Joining the social cause are LiuXiang, world-record holder in swimming and Ishikawa Kasumi, table tennis player and two-time Olympic medallist, to name a few.
With the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games coming up this summer, the world’s top athletes are no doubt tripling their training to ace the competition and attain the sweet taste of victory. That’s the upside of competitions – it builds up character, pushes us harder and offers an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
But there are some competitions that nobody signs up for and yet most of us find ourselves in. A prime example: the beauty industry.
Together with Japanese premium skincare brand SK-II, some of the world’s top Olympic athletes teamed up to declare #NOCOMPETITION in beauty, as part of the brand’s stand to shatter toxic beauty standards.
“Competition in beauty has always been present. But it is impossible to ignore how unhealthy it has become these days, fueled by culture, media, society… and beauty brands like ours! We all have part to play. As a beauty brand, our role is to help build confidence and spread positivity and not create pressure and toxicity,” said Sandeep Seth, Chief Executive Officer, Global SK-II, at the 2020 MAKERS Conference.
“As a leading beauty brand, we want to take a stand and lend our voice to put a stop to this toxic competition. Through #NOCOMPETITION, we hope to create a mass platform of action that inspires women to break out of toxic competitions in beauty and start defining what beauty means for themselves, in the broader sense – without letting pressure dictate their choices,” he added.
Joining the social cause are Simone Biles, the world-renowned gymnast; LiuXiang, world-record holder in swimming; Ishikawa Kasumi, table tennis player and two-time Olympic medallist; Ayaka Takahashi and Misaki Matsutomo, badminton doubles duo and Olympic gold medalists; Mahina Maeda, surfer; and Hinotori Nippon, the Japan Volleyball team, altogether declaring: “We won’t compete anymore. Beauty is #NOCOMPETITION.”
Each athlete took to their respective social media platforms to share their personal experiences with harmful competitions in beauty on February 12, spearheading the movement to redefine the true meaning of beauty – one that only we can determine for ourselves.
Read some of their stories below and watch the video at the top of the page to discover the #NOCOMPETITION cause.
View this post on Instagram
Beauty. When did it become a competition? #NOCOMPETITION @SKII #skiipartner
To find out more about #NOCOMPETITION and learn how you can support and lend your voice to the cause, please visit the #NOCOMPETITION page.
Photos: SK-II