Body Image Secrets Britain's Secrets with Anne Robinson

I've spent a lifetime asking awkward questions -

the ones we all want to know the answers to but, apart from me,

are probably too polite to ask.

-Where was your shame, Malcolm?

-I didn't have any.

Have you tried being less boring?

-That's a really below-the-belt question.

-Of course it is.

I've been up and down Britain

putting people on the spot about those

things you'd rather not reveal.

Are you in a relationship?

It's complicated.

Your infatuation with your pets.

Your worries about bringing up children.

It's a bit like how I train my dog.

Tonight, I'm uncovering our obsession with body image.

-Hello.

-Wendy.

We've never been more worried about looks.

I've got a hanging belly and tits that have not defied gravity.

I'm as guilty as the next person.

I'm so diet conscious, I even take the breadcrumbs off the tomatoes.

What's the answer? Would it be easier if we covered ourselves up?

I need never worry again that my nose turns up.

Or bravely let it all hang out?

-I think I've come in the wrong outfit.

-One of us is overdressed.

-Yes.

-And it's not me.

I'm letting two men try out each other's very different approach to

-looking the part.

-I want my manhood back.

What I want to understand is, what's wrong with being ugly?

How I look matters to me, it always has.

I have my hair cut and highlighted once a month.

I have manicures, pedicures,

facial peels, HRT implants,

I've had a face-lift 12 years ago.

I'm fanatical about how I look.

It's hardly a surprise.

I grew up with a mother who went to a health farm three or four times a

year and as a reward for finishing my O Levels, she sent me to one.

I'm still at it. This is my bi-annual MOT.

I'm at the Buchinger Clinic.

This isn't a fluffy spa - it's much more severe.

Open your legs. Very good. Perfect.

It hurts! SHE YELLS

I get prodded.

And poked.

Oh, it's my big treat of the day.

Oh, joy. Enema time.

YELLING

A fortnight of serious fasting.

Just broth.

It's so delicious.

It's costly, but it's my way of having a fit body and a clear mind.

Ridiculous to some and not nearly enough for others.

But what happened to letting ourselves go?

Being how nature intended?

Even if that means being ugly and misshapen.

Not how you describe these two.

They look picture perfect.

Lonan is 27 and a personal trainer.

His girlfriend Millie is 20 and an aspiring model.

Is that pleasure or work?

They sort of combine.

Let's have a look at your arms.

'For this couple, looking good is on a scale I've never before encountered.'

Did you meet at a gym?

-No.

-We met at a restaurant.

When you saw Millie in the restaurant,

what was it you saw first?

It was of course her looks.

I didn't know her personality then.

I imagine she probably wasn't wearing much.

I can't remember,

but I remember thinking she was very good looking, so...

Would it have mattered if she was slightly overweight?

I have a type. The size I'm attracted to -

whether it's from promotion in magazines

or something I've grown up with, I don't know -

is just a slimmer build.

-So this is core workout.

-Is that OK?

-Yep.

Lonan sees his body as his calling card.

He can charge up to £200 for a training session, and that's online.

What sort of body is this giving you?

To start, I'm 44 inches across here.

My waist is 27 inches, which is very, very small.

If I go like that, from the side, there's nothing, you know,

my hands aren't far off touching.

Who would normally have a 27-inch waist?

A 15-year-old girl.

Can we have a look at the waist?

Anne, please!

I don't... You can follow me on Instagram and then you'll see.

-Look at my social media.

-Why are you reluctant to show it to me?

People are desperate to critique.

Oh, for goodness' sake!

When his waist IS up to scratch,

he shares it on social media with 130,000 fans.

Who knew a tummy could have a following all of its own?

-Do you know what Boomerang is?

-Do I know what?

-Boomerang.

Not a throwing thing that comes back.

-The app?

-I don't know what he's talking about.

OK, well, I'll show you.

It's a video that is very short and it repeats

what you've just videoed.

OK, I'm Boomeranged up now.

Remember, I lift her up.

Ready? In three, two, one.

I watch small children do this.

Easy-peasy.

I think you might...

Are they laughing at me?

It's actually turned out... It looks like we're kind of dancing.

-You said "one, two, three". Did you mean...?

-And then press.

-Yay, we did it!

-We've done it.

Look at that!

Good.

So I click on this.

Click upload and we can check on that every five minutes.

You'll see the response it gets.

Lonan's relentless pursuit of being noticed has now landed him

professional modelling jobs.

I'm in about five or six magazine articles a week at the moment.

It's all because of this.

And taking your top off and posing for a shoot,

is that different from just an Instagram?

Very different. The diet you have to do up to the shoot is very,

-very tough.

-Like what?

It's very unhealthy, but it's...

You up your water to an unhealthy amount.

Once you get close to the shoot, you then cut the water.

Your body keeps rejecting the water, so you get very, very dry.

You then have a lot of carbs and sugar, fill your muscles.

All that together, if you time it right,

it's amazing what your body can do.

Is it worth all that?

Yes, because it represents an image.

-It's a false image.

-It's not.

