“Express Yourself” in Vogue Germany

Vogue Germany follows the advice of Madonna in their “Express Yourself” editorial in the October 2008 issue.

Photographer Ben Hassett captures model Karmen Pedaru ‘expressing’ herself with playful and, at times, pretty silly poses and gestures.

I imagine it must have been a fun shoot for Pedaru who got to smoke, make funny faces and smear the vibrant and bold make up which was applied by make up artist Maxine Leonard.

Implications - As society becomes more conscious about the distortion of body image and excessive photoshopping used in fashion magazines, editorials that playfully defy this convention garner public buzz and media attention. In response to the rise of eating disorders and excessive plastic surgery, large portions of the consuming public are no longer interested in generic images that celebrate negative body ideals.