems.
Since the advent of social media, everyone’s body image has been put under a magnifying glass. And, truth be told, it’s not always been a pretty sight. Especially when it comes to celebrities. From the very beginning, people have used social media to comment on celebrities’ outfits, their appearance and, often, their behaviour. While others have built their identity around loving and supporting certain individuals or groups of people. Fuelling their self-esteem and confidence through voyeuristic consumption of their private lives. Especially since it’s now possible to be more than one step removed from the celebrity. In some cases, it’s even possible to be a complete stranger. Which is, of course, what has made the whole situation so much more complex.
The Impact of Social Media Use On Body Doubt
On one hand, you’ve got social media. Which is a place where you can post almost anything. Be it cat videos or pornographic images or anything in between. With very little moderation. Even if you’re not uploading images yourself, you’ll probably still come across them. Especially since we’re all connected through social media. Or, at least, we’re all connected through technology, which can trace our IP addresses. So, even if you’re not on social media, you’re still likely to come across someone else’s post. Which means that you’re never really truly alone when you log on.