With the barrage of commercials, magazine covers, fashion shows, blockbuster movies and Instagram models, it can sometimes be hard to tell the difference between what we are told is beautiful and what we actually think is beautiful.

It goes without saying that the images we see every day have an effect on us from a young age - and we can end up celebrating certain body types over others without realising. These standards of beauty are constantly evolving over the years - with the sex symbols of the 50s looking far different to those from today - and one fitness trainer has found an interesting way to illustrate this.

Cassey Ho, known by her Instagram handle Blogilates, made a post a few days ago, in which she presented images of herself photoshopped to meet the different beauty standards seen throughout history. For instance, to meet the expectations of the present day, Cassey widened her hips, narrowed her waist, and made her lips and butt bigger.

In the mid-'90s through to the early-2000s, there was a big push for the thigh gap, while the 50s was all about the 'hourglass' figure. And when we go further into the past, we see a body type that many people are shamed for in the present.

"Why do we treat our bodies like we treat fashion? ‘Boobs are out! Butts are in!’," she wrote in the caption. "Stop throwing your body out like it’s fast fashion. Please treat your body with love & respect and do not succumb to the beauty standard. Embrace your body because it is YOUR own perfect body."

The post ends up making these standards look far more ridiculous than we might see them now, once it's all put in context.

Mid 2010s-2018

"Big butts, wide hips, tiny waists, and full lips are in! There is a huge surge in plastic surgery for butt implants thanks to Instagram models posting 'belfies'. Even cosmetic surgery doctors have become IG-famous for reshaping women. Between 2012-2014, butt implants and injections rise by 58%."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Instagram/@blogilates]] Mid 90s-2000s

"Big boobs, flat stomachs, and thighs gaps are in. In 2010, breast augmentation is the highest performed cosmetic surgery in the United States. It’s the age of the Victoria’s Secret Angel. She’s tall, thin, and she’s always got long legs and a full chest."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Instagram/@blogilates]] Early 90s

"THIN IS IN. Having angular bone structure, looking emaciated, and super skinny is what’s dominating the runways and the magazine covers. There’s even a name for it: 'heroin chic'."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Instagram/@blogilates]] 1950s

"The hourglass shape is in. Elizabeth Taylor‘s 36-21-36 measurements are the ideal. Marilyn Monroe’s soft voluptuousness is lusted after. Women are advertised weight gaining pills to fill themselves out. Playboy magazine and Barbie are created in this decade."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Instagram/@blogilates]] 1920s

"Appearing boyish, androgynous and youthful, with minimal breasts, and a straight figure is in! Unlike the 'Gibson Girl' of the Victorian Era, women are choosing to hide their curves, and are doing so by binding their chests with strips of cloth to create that straight figure suitable for flapper dresses."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Instagram/@blogilates]] 1400-1700

"The Italian Renaissance - Looking full with a rounded stomach, large hips, and an ample bosom is in. Being well fed is a sign of wealth and status. Only the poor are thin."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Instagram/@blogilates]] The real Cassey

As Cassey explains, while the clothes we wear can change over time without a huge affect on our mental and physical well-being - body image is a much more sensitive subject, so we should all pay attention to the harmful effects of a society too obsessed with its standards of beauty.

With the barrage of commercials, magazine covers, fashion shows, blockbuster movies and Instagram models, it can sometimes be hard to tell the difference between what we are told is beautiful and what we actually think is beautiful.

It goes without saying that the images we see every day have an effect on us from a young age - and we can end up celebrating certain body types over others without realising. These standards of beauty are constantly evolving over the years - with the sex symbols of the 50s looking far different to those from today - and one fitness trainer has found an interesting way to illustrate this.

Cassey Ho, known by her Instagram handle Blogilates, made a post a few days ago, in which she presented images of herself photoshopped to meet the different beauty standards seen throughout history. For instance, to meet the expectations of the present day, Cassey widened her hips, narrowed her waist, and made her lips and butt bigger.

In the mid-'90s through to the early-2000s, there was a big push for the thigh gap, while the 50s was all about the 'hourglass' figure. And when we go further into the past, we see a body type that many people are shamed for in the present.

"Why do we treat our bodies like we treat fashion? ‘Boobs are out! Butts are in!’," she wrote in the caption. "Stop throwing your body out like it’s fast fashion. Please treat your body with love & respect and do not succumb to the beauty standard. Embrace your body because it is YOUR own perfect body."

The post ends up making these standards look far more ridiculous than we might see them now, once it's all put in context.

Mid 2010s-2018

"Big butts, wide hips, tiny waists, and full lips are in! There is a huge surge in plastic surgery for butt implants thanks to Instagram models posting 'belfies'. Even cosmetic surgery doctors have become IG-famous for reshaping women. Between 2012-2014, butt implants and injections rise by 58%."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Instagram/@blogilates]] Mid 90s-2000s

"Big boobs, flat stomachs, and thighs gaps are in. In 2010, breast augmentation is the highest performed cosmetic surgery in the United States. It’s the age of the Victoria’s Secret Angel. She’s tall, thin, and she’s always got long legs and a full chest."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Instagram/@blogilates]] Early 90s

"THIN IS IN. Having angular bone structure, looking emaciated, and super skinny is what’s dominating the runways and the magazine covers. There’s even a name for it: 'heroin chic'."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Instagram/@blogilates]] 1950s

"The hourglass shape is in. Elizabeth Taylor‘s 36-21-36 measurements are the ideal. Marilyn Monroe’s soft voluptuousness is lusted after. Women are advertised weight gaining pills to fill themselves out. Playboy magazine and Barbie are created in this decade."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Instagram/@blogilates]] 1920s

"Appearing boyish, androgynous and youthful, with minimal breasts, and a straight figure is in! Unlike the 'Gibson Girl' of the Victorian Era, women are choosing to hide their curves, and are doing so by binding their chests with strips of cloth to create that straight figure suitable for flapper dresses."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Instagram/@blogilates]] 1400-1700

"The Italian Renaissance - Looking full with a rounded stomach, large hips, and an ample bosom is in. Being well fed is a sign of wealth and status. Only the poor are thin."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Instagram/@blogilates]] The real Cassey

As Cassey explains, while the clothes we wear can change over time without a huge affect on our mental and physical well-being - body image is a much more sensitive subject, so we should all pay attention to the harmful effects of a society too obsessed with its standards of beauty.