“Many men and women consider very muscular women to be ‘gross’ or ‘unappealing’… That stigma is why it’s so shocking to see Abbou in a cosmetics ad: she’s styled and photographed in a way that glamourizes her and highlights her beauty and her femininity, but the ad also does not camouflage or attempt to minimize her incredible body.”
This is my literal favorite thing ever.
It drives me nuts when I see male friends look at something like this and go ‘ew.’ I’m like, “Really? In what universe does somebody build muscles like that and need YOUR opinion about it?” I think she’s gorgeous. She has a classically lovely face, and a body that’s exceptionally muscular for a woman but still sleek and elegant. But more than that, this is visibly a woman who’s done what she wanted, who has pursued strength and beauty, whose dignity stands beyond the ability of anyone to touch because simply in being what she is, she has already flashed the finger at every convention and mainstream opinion. She does not need you. Either throw in with her or get out of her way.
She’s stunning, and powerful in ways that run far deeper than her physical strength, and it’s wonderful to see her in an ad that shows it and celebrates it.