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How The “Perfect” Female Body Has Changed In 100 Years
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How The “Perfect” Female Body Has Changed In 100 Years

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Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, the mainstream idea of the “perfect body shape” for women has shifted almost as often as fashion trends. The contrast in the “perfect woman” idea between decades is shocking and speaks volumes of public attitudes at the time—the beauty standards depended on whether or not people thought it was okay for women to have curves.

Countless diets, pills, and celebrity icons later, we’re still going wrong in 2024 by encouraging women and girls to constantly compare themselves to others and gain the “perfect female body” rather than loving the female body in their own right. At the very least, however, we’ve come farther than using such beauty trends as cigarettes and Wonder Bread to slim down.

The Changing Body Trends Over the Years

Take a walk back in time with us and marvel at the varyingly ridiculous expectations of the body types (female figures) over the years. Scroll down just a bit and see for yourself. 

More info: (h/t: Vintage Everyday, DM)

Image credits: Leo Delauncey

Camille Clifford

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Image credits: Leo Delauncey

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Alice Joyce

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Jean Harlow

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Elizabeth Taylor

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Twiggy

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Farrah Fawcett

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Elle MacPherson

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Kate Moss

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Christina Aguilera

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Image credits: Leo Delauncey

Is There Really a Perfect Body Shape?

As you saw, body trends over the years have changed according to society’s perception of the perfect body image. Makes you realize that there’s no such thing as the so-called perfect female body type. Each body is unique and should be cherished just as it is instead of fitting into the societal norm. Wouldn’t you agree? Let us know in the comments!

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Dominyka Jurkštaitė

Dominyka Jurkštaitė

Author, Community member

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I'm a Panda bear and maybe should live in a zoo, eat leaves of bamboo, but I'd like to spend my time just posting for you!

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Dominyka Jurkštaitė

Dominyka Jurkštaitė

Author, Community member

I'm a Panda bear and maybe should live in a zoo, eat leaves of bamboo, but I'd like to spend my time just posting for you!

Rutuja Dumbre

Rutuja Dumbre

Author, BoredPanda staff

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Hey, am Rutuja! A storyteller at heart and a writer at Bored Panda. I have a strange love for words, and I mostly survive on coffee which is the driving force behind my writing. I enjoy working on articles that purely entertain our readers. When am not writing or trekking, you can find me staying up late and watching all the matches of Football Club Barcelona!

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Rutuja Dumbre

Rutuja Dumbre

Author, BoredPanda staff

Hey, am Rutuja! A storyteller at heart and a writer at Bored Panda. I have a strange love for words, and I mostly survive on coffee which is the driving force behind my writing. I enjoy working on articles that purely entertain our readers. When am not writing or trekking, you can find me staying up late and watching all the matches of Football Club Barcelona!

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Jeff Tan
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It would be interesting if someone made a post about the "perfect" male body through the decades. There seems to be a lot more posts and information about the female body. Could it be because females are constantly being objectified and scrutinised more closely than males?

Aunt Messy
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The look for men just hasn't changed much over the course of time. All you have to do is look at Greek statuary to see that. We saw an uptick in men with heavier musculature in the '90s, and there is a slight trend now towards skinny gits with neck beards, but these are not the mainstream.

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IRefuseToBePoliticallyCorrect
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Kim Kardashian is here as a joke? Famous becouse of sextape. O tempora o mores! BTW, ugly face, ugly body.

Amanda Panda
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I guess I"m in the small minority that goes for hearts not parts. I can appreciate a nice body, but someone kind hearted is sexy imo

Too Lazy To Care 🐼
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Agreed. I never really found people's looks/bodies attractive, I mostly find their personality attractive.

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Jeff Tan
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It would be interesting if someone made a post about the "perfect" male body through the decades. There seems to be a lot more posts and information about the female body. Could it be because females are constantly being objectified and scrutinised more closely than males?

Aunt Messy
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The look for men just hasn't changed much over the course of time. All you have to do is look at Greek statuary to see that. We saw an uptick in men with heavier musculature in the '90s, and there is a slight trend now towards skinny gits with neck beards, but these are not the mainstream.

Load More Replies...
IRefuseToBePoliticallyCorrect
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Kim Kardashian is here as a joke? Famous becouse of sextape. O tempora o mores! BTW, ugly face, ugly body.

Amanda Panda
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I guess I"m in the small minority that goes for hearts not parts. I can appreciate a nice body, but someone kind hearted is sexy imo

Too Lazy To Care 🐼
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Agreed. I never really found people's looks/bodies attractive, I mostly find their personality attractive.

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