While repeating the same messages to our children and believing it most passionately for them, we still find ourselves clinging like a limpet to the Western ideal of beauty. If only we could lose a few pounds, were a few inches taller, banish cellulite, grow thicker, longer hair, if only we could basically turn into a Disney princess, we believe we would be happy.

The nice folks at Dove are at it again: in their bid to convince women that they don't have to look on the point of collapse or have preternaturally symmetrical features and skin unmarked by life to be beautiful, they've conducted what they're calling "a compelling social experiment".

Famous for its use of real women posing confidently, wearing nothing but white underwear and big toothy grins, Dove's 'Real Beauty' campaign has conti...

The advertising industry is highly aware of its responsibilities. Pretty as a Picture was commissioned to help advertisers understand what young women think about images in advertising, and it's good to hear policymakers recognising the industry's positive response.