CARINA ZHANG
Beauty Standards of
Modern China
Editorial illustration / 2023
In recent years, beauty trends such as double eyelid surgery, A4 waist challenge, collar bone fish pond challenge, and fetishized height have invaded people's daily life. Instead of loving their own bodies, more people started to pursue problematic beauty standards. I used animals to parody these issues for raising public awareness of the power dynamics related to these beauty standards.
If kitties feed fish in their collar bones, will they be happy and full?
The "Collar Bone Fish Pond" challenge prevailed online as proof of slenderness. People value slenderness and the bony look of the body, resulting in this popular challenge for females to meet the unhealthy beauty standard.
Hey Panda, is your waist thinner than the shorter side of an A4 paper?
Similar to the "Collar Bone Fish Pond Challenge", the "A4 Waist Challenge" prevailed online for females to showcase their slender waists. Waists that are thinner than the short side of an A4 paper are considered ideal. However, a lot of people achieve slender bodies by dieting strictly, which can lead to low blood sugar levels and eating disorders.
Bigger eyes = more adorable?
Double eyelid surgery has become a surging trend in Chinese society to pursue the beauty standard of big eyes. People born with single eyelid traits experience frequent shame for not possessing the "ideal" eyes. Fishes don't know the fact that they are in the ocean: more and more young people follow the trend, unable to be satisfied with the features they are born with.
Tall, taller, tallest
A body height meeting the dominant beauty standard usually makes people privileged in work and life. Slim bodies, long legs, and tall heights are valued, or even fetishized.