News

Shonda Rhimes Partners with Dove to Challenge Feminine Beauty Norms

“I spend my life writing women as we truly are — human. That’s why I’m proud to work with Dove Real Beauty Productions. We don’t need to be told we can be smart or strong or flawed. And we don’t need to be told we come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. But we do need to see ourselves reflected that way.” – Shonda Rhimes

The creator of Grey’s Anatomy and other beloved television shows has always been a champion of both women and gay rights, making it a point to be inclusive of lesbian and bisexual women in her shows. Now she has partnered with Dove Real Beauty Productions to create a three minute film about a Utah woman who is defying traditional beauty standards both in her personal life and in her work. “Meet Kylee” sends the message that not all women feel comfortable with what society deems as feminine or beautiful.

“I made a choice to be happy, I made a choice to be genuine with who I was,” Kylee Howell says directly to the camera. We get an inside look at her life as she recalls a time she wasn’t able to be herself, contrasted with her life today as a woman who is comfortable in her own skin. Howell is now the owner of a successful barber shop where women get to define beauty on their own terms. Her inspiration? Being rejected by ‘men’s only’ barber shops in the past.

A poignant moment in this film is when Kylee’s mom comments, “I was taught that you looked a certain way, you dressed a certain way. And I always wanted to break that mold, but I wasn’t brave enough, so I raised girls that would.”

Watch:

“Meet Kylee” was made by an all-female crew with Shonda Rhimes at the helm, and it’s the second production so far in the Real Beauty Productions campaign. More films are scheduled to be released in the fall, and you cal learn more about Dove’s #RealBeauty campaign HERE.

You can also watch Shonda Rhimes talk about the project here:

 

Lesbian Apparel and Accessories Gay All Day sweatshirt -- AE exclusive

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button