An examination of the media's depiction of ideal female beauty from 1959 to 1999

The media's portrayal of male and female ideals of feminine beauty, in terms of overall body size, percent of expected weight, and waist-to-hip ratios, was empirically examined for the years 1959--1999. Body measurements were obtained from Playboy magazine centerfolds and models appearing on the covers of fashion magazines. An investigation of the frequency with which the entire bodies of models were depicted on the covers of the magazines was also conducted. Results reveal a continuation of the low BMIs found in the Playmates by earlier studies, although the trend towards increasing thinness reversed in the last two decades examined. Additionally, there was an increase in the centerfolds' WHRs over the forty-year time period. Further, the overall body size of the models decreased in the last two decades, while the number of full-figure shots on the covers of the magazines simultaneously increased. These findings suggest that the overvaluation of thinness continues.