Leading Beauty Expert and Author: Why We All Need To Be Aware of Toxic Beauty Culture - Ellen Atlanta

In this episode my guest is a woman who has a deep understanding of how the beauty industry works and feeds into modern culture. Ellen Atlanta is a writer and brand consultant specialising in Gen-Z and Millennial culture and  has worked with beauty giants including Estee Lauder, Boots, FeelUnique, Milk Makeup, Flannels Beauty and The Unseen Beauty.Her latest project has seen her become the author of one of the most important books that I've read in a long time. Pixel Flesh is an honest, scary and at times shocking observation of the toxic side of beauty and the online world:"We are living in a new age of beauty. With advancements in cosmetic surgery, augmented reality face filters, photo editing apps, and exposure to more images than ever, we have the ability to craft a version of ourselves that we want everyone to see. We pinch, pull, squeeze, tweeze, smooth and slice ourselves beyond recognition. But is our beauty culture truly empowering? Are we really in control?In Pixel Flesh, Ellen Atlanta holds a mirror up to our modern beauty ideal and the harm it is doing to women all around the world. Weaving in her own personal story with those of other women, she reconfigures our obsession with the cult of beauty and explores the realities of living in a digitally obsessed world where the pressure to present yourself both virtually and in person is all-consuming."During the episode we explore many of the themes in Ellen's book and have a really honest chat about the challenges that so many of us face when it comes to how we perceive and present ourselves to the world. We also look at the empowering and positive side of beauty and how when used in the right way it can build communities and make us feel increible.I hope you enjoy this thought provoking episode and that it sparks a debate about the highs and lows of being a woman in 2024.