Dove 'Real Beauty Sketches' Reactions: From A Male Parody Video To Straight-Talking Blogs (VIDEO, PICTURES)

The Internet Reacts To Dove's 'Real Beauty Sketches'
Open Image Modal
Dove
A woman looks at an artist's impressions of her in Dove 'Real Beauty Sketches' Video

Last week Dove's Real Beauty Sketches video became a viral internet sensation -- at the time of writing the ad has clocked up more than 18 million views and is still going strong.

But as the hits came flooding in, so did the critics and a certain (hilarious) parody.

The video shows an artist blind-sketching a handful of women -- the first drawing based on each woman's impression of her own appearance and the other created from a complete stranger's description.

Open Image Modal

One Of Dove's Real Beauty Sketches

The video notes the disparity between the way women describe their own appearance and the way they are described by others -- the video implies that women see themselves as much less attractive than a stranger does.

While many have hailed the video for inspiring positive body image, others have criticised the video for reinforcing dominant beauty stereotypes.

HuffPost UK Lifestyle round-up the reactions to Dove's Real Beauty Sketches:

Mixed Reactions To Dove 'Real Beauty Sketches'
(01 of07)
Open Image Modal
"The more 'beautiful' facial representations seemed to all be thinner and younger-looking," Kate Fridkins, HuffPost blogger. READ MORE (credit:Kate Fridkins)
Brandon Hamilton(02 of07)
Open Image Modal
I love the direction Dove has taken their real beauty campaign. I wasn't a believer 5 years ago. Your soap will always stock my bath dish. (credit:Twitter:bran_hamilton)
(03 of07)
Open Image Modal
Nandita Iyer(04 of07)
Open Image Modal
I just happened to see the Dove Real Beauty Sketches Ad- absolutely wow and touched! (credit:Twitter:saffrontrail)
Beula Perez ∞(05 of07)
Open Image Modal
dove real beauty sketches ad is a must watch for every woman :) (credit:Twitter:beulaperez)
(06 of07)
Open Image Modal
"Dove's just selling deodorant and soap in a new way, while peddling the same old beauty standards as empowerment," says Erin Keane at Salon."The real take-away is still that women should care whether or not a stranger thinks she is beautiful."READ MORE (credit:Alamy)
(07 of07)
Open Image Modal
"Such campaigns and TV fashion programmes celebrating 'real women' are perpetuating the idea that women need to be 'beautiful' at all. Surely it would be better if we rejected this 'world where beauty is a source of confidence' that Dove is committed to creating." says HuffPost UK blogger Ali Schofield."Men don't need to be beautiful to function in society, made screamingly obvious in the advertising for men's sheep-like-gorgeous-woman-magnet Lynx. Which, by the way, is made by Dove manufacturer Unilever." READ MORE (credit:Alamy)