New Dove Campaign for Real Beauty inspires women with stories of beauty triumphs-ONLINE!

Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty returns with the same ardor and passion for championing a wider definition of beauty. And it's taking it beyond the beauty debate.

Truly, women have more to say on the issue other than their tickbox choices. The Campaign for Real Beauty is proving that women are ready to move forward from the debate and start looking into their personal experiences, their very own stories on beauty struggles, particularly during childhood.

Kids can be cruel; more so adults. We are all aware of how unrealistic beauty standards already fuel a culture of negative name-calling: "negra", "pandak", "taba", "pango". It is common to witness these put-down names become enduring labels for children and teenagers. Oftentimes, these names and labels leave an indelible mark on a woman's self-image.

"Girls as young as seven years old who are subjected to name-calling develop negative self-image which they can carry into adulthood," says Malyn Cristobal, a practicing family therapist. "I am not surprised if this is one of the reasons why only 5% of Filipinas think they are beautiful."

Cristobal notes though that there are ways to overcome such negative experiences. Women, she explains, find it extremely liberating to reveal their tales of triumph, let the negativity out, and eventually adapt an optimistic life-altering mindset.

Spurred by this insight, Dove has launched an online campaign that encourages Filipina women to share stories about how they have triumphed over childhood beauty insecurities. Through the new Dove Campaign for Real Beauty website, http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.ph, the beauty debate goes a step further from one that provokes opinion to one that touches the heart, putting actual life experiences of real women into focus. These are stories of beauty transcendence that are truly moving and inspiring.

"The new website serves as a venue where women can read, share stories, and ultimately celebrate the triumph of having overcome their childhood beauty struggles," explains Dondi Gomez, Unilever Philippines Category Director for Skin and Deos. "It's a vehicle for them to gather and draw strength from each other, and really talk about their own personal journeys to acceptance, liberation and eventually transcendence to a wider definition of beauty."

The new Dove Campaign for Real Beauty website features beauty triumph stories from some of today's most admired females in various fields. Among them: Raya Mananquil, Kate Torralba, Patricia Hizon, Pam Pastor, Nicole Fonacier, Liza Ilarde, and Mia Sebastian.

To share and read about stories of beauty transcendence, log on to http://www.campaignfor realbeauty.ph. Those who share stories will receive a special Dove beauty statement t-shirt designed by Kate Torralba, so women can wear their expressions of transcendence proudly.

Women have inspiring stories to tell. And Dove is here to listen. PR