What is a perfect body? This is what five women consider ideal

Women’s definition of the perfect body type has evolved throughout the years. Females body types depend on what society and culture display as the ideal body type, ranging from high-end celebrities and influencers.

Some women say that there is a rise in various conditions like body dysmorphia, anorexia, and bulimia due to the pressure to conform to the perfect body type.

Most women maintain that health should be an important factor compared to aesthetics in determining the perfect body type.

Citizen Digital spoke to various women from diverse age groups to get their perspectives on their ideal body types.

Alice Apiyo, a 26-year-old, says that she is confident in her body type but there are some days she feels discontent, hence points out some flaws.

She attributes the discontentment to the unrealistic body standards set by social media, like women undergoing medical procedures to have body images set by society.

Apiyo prioritizes health more than aesthetics that come with an acceptable body image. She adds that certain body types do not determine whether a person is healthy, arguing that she knows both curvier and slim people who are healthy.

 “Currently, I would say that I am my perfect body type, which is a touch of slim and thick in the right areas. However, I think I suffer from body dysmorphia at times because there are days I feel content, and some I feel discontent with my body type,” Apiyo says.

“It stems from exposure and diversity from getting to see a range of body types on social media, especially at a time when people are opting to get Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBLs),” she adds.  

Apiyo says that the body types displayed on social media can make one feel insecure, but most of it is unreal because they undergo surgeries. 

She thinks having an ant waist figure is very unrealistic and unnatural because most people with such a figure go through various surgeries. She continues that body types come with their shortcomings, hence disagrees with the argument that certain body types are considered healthier than others. 

"People may think that slim women are healthier. However, some of them have anorexia," Apiyo says. 

Natasha Ikonya, 24, says that her ideal body type is a slim waist and flat tummy, which stems from societal body standards.

“I would be inclined to say that I am comfortable with my body type, although that is not the case. I admire the body images that society considers perfect, which is currently a slender body type, with a flat tummy and a slim waist,” Natasha says.

She notes that attaining some body types is unrealistic because of several factors at play like genetics, environment, and the willingness for people to engage in physical activities.

Natasha says that the unrealistic body images displayed on social media hugely contribute to some women feeling insecure, which has caused conditions like anorexia and bulimia to become more prevalent and highly recognized.

She states that even though she would like to prioritize her health when attaining a certain body type, she falls short because women are viewed based on their physical appearances.

Daisy Wairimu says that the perfect body type is determined by whether someone is fit and healthy. However, she notes that women should avoid conforming to the various body standards, opting to get a quick fix like undergoing cosmetic surgeries.

Wairimu states that cosmetic surgeries usually have a lot of health implications which could easily be avoided if they found healthier ways to alter their body types.

She adds that oftentimes, adopting a healthier lifestyle like eating healthy and working out is highly advised as compared to seeking surgeries. She further argues that women who choose to take the cosmetic surgery route, normally fail to maintain the new body type since they have not embraced healthier lifestyles.

 “My ideal body type would be fit and healthy, I would not advise women to seek cosmetic surgeries to change their body types because it comes with dire repercussions,” she says.

Gloria Akinyi, a 27-year-old says that women should view the perfect body type as that which they are comfortable and confident in.

She notes that unattainable body standards are mainly propagated by social media which depicts certain body types, which make some women determined to reach, unbeknownst to them that there are surgeries and remarkable editing techniques involved.

“The ideal body type is what a woman is comfortable with, whatever that looks like. I think setting unrealistic standards for yourself is unhealthy, so I would advise women to be content with their body types or seek healthier ways to change them,” Akinyi says. 

Akinyi states that diversity in terms of body images has evolved, especially in social media because some women are embracing body types that would usually be considered imperfect, adding that it makes other women accept and display confidence in themselves.

“When other women see different body types on social media, this boosts their confidence, because previously there were body standards that women were accustomed to. Nowadays a woman can see themselves in other women,”

Akinyi further quips that women cannot acquire confidence in other people, but can instead draw inspiration.

“Do not compare yourselves to others, instead build yourself from within because you do not know the person you are comparing yourself to, you only know yourself.”  

Betty Wangui, 30, says that body types are influenced by culture and the media. However, she notes that the perfect body type is subjective in terms of confidence and self-love.

Wangui adds that various body standards are unrealistic because of the lengths some women are willing to go to to attain certain beauty standards like opting for cosmetic surgeries, ignoring the health implications they bring.  

“The perfect body types change according to trends, what one consumes, and even the environment.”   

“When you lose yourself trying to reach various beauty standards, then I think that is what makes various body types unrealistic,” Betty quips.