It's an image you have achieved naturally and just altering my

diet to get the image a bit better for the day.

Either way, it's surely extreme.

An unnatural thing to do to your body.

Millie is equally desperate for a flawless physique

that will allow her to become a fitness model.

Millie, how many photographs do you take?

I take hundreds.

I want it to be, like, perfect.

I want to make sure I like it and that takes a very long time for me.

Because you're striving for perfection?

Yes, to when I'm happy.

Bikini photos do get more likes.

Is there a certain amount of Instagram followers

that gets you a better rate as a model?

They say that 10,000 followers, your rate doubles.

What are you at the moment?

-2,000 followers.

-So you've got 8,000 to go.

Yes, I've got a lot of work to do.

The flipside is that every time

either of you put something on Instagram,

it's an opportunity for people to criticise you.

-Absolutely.

-Who is it that's most important to approve of what you're

-doing?

-Probably Lonan.

I want him to be proud of me and to be attracted to me.

-I'm brutally honest.

-Yes, he's very honest.

And who's important for you in terms of approving of your photographs?

It is me.

I make the decision on what I like or not.

Lonan oozes authority and self-confidence,

but does his girlfriend?

Are you happy to show off your body?

Now I'm paying more attention to my body, being in the fitness industry,

I feel that my confidence is actually less.

-Is it?

-That's fair.

Yeah. I'm a bit worried that if I see something that I don't like on

myself still, I will do anything to try and cover it up.

Creating their perfect shapes doesn't end at the gym.

Their eating routine is one of intensive care.

Just gone 5.30.

-Is this supper time?

-Six is supper time for us.

We like to eat early, so you don't go to bed feeling really full

-and bloated.

-So I normally go to bed around 10:00.

What time did you start at the gym this morning?

7:00.

The salmon's fine, but the controlled eating

and the sleeping arrangements are dull, dull, dull!

Might some people think you are a bit obsessed?

If you put it like that, yes, but it's a lifestyle.

Would you mind being ugly? HE LAUGHS

I would rather be better-looking.

-Would you mind being ugly?

-Erm, I would work with what I've got.

OK.

-Bye. Safe journey home.

-Thank you.

Am I nuts, or are they nuts?

I'd rather eat my arm than live like those two.

Of course they look amazing,

but where's the fun in nothing but fitness

and fretting about followers on Facebook?

What I think about them is this -

that by being obsessed with their body images,

they lead a completely joyless existence.

The most common body obsession people have is with their weight.

Two thirds of women and nearly half of men will be dieting this year.

It's an industry worth two billion to the economy and no wonder because

almost all diets end in failure.

So why do we bother?

Well, here's one woman who doesn't.

Wonderful to see you.

Miriam Margolyes is 75 - close to my age - and, like me,

never lets a thought go unsaid.

-Can I really have as much as I want?

-You can just go through the menu.

My mouth is watering, actually.

But that's where our similarities end.

Please could I have asparagus with hollandaise?

I'm going to have the asparagus, but...

can I just have some olive oil?

-Olive oil?

-Why don't you want the hollandaise?

I'll have a tiny bit of hollandaise.

Is that a diet thing?

Well, it's sort of habit not to have anything too fattening.

You're really exposing me now and I feel conscious, but I will have...

You're really exposing me because I feel a greedy pig, which I am.

I'm permanently on a diet.

I see. Well, I should be, I suppose, because I'm too fat, but I'm not.

I like to eat.

I do watch certain things because I'm interested in health.

I'm not interested in what I look like, and you are.

-I can tell that.

-Well, yes, I am.

A complete slave, but I had a mother who was very like that.

What was your mother like?

Mummy was a very good cook.

Very elegant in her own way.

An outstanding-looking woman, but she was always short and fat.

But she always said to me,

"Miriam, take more of a pride in your appearance."

And even now, my relatives,

they look at me and they say, "Miriam, why? Why?"

Meaning, why do I look such a schlock?

I don't have to describe what a schlock is because you see one now.

-What do you weigh?

-I think I weigh 95 kilos.

I think it's about 14st or something.

The asparagus is very, very good.

It's never been bad enough that you've really thought,

"I've got to change all this"?

I'm only deeply depressed occasionally

if I look at myself nude when I get out of the shower,

and I look at myself and I see that I've got a hanging belly and tits

that have not defied gravity.

I think, "What a pity. Why did you let yourself go like that?"

But on the other hand, I've had joy from eating.

Yes, I can see.

Do you want my asparagus?

-The last two bits?

-Why don't you want it?

Because I want to leave some room.

Thanks. That's lovely.

I like things that are comfortable.

Let me show you what I'm wearing underneath.

Let's see your outfit to come to lunch.

It's actually the only thing I had clean at the moment because I'm not

living at home, but it's a little frock.

-Oh, lovely.

-I wore this because I thought

I don't want to wear a coat and this is nice and warm.

Ladies. Plaice, filleted plaice?

Ooh-er! Put it down, mate, put it down!

-Scallops a provencal.

-Thank you.

You're welcome.

