Dove Real Beauty Productions and Creative Director Shonda Rhimes have come together to release a second film titled "Meet Kylee" to illustrate that many women cannot relate to traditional standards of feminine beauty. Since launching in March 2017, Dove Real Beauty Productions has aimed to shift the power of storytelling from Hollywood into the hands of real women to ensure all women and girls can see their #RealBeauty represented in media and culture.
A 100% female crew joined Rhimes to create the new three-minute film following Kylee's journey to discovering her own beauty by bucking conventions and cutting her hair into a bold style that truly suits her. "I never saw myself as beautiful," says Kylee Howell, the subject of the latest film from Dove Real Beauty Productions, "because that was a word I only heard used to describe women who looked more traditional, who followed the 'rules.' Until recently, I didn't know that word applied to someone who looked like me."
"I spend my life writing women as we truly are – human. That's why I'm proud to work with Dove Real Beauty Productions. We don't need to be told we can be smart or strong or flawed. And we don't need to be told we come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. But we do need to see ourselves reflected that way," said Shonda Rhimes. "Every time you look at your screen and see a woman portrayed just as she is, sharing her humanity, being boldly herself, you are looking at someone beautiful. I thought of this when I met my new friend Kylee Howell. Her beauty shines through in everything she is and everything she does. Which is why I was excited to work with her to bring her story to life in this new film."
Living in a conventional town in Utah with a home that doubled as a beauty salon, Kylee grew up enveloped by traditional views of beauty. Kylee spent her adolescence feeling a disconnect between the femininity she saw around her and the styles she felt better represented who she was inside. In her 20s, Kylee decided to literally take beauty into her own hands. Kylee cut her hair daringly short for the first time and finally felt she was being true to herself with a style that expresses her real beauty.
74% of women believe more needs to be done to redefine beauty to be more inclusive. Many gay and lesbian women feel excluded altogether – in fact, 3 out of 4 gay and lesbian women believe society suggests they do not care about their beauty.
Kylee was denied the short, barber-style haircut that made her feel most confident by beauty salons who didn't agree with her desired look. When she turned to barber shops, set was met with "men's only" signs in windows. Wanting to spare others from these experiences, she created a safe space for herself and others in her community at Friar Tuck's Barbershop – a place where women can explore their own notions of beauty.
At Friar Tuck's, Kylee gives more than haircuts; she listens to those who may feel ignored, and she cuts through beauty standards to reveal the real beauty underneath.
"69% of women agree that they don't see themselves reflected in media and advertising – as a global beauty brand, we feel a responsibility to address this," says Nick Soukas Vice President of Marketing for Dove. "For 60 years, Dove has listened to and cared for real women like Kylee Howell, who boldly share their experiences with the hope that we can inspire women and girls everywhere to redefine beauty together."
Dove has championed the motto Real Beauty since 1957 and, true to their pledge, the brand is committed to only feature real women, to never digitally alter their appearance, and to help the next generation develop a positive relationship with their beauty.
Learn more about the campaign and share your #RealBeauty story here.
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.