“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” they say. But what happens when TikTok’s algorithm decides what everyone should find beautiful? Suddenly, your own unique style gets lost in a flood of perfect bodies and impossible diets. You scroll, you like, you compare—and boom, a toxic trend takes hold, whispering in your ear that you’re not good enough.
TikTok promised individuals a place to be themselves, to express their creativity. Instead, it’s become a battleground for “Dream Bodies Besties.” Sounds fun, right? Friends working out together, sharing diet tips? But here’s the truth: these videos show toned abs and tiny waists, but they hide the crash diets and crazy workouts that get them there—the hours of grueling exercise, the tiny portions of food. They promise quick results, but deliver unhealthy habits and dangerous expectations.
Think about it. Bright smiles and upbeat music sell the dream, but they don’t tell the story of disordered eating, of constant food obsession, of feeling guilty every time you eat something “off-plan.” They show the “perfect” body, but forget the damage it does to your health—the fatigue, the dizziness, the constant worry about your weight. These diets rob your body of the nutrients it needs, mess up your metabolism, and push you towards eating disorders, where food becomes the enemy. Real bodies come in all shapes and sizes, and they’re all beautiful.
Here’s the kicker: Cosmos Magazine found that only 1.4% of nutrition videos on TikTok come from actual dietitians—people who’ve studied for years to understand how food and bodies work. Most “experts” are just regular people, sharing dangerous advice based on their own experiences, which might be totally wrong for you. Real dieticians study for years, learn how food affects your body, and create safe, personalized plans that help you feel your best. But TikTok’s algorithm boosts the loudest voices, not the most qualified ones, creating a chorus of misinformation.
So, what do we do? We fight back. We question the “perfect” bodies we see, recognizing that they’re often the result of filters, good lighting, and hours of editing. We remember real beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, and that our worth isn’t tied to our appearance. We find our own path to health, focusing on feeling strong and energized, not on fitting into some trend made up for likes. We support each other, build each other up, and celebrate our differences, recognizing that what makes us unique is what makes us beautiful. Because the only “dream body” worth having is one that’s healthy and happy, inside and out. And that’s a story worth telling—a story of self-acceptance, resilience, and true beauty.