I'm so diet conscience, I even take the breadcrumbs off the tomatoes.

That's not going to make you fat.

It's habit, Miriam, habit.

What would you eat in your day?

If I do have breakfast, I tend to have some poached apple.

That's because I don't like being anything other

than a loose size ten.

A loose size ten.

I'm a loose size 22, I think. You're a little bit too thin.

SHE MOUTHS

SHE LAUGHS

-Say that again.

-You would think, that lady is not eating enough.

We all have a sort of Barbie doll wish somewhere.

Even the most intelligent of us have some sort of strange dream about

looking differently. Even you, Miriam.

I don't want to look like a Barbie doll,

and that's jolly good because I never will.

I love life, Anne, and I want to experience as much as I can.

And I think if you're on a diet for all your life, as you say,

you're missing out.

And I have to reiterate, I like what I look like.

-See you soon. Bye.

-Thank you very much.

Thank you very much.

She might be right, I'm missing out.

But even living life to the full, Miriam's way,

I'd probably not bother with the trainers and the white socks.

The thing is, she's energetic, clever, engaging, funny.

And how refreshing that she bucks the trend

for the need to be beautiful.

And if you had to choose between

lunch with Miriam eating for England,

or that bleak, calorie-free supper with Lonan and Millie,

you wouldn't choose Miriam.

Vanity used to be a largely female pastime.

I mean, few men of my generation used to worry much about their look.

Now research shows on average men spend more time getting ready than

women, and more time looking in the mirror.

Are we sure about that?

To find out, I've persuaded two men

with entirely different views on their

body image to spend time in each other's bathrooms.

This is Danny, 54, and from south London.

My grooming routine daily involves cleaning my teeth,

a quick cat's lick in the sink and running some water through my hair.

There's no creams, products or anything!

Pure water. And you look this good with that.

Danny works on the markets, where he also buys most of his clothes.

There's no brands there - no Versace, no Louis Vuitton -

nothing like that!

These are all unbranded.

But jeans are jeans.

I don't bother with appearance.

It takes me seven minutes or under to get ready every morning.

I don't dress for the catwalk, and I don't dress to impress.

Danny is going to spend two days in Brighton,

with a man whose approach to his appearance

might well have Danny reeling

with shock. But he doesn't know that yet.

Waiting to see what the guy's like.

I haven't got a clue.

A bit like Forrest Gump - life's a box of chocolates!

Before Danny meets his host, he has a chance for a good nosy round.

Oh, God, hunger busters.

Fat metaboliser.

I'll take it he's worried about his weight.

I'm not bothered with what I look like.

That is definitely Barry Manilow!

Calvin Klein. I always thought they was underwear.

Super-smooth body cream.

Hair food. Feeding his hair now!

What is that?

Christ almighty, look at that!

That's...

That's fake tan or something.

I wouldn't spend my money on that shite.

A book here...

Who on earth lives like this?

"My name's Alex.

"I'm 27 and registered blind.

"To me, looking good is everything.

"I spend over £1,000 a month keeping on top of my image."

That's a lot of money!

"On a daily basis, I can apply more than 15 products,

"including foundation, bronzer, anti-shine powder."

I knew some of that was make-up.

Indeed! Life is just about to become a tough learning curve

for our south London lad.

Hello there, mate. Nice to meet you. How are you doing? Danny, Alex.

-How are you, all right?

-Yeah, not too bad, thank you.

-You've had a look around the place.

-Yeah, yeah.

Do you like it? I bet you saw a few products, as well.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Some of them are a bit worrying.

The make-up, it's a little bit drastic, that, for me.

-Yeah.

-I put one on. I tried one.

-Oh, did you?

Christ almighty, it's like I've been tangoed!

-Right, shall we go?

-Yeah, OK.

-Perfect, let's go.

-Follow you.

Alex is 27 and has a thriving internet business.

He also adores being pampered.

This is where I get my hair cut,

and a few little extra pieces on the side.

I'm hoping for today, you might be game just to take one step

into the kind of things I do on a weekly, ten-day routine.

I'm in your hands, sir.

The first time I've had my hair washed

by someone since my mum done it when I was a kid!

-How's that?

-Lovely!

The average male spends £35 a month on grooming.

For Alex, it's six times as much.

You must have the income to supplement this sort of lifestyle.

Do you feel that sometimes you're trying to impress other people than

-trying to impress yourself?

-Most of it's for me.

The more and more stuff you do, the more you find the little details

that you're always looking to correct

-and make a little bit better.

-I think it's a never-ending road.

For perfection, you've got to keep going and going and going.

And then it's the long road.

I want my manhood back!

I felt a bit poncey, having my nails done, and the facial.

How far is these beauty remedies going to go, and regimes, you know?

Oh, much, much further, Danny, as it turns out!

Next up, Alex's weekly spray tan.

Right, OK, then. So, who's...

Danny's going first!

Danny, how does that feel? I think it looks pretty good.

I'll take your word for it.

Very St Tropez.

I've come out like Tom Cruise and gone back looking like Bart Simpson.

