Keira Knightley has refused to allow any enhancement of her cleavage on publicity photos for her upcoming movie, "The Duchess," Britain's Daily Mail reports. Studio heads reportedly want to enlarge Knightley's bosom in the photos, but the actress, 23, put her foot down.... "She has insisted that her figure stay in its natural state," an insider said. "She is proud of her body and doesn't want it altered.".... This isn't the first time Knightley has faced this dilemma. The actress drew negative attention in 2004 with her larger-than-usual breasts in publicity stills for "King Arthur."
As difficult as it might be to believe (he said, tongue firmly implanted in cheek), this sort of thing is disturbingly rare. Instead of celebrating Keira Knightley for being the surpassing beautiful woman she is (she could park her Jimmy Choos under my Tempurpedic any time....), some studio pinhead apparently decided she needed a bigger rack. It's not the first time this sort of thing has happened...nor will it be the last. Knightley, in a show of assertiveness rare for a female in Hollywood, has demanded that her chest not be artificially...um, "enhanced" in any way. Good for her.
This may seem a small thing (no pun intended)...until you consider the message that is constantly being communicated to young women in this country. Instead of feeling appreciated for who they are and their own uniqueness, too many women feel the need to undergo breast augmentation in order to feel as if they are worthwhile, that they "fit" the preconceived notion of what society expects a woman to look like. Never mind the health risks; this is about self-esteem and feeling attractive...because we've taught these women that small breasts are a sign that they're somehow inadequate, less attractive, and less likely to attract a desirable mate.
Knightley's assertiveness may seem like a small step, but every journey begins with a single- and sometimes small- step. Perhaps if more actresses can find it within themselves to stand up as Knightley has, we could begin the process of teaching our daughters that they're beautiful and desirable just as they are...and they don't need saline-filled sacks in their breasts to feel beautiful.
The sad thing is that Keira Knightley taking a stand in demanding an honest portrayal of her physical attributes is newsworthy. Unfortunately, her assertiveness will likely remain the exception instead of becoming the rule...and our daughters will continue to believe that, unless they're thinner and better endowed, they're less beautiful and desirable.
And you wonder where eating disorders come from....
