I make no apologies for posting this video, nor for the fact that it's something like three years old now.

Although there is more awareness now than ever before, the fashion industry continues to visualise women as un-realistic, alien, digital perfection, rather than the natural, feminine beauties that we should feel proud to be.

Now as a bit of a geek, I can totally relate to the Photoshop skill and technology that can transform an image of a woman into something totally false, despite it being close enough to reality to deceive the eye of most onlookers. The problem of course is that, women, especially young women, tend to aspire to these simply unatainable paragons of beauty.

So I have to applaud the ongoing efforts of the Dove cosmetics brand to campaign so vigorously to raise the self esteem and body awareness of women, especially young women. And that on a world wide basis.

Vist the Dove site in your country by following this link: www.dove.com

And their Campaign for Real Beauty in the UK here: www.campaignforrealbeauty.co.uk

Of course, there is a commercial aspect to the Dove campaign but I do think this is an excellent example of how corporate considerations can dove tail (no pun intended) with the requirements of society as a whole and women in particular.

I am NOT advocating how the fashion industry should change, although I would have thought any industry so dependent on women customers, would want to reduce the negative publicity that size zero models and unrealistic expectations, tend to generate.

Hopefully, there are many, many more women out there who will want to reward Dove for its initiative, and encourage other fashion/cosmetic brands to start taking their responsibilities to their customers more seriously.

Sam xxx