So do you think you're becoming reliant upon all this?

The feel-good factor you get from doing them is almost like a drug.

If I was to not have any of this and no products and no looking after

myself, then I wouldn't feel great.

-So, you know.

-Where does the products start and the man begin?

To be fair, I'm pretty keen most of the time on how I scrub up.

This is a picture of me,

snapped unexpectedly outside my door recently at eight o'clock in

the morning. Not at my best.

Do I mind being caught looking a fright?

Well, it doesn't make any difference to world peace,

and also I'm an old newspaper reporter,

so I sort of know it's a game.

And, most importantly, women absolutely love pictures like this.

I do - it's great fun to laugh and feel superior,

particularly if you're not that happy about how you look.

But what about those rare humans who couldn't care less about their

misshapen bits - might even be proud of them?

I'm in Bedford with a couple who are

quite comfortable to look very natural.

-Hello!

-Wendy. Good morning.

Nice to meet you. Do come in.

-Thank you.

-Hello, Anne, how are you?

I'm... I think I've come in the wrong outfit!

-Well, one of us is overdressed.

-Yes.

-And it's not me.

No, I get it, I get it.

-Would you like a cup of tea?

-I'd love a cup of tea.

Wendy and Mike live almost full-time wearing no clothes.

How long have you been naturists?

Well, I've been naturist about seven years now.

-Yeah.

-But Mike was born naked.

I've been... Yeah, I've been naturist all my life, really.

Because my parents were naturists, and my grandparents were naturists.

Some friends say to us, well yeah, but I couldn't do that,

I couldn't do that. Well, why not?

-We're all the same.

-When you enter a naturist environment,

where everybody's naked, then obviously there is no distinction...

you can make by looking at people's clothes,

looking at what they wear.

Are you suggesting you don't judge people nearly as much?

Oh, no. You leave pretty much everything at the door,

which is the great thing about it.

People might think that if you're going to go without clothes,

you'd be extra worried about your body, and the shape of it,

or being thin.

No, but naturists, we all accept each other as we are.

Fat, thin, tall, operation scars, anything, it's all the same.

And are there any conventions?

Your hair, for example?

Do you have your hair coloured?

I do like to colour it, yeah.

Do you, for example, shave under your arms?

-Yes.

-Yeah.

Do you shave anywhere?

Well, occasionally Wendy likes to have this...

-trimmed down a little bit.

-Yeah, because it's a bit rough.

-Oh.

-I don't really like hairy chests.

And what about the bits below?

-Do you shave there?

-Yes, I have shaved.

If the whole idea is to be natural, why would you shave?

I think it's just more comfortable and you wouldn't sweat so much.

Naturally, Wendy and Mike like to spend their time mixing with other

people in their birthday suits.

This is lots of naked men.

-And women.

-Presumably all your early pictures

-are ones without any clothes on?

-Yeah, I've got some here.

-Have you?

-Would you like to see me when I was 20?

I would, yes.

There we go.

Wow. Your bits look a bit different there.

-Do they?

-Yeah. They look bigger.

-Yeah.

-That's what happens when you get older!

-Oh, is it?

Everything shrinks. Well, not everything!

HE LAUGHS

So that's at 22, and this one, how old are you there?

That's the day we met.

-Oh, is it?

-The day we met!

Yeah, that's the minute we met.

And you've got clothes on.

A giveaway plastic cape, because it was cold and wet.

And what did you see the moment you saw her?

She's just lovely, you want to get to know her.

You don't need to know Wendy for too many seconds...

..you know, to see her personality shine out.

Is being naked a way of never feeling ashamed of your body?

-Absolutely, yeah.

-Yeah.

If it was the norm,

how different do you think it would be for people when they looked at

-their bodies?

-If you can see people for who they are,

rather than what they look like,

I think the world would be a better place.

Come upstairs. On the left is my room.

I don't buy clothes now. Hardly ever.

I've got some tops if I'm going out somewhere.

-Look, really smart.

-What about bras?

No, I don't wear a bra. Haven't worn one for ages.

I have got a couple.

-Have you?

-But I've thrown the others away, because I just gave up.

They cut in. They're so uncomfortable,

and I thought, why bother?

-No dresses?

-Yeah, I've got a few dresses.

And the thing is with these, when I wear these...

..I put them on and if I happen to catch sight

of myself in the mirror...

-Yeah.

-..I'm fat.

What's interesting is that you look at yourself in the mirror naked,

-you don't think "I'm fat", do you?

-No. If I had a top and a bottom,

I'd be tied in the middle and it'd be so uncomfortable,

and I'd have bulges all down.

So would you say your body's beautiful?

Well, I accept it as it is and Mike thinks it's beautiful,

so that's all that matters, really.

Well, Wendy has the healthiest body image of anyone I've met so far,

but she does have to cope with disapproval.

-Come and have a look at my garden.

-Lots of sun you get.

Yeah, we often have our chairs out in the sun when it's warm enough.

Is there a neighbour here that

really would rather you didn't live here?

Yes! I was told, "Oh, it's disgusting,

"you're being talked about in Tesco."

