Modern standards of beauty can be summed up in a few words: tall, skinny, light skinned, and flawless skin and perfect proportions. These are standards that the majority of the population cannot meet, not even the gorgeous models that are constantly displayed in every form of media we are exposed to everyday. Take a look at the video below of the body transformation process that these photos go through before they are displayed to the general public. It is no wonder that even the prettiest women don't find themselves beautiful nowadays. The standard of beauty is set so high that only computer generated figures could ever portray it. It has become part of our culture to turn natural beauty into an unattainable fantasy.
These unrealistic portrayals of the female form can not only harm a girl's perception of beauty but can also lead to serious health issues like anorexia. Furthermore, some people feel that they need to take surgical measures to correct the "flaws" that they become aware of the more beauty extremes they are exposed to through the media. Don't get me wrong, I don't see anything wrong with getting a few tweaks here and there if it makes you happy; the problem arises when the influence that media has on society jeopardizes one's ability to get promoted or land a certain job if one does not change the way one looks.