And, "Whatever would your children think?"

-And I said, "What are you talking about?"

-And I said, "Fame at last."

And they said because we're out here naked and people can see us.

You're making a mess of that, dear. And so we had the fencing put up.

These two are quite comfortable naked,

but what happens if they walk around town showing off their wobbly bits?

It's lovely out here now, isn't it?

It's not illegal to go naked in public,

but it is illegal to distress people.

We all know what a naked body looks like.

Surely no-one here today will be offended.

What do you think about people walking around in public

-with no clothes on?

-I think it's daft.

If I had my grandchildren walking along here, I'd be very put out.

-Yeah.

-If my wife was with me, I'd be put out.

We'll have to agree to disagree!

HE LAUGHS

They won't hurt you, you know!

Hello? What do you think about people

going around with no clothes on?

I think it's shocked a few people down here.

Does it offend you?

No. I like to swim and go on the beach with nothing on, so...

Good to meet you. Take care.

What do you think about seeing people walking around

-with no clothes on?

-It's not appropriate.

-Kerry thinks this is inappropriate. Do you?

-In the daytime.

I think it is in the winter, yeah!

So would it be all right in the summer?

I don't know.

I suppose if everybody did it, you wouldn't think it was any different,

-would you? But...

-And when you're looking at them, Kerry,

-are you avoiding his bits? Yeah.

-No, I look at them!

It turns out it's not a laughing matter.

The police have had several complaints...

Why are you asking? Who has complained?

..then asked Mike and Wendy to cover up.

-We're not arguing.

-Not arguing at all.

If they don't cover themselves up, what will you do?

The policeman says he will arrest them.

He also says he wouldn't want his kids or mother to see them.

Why doesn't he want his mother to see someone with no clothes on?

I mean, it shows what a curious relationship we have with nudity.

No-one's embarrassed to go and gaze at the statue of Venus de Milo,

yet you take Mike and Wendy for a stroll along the river in Bedford,

and people start dialling 999.

And perhaps, actually, if we saw more bodies like theirs -

sort of misshapen and, well, normal -

the younger generation would stop aiming for the impossible.

Back in Brighton, it's day two of the swap.

Is Danny, who works on a south London market,

learning to take beauty seriously?

One of my favourite shops.

I normally come here every couple of weeks.

So how much do you reckon these cost?

I'd pay about 30, 40 quid.

240 quid.

So far, Danny's been a good sport,

surviving a spray tan and expensive haircut.

Now, for a new outfit.

So what would you think of something like that?

That's a bit lairy for me!

British men spend an average of £660 a year on their wardrobes.

10% more than women.

Christ almighty, these are going to be a bit tight!

-A bit tight?

-I think people might see what religion I'm from.

Christ almighty.

Right, then. Oh, look at that!

Yes! I think you look great.

It all seems a bit tight on me.

Especially around the nether regions.

I don't think I'd be able to sit down in these.

Alex is very addicted to all this.

It's like a drug. He feels good

about spending money on quality stuff,

but it's label stuff.

I'm sure he can look just as good in some of the stuff I wear,

which would probably cost him a fraction of the thing.

But would he wear it?

Gently rub it along.

-Like that?

-Yeah.

Really nice little product.

It is.

Alex spends at least an hour every day on his beauty regime.

As you'll see here, there's about nine or ten different products.

I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving the house without using a fair

proportion or all of these.

Is it something you really worry about?

-Your skin, yeah?

-I do, yeah.

From the ages of about 13 to 18, I had awful acne. Really, really bad.

Almost to the point where I probably had more acne on my face

than I had skin. It was awful.

The worst time of my life.

And it really took a lot out of me.

What you went through, is where this started?

100%. I started wearing foundation and concealer when I was 17, 18.

If you're not breaking out any more, why do you still need them?

Even if I get one or two spots now, or my skin goes a little bit red,

or I'm not quite happy with it, it's almost like I'm thrust back to what

I had to deal with ten years ago.

So anything that I can do and make a difference

to get as far away from that as possible, I'm going to do it.

-I'm not going to stop doing.

-I think you're a great-looking guy.

To me, it seems very excessive for what is standing in front of me.

You know, I feel sorry that you was insecure and that,

but to me you've gone past that now.

You know. You know yourself, every time you look in the mirror.

You've got to think, I'm all right!

Yeah. So we're going to finish with a little bit of concealer, OK?

Later, will Alex be able to overcome his insecurities

when he tries out Danny's swift spit-and-polish approach?

Nowadays, we're swamped with images of airbrushed models,

footballers' wives and reality TV stars,

and the impact on ordinary twenty- and thirtysomethings is enormous.

Nowhere more so than in my hometown, now the glamour capital of the UK,

Liverpool.

This trio are having a Saturday stroll

round the shops ahead of a night out.

-Hi, nice to meet you!

-Nice to meet you!

How much would you say you spend a week, girls, on clothes and make-up?

God. I'd say probably about a good £100 before we go out.

I'd probably put most of my money into my outfit because I would never

wear the same outfit twice. I know that sounds petty.

But that's just the Scouse girl thing,

I don't know anyone who would wear the same dress twice, really.

Expensive way of life, isn't it? Being glamorous in Liverpool.

Women in Liverpool spent three times

as much on their appearance than is spent anywhere else in the country.

The girls are at Eve's beauty salon to get made up

for their Saturday night out.

So what's happening now?

So, right now I'm doing Laiken's make up for tonight.

-Why can't Laiken do her own make-up?

-She's not as good as me.

I can do my own make-up, but when I'm going out I'd rather get it

-professionally done.

-Yeah.

Under pressure to look perfect,

they go well beyond lipstick and eyeliner.

So I had a bit of Botox last month, but it just prevents wrinkles.

And what about your eyebrows?

I've got mine tattooed.

Like, I don't like mine now.

That's a bit like me. Like, I've got my lips tattooed,

but I still draw them on.

I'm very self conscious of it. I mean, to the point it got so bad,

like, at one point I used to sit on dates like that,

and I'd look like I had something wrong with me. I'd be trying...

in every way to cover my mouth.

-It's exhausting.

-Isn't it just? And it cost a lot, as well!

Who are you following that your lips have to be one shape

and your eyebrows another shape?

I think Kim Kardashian's been a big influence.

She's got a lot to answer for, that Kim Kardashian.

-Yeah, I know.

-Do you think she's very pretty?

Oh, yeah, I would love to look like her.

-Yeah.

-How about your boobs, girls?

Oh, I'd love to get my boobs done.

Have you had your boobs done?

I have. I was a 30C,

and now I've been measured a 30H.

-OK.

-So I've gone up a few sizes.

I don't quite understand how it's become so important!

I think being from a city, there's even more pressure on you,

especially, like, a fashion capital like Liverpool,

where models and media and fashion is such a big thing.

It's all you're looking at, is image, body image,

and you should look like this and you should look like that.

And it all gets on top of you.

Subconsciously, I think, as well, more than anything.

Like, you'll just look at them and think, my lips need to be bigger.

You don't think why they need to be bigger.

Shall we give Anne a Scouse brow, Eve, do you think?

I don't think my life will be complete

without a Scouse brow, actually.

Are you on the pull tonight, Anne?

Well, I'm always hopeful, you know, Eve. Even at my age.

God, they're enormous!

My make-up is complete, but this lot aren't even halfway through.

When you leave to go clubbing,

is that the end of looking in the mirror?

-No.

-Oh, good God, no!

That's just the beginning. I will spend the night...

-Yeah.

-..the majority of the night in the toilet, topping up.

-Live in there, Anne.

-Really?

-You live in the toilet?

-Near enough, you might as well.

When I lived here, the guys hung out in the pub.

Now the busiest place after work is one of these massive gyms.

Why is it so important that you look good?

-Vanity.

-Vanity?

-Must be, mustn't it!

-How old are you?

-How old do you think I am?

-24.

Oh, my God, yeah, that was the right number!

-34.

-Really?

Would you have Botox?

-Yes!

-Yeah, where would you have Botox?

-All over!

-OK.

Jack is 22, works in a bank and has done everything he can

to alter his appearance.

How often do you come to the gym?

About six times a week.

The gym is his cheapest expense.

He's so far forked out £20,000 on improving his looks.

Sunbed, eyebrows, filler.

Cosmetic surgery, nose jobs...

-..everything.

-And what else is there to do?

I'm not where I want to be at the moment.

Where do you want to be?

Like an Adonis.

I want to have an amazing body, like photo shoots, everything like that.

Every 12 weeks, Jack comes here for filler injections.

Just pop yourself on the couch.

Today, he's having his nose and lips plumped.

How big do you want them, Jack?

Quite big, I want them quite big.

Why do you want them bigger?

I just think it just takes years off your face when you've got big lips.

I think you just look better. That's what I feel, anyway.

I always want to get my lips done

and I always want to get my nose done.

So far, he's had two nose jobs,

but it's still not the right shape for him.

What sort of nose is it you're looking for?

I can't think off the top of my head, but...

You've always said to me you wanted your nose more masculine-looking

-and a bit more straighter.

-Yeah.

-And a bit more wider.

So do you feel you've got a girlie nose?

Yes. Do you agree with men getting filler?

I agree with everyone being able to do exactly what they want.

Ohh.

OK, what do you think about them yourself? Have a little look. OK.

Oh, I love them.

-Love them.

-What look are you going for, Jack?

I'd like to think my own look but, in the bigger picture, to fit in.

And I think to have your lips done and your nose done and to have that

look, you fit in more.

The price of fitting in this time is £200.

And when you look in the mirror now, what do you see?

Um... Obviously my opinion is that I think I'm quite good-looking.

I don't think I'm beautiful just yet. But maybe one day.

Yet, despite the time and money Jack and Eve spend on their appearance,

I'm struck by how dissatisfied they still are.

It's as if nothing is ever enough.

-Thanks, guys!

-Thank you!

Bye!

Unfortunately, all that painful striving for perfection

hasn't altered Jack's lack of self-confidence.

And those lovely girls!

Typical witty Scousers,

they looked much prettier walking round the shops in their rollers.

To them, the idea of being ugly is terrifying.

Although why anyone would want to look like Kim Kardashian

is beyond me!

Nowadays, people's level of self-esteem

seems only connected with their appearance,

and has very little to do with

whether they're smart or fun to be with.

What if we could only be judged on our personality?

Hi.

This is Mumtaheena and her husband, Jilal, who live in Luton.

-Would you like a tea?

-How are you?

-Very well, very well.

-Good.

Mumtaheena has a very different attitude to body image.

How would you describe how you're dressed today?

I would say that I'm dressed in the traditional Islamic clothing.

The khimar, which is the scarf, and then you have the jilbab,

which is the outer garment,

which is very loose fitting and doesn't show your figure.

And all of it's there to cover up your beauty, the parts

of your body which are for yourself and to share with your family.

Do you think you feel differently about your body than people

who don't cover up?

People who don't cover are probably more conscious about their bodies,

because it's always on display.

And I think that's a very difficult way of living.

Whereas when you're covering, you have that freedom.

It's not so, "Oh, I can let myself go now

"because no-one's really seeing me,"

but you don't have to conform to the pressures.

Whereas if everybody's seeing every part of you, you know,

you're always going to feel like you're not good enough.

If I wasn't here today,

and you were just in the house with the children and your husband,

would you be covered up?

No, I wouldn't. Because this is my home, so...

So you've got two lots of clothing?

Yes, I do. I do have two lots of clothing.

I want a glimpse at this other wardrobe.

You know, that's something that...

Wow! When you've got that on, would you be worried -

"My bum looks a bit big in that"?

I would wear this for my family,

and I think they wouldn't really care about those kind of things!

-Would you care?

-I probably would, but, you know,

I'm quite happy and confident in who I am.

And, you know, I've got a loving family around me.

I've got, you know, wonderful people that I've never felt negative about

my body image.

Other people could go out in this dress and maybe be judged in it.

Like, "Oh, God, what is she wearing?"

"She doesn't have the figure for that", or "How could she wear that?"

You know, women have to face these horrible comments,

whereas when you wear this in your home, you know,

away from the prying eyes of people judging you and seeing your figure,

you can be the queen of your home,

you can feel like the queen of your home and you wear whatever.

You don't have to worry about those things.

'So Mumtaheena often opts for covering up when she's out.

'She says it means she doesn't feel judged.

'I want to do the same, and see what happens.'

I need never worry again that my nose turns up

in a rather stupid style at the end.

'We're out and about in High Street Kensington.'

'Will people even talk to me dressed like this?'

'The answer is mostly no.'

Excuse me?

-Yes?

-I'm doing a programme on body image, can I talk to you?

-No, I'm all right.

-Sorry, not interested.

Excuse me?

'This level of anonymity is tough.'

-Can I talk to you?

-No. No, I'm not interested, sorry.

I've just lost my touch.

Where's all my charm gone?

I don't seem to be able to get people to stop and talk to me.

Yeah, you have to work that much harder

to be able to get people to engage with you, obviously, because

they're not seeing your face.

But, you know, you've got to make a lot more effort

to be able to get that connection with somebody.

I think what it is, I can't see you smile.

-Yeah.

-It's more the facial expression.

-Yeah.

-And you're used to looking at people in the face,

and you sort of connect a bit more if you see someone's face.

-Yeah.

-My friend here doesn't have to worry

about her body image when she's out, because she's all covered up.

-What do you think of that?

-I think you look very glamorous,

even though you're not conscious of your own body image.

-Do you think I look very glamorous?

-Um...

Well, yes.

-Not as glamorous as...

-Why are you hesitating over me?

Well, I suppose you don't stand out as much, I think, in a way.

Oh, what a shame.

'Interestingly, with only our eyes on display,

'we are still being judged.'

Excuse me, I'm doing a programme about body image.

That's a bit of a bold thing and not a gentlemanly thing to say.

'And covering up doesn't avoid sexist opinions.'

Ooh! That was stiff learning curve.

First off, it's very hard to breathe with polyester

covering half your face.

Mumtaheena, of course, chooses to dress like she does

because she wants to be judged by her intellect

and not by how she looks.

But, actually, passers-by kept running away from us,

so we were being judged.

I hadn't realised how much I rely on my face to convey - I don't know -

sarcasm, wit, very occasionally charm.

I'd hate to be invisible. I'd rather be judged.

In London, it's image-obsessed Alex's turn

to experience how carefree Danny lives.

Oh.

So this is where Danny finds himself.

It reminds me of a set from Only Fools And Horses.

It's like he's stuck in the past, you know.

OK, so Danny's bedroom. Wow! Er...

Clothes sprawled all over it.

It's not great, it's not great!

Didn't know clothes like this still existed, to be honest with you.

What does Danny spend on his beauty regime?

At a push, 25p a week.

Doesn't look as though it's been used any time soon.

It's got dust on the bottle, so I feel like I'd need a shower

after using them. Toothpaste and some mouthwash.

It's looking a bit bare.

I know... You know, I know you talk basics,

but that really is taking it basic.

"Hello, welcome to my home.

"I can wake up and be out of the house in seven minutes.

"Five minutes if I'm trying hard.

"And that includes a cup of coffee, too.

"My 'beauty regime' involves soap and water.

"All my clothing is about durability.

"I haven't got any time for fancy brands.

"I don't believe how you look is key to how you are."

OK. I think that says it all.

Matters massively to me, you know?

I need to feel good, I need to feel confident in who I am.

As Alex knows, Danny feels the opposite and, for the next 24 hours,

it's Danny who will be calling the shots.

For me, it's comfort.

Comfort is everything.

Rather than like a peacock.

When you go out and you're sitting there, you're on show all the time.

I've got a little surprise for you.

It might be a little bit of a horror show for you.

The designer stuff's coming off, mate.

Let's go.

Danny's determined to strip Alex of the clothing and products

that Alex is convinced he needs to improve and boost his confidence.

-Oh, God.

-That is under a tenner.

-You want me to wear these?

-Yeah.

Not outside, though, just inside, right?

No, no, no. You wear them out, as well.

Oh, God, mate. Are these yours? What are you doing?

-I've toned you down a little bit, you peacock.

-Mate!

Um... Just looked down and I can see that what I'm wearing is atrocious.

God! This is so far from what I'd wear.

This being a continuing thing is a no, absolute zero chance.

There we go. Can we have a selfie?

-Next up...

-Cheap and cheerful.

..it's a trip to Danny's local barber. £10 for a haircut.

Peanuts compared to what Alex is used to paying.

It's a quality cut for a fraction of the price.

-Mm.

-But you're not as pampered.

I like the pampering bit, though.

And I just like feeling good, and I like looking good.

It just gives me little boost of confidence.

Big question for you. Have you ever felt self-conscious?

The only thing I was ever worried about, I used to be a bit shy,

a bit of a wallflower.

But as I've got older, I've managed...

I've realised the walls don't fall down when you move away from them.

Other than that, I'm very relaxed,

where you're still striving for perfection.

Yeah, I'm pretty impressed, to be fair.

Seriously am.

-I've one more thing for you.

-Right, OK, cool. What's this?

-Facial wipes.

-I'd like to see naked Alex for the rest of the day.

-Naked?

-No, no, no.

Just take off all your products.

Your creams and everything, and just have one day, an afternoon, with me.

-Yeah.

-As the real Alex. Well done.

100%, I don't believe men need all this.

Men have got by for millions of years without make-up and product.

People just need to see the real man underneath the mascara

and the lipstick and the rouge.

That's pretty much it. Oh!

Welcome to a man's world.

Where the human beings live!

# This is a man's world... #

Danny's obviously trying...

He's trying to strip me back to basics.

He wants my personality to come out,

rather than me just be stereotyped by the products,

or the brands or the clothes that I wear.

So, what do passers-by think of Alex's no-nonsense makeover?

These look like two nice girls.

Excuse me, ladies. Would it be possible

for you to give me an opinion on my friend Alex here?

He normally wears a lot of products like make-up -

male make-up - and very expensive clothes.

And we've stripped him down as naked as we can get him.

Yeah, he looks fine.

I might change the shoes, but aside from that...

Glad you said that, because they wasn't my choice!

Do you think he needs that?

No, I don't think he needs that at all.

You don't look particularly interested in your own image.

Thank you very much.

He normally wears facial lotions, and make-up.

-Why? Why does he need it?

-Yeah, why do you need it?

This is what I've been trying to tell him.

You look fine. You don't stand out.

How do you think that reaction has made you feel?

I was expecting a lot more negative comments as to, like,

obviously the way I'm dressed and my skin and that kind of thing.

But, yeah, it's quite eye opening, really.

You shouldn't judge yourself too harshly.

You've got to drop yourself from Crown Court

down to Magistrates' Court when you're judging yourself.

After spending time together,

have Danny and Alex learned anything from each other?

How do you feel today, Alex?

I've discovered that, you know, it's nice to look after yourself,

but it's definitely not the be all and end all.

What I've took away from you is maybe that, sometimes,

I should take a bit more care.

I might use a bit of hand cream.

And I'm going to spend 20 minutes on myself when I go out tonight.

And that's a promise.

Social media is packed with examples of what passes for excellence

in the world of perfect bodies.

Bikini bridges - AKA bony hips.

Finger trapping - having a small nose.

And the thigh gap -

being thin enough

for inner thighs not to touch.

This London comedian became an internet sensation

for sending the whole thing up.

Like now, my issues are my thighs!

Oh, my God, my thighs are touching each other!

Oh, my God, everybody can see! Can you see it? Can you see it?

Oh, my God! Oh, my God!

My thighs are touching each other!

Oh, my God, it's so humiliating! My thighs are touching each other!

Send me away to the circus,

call me a freak whose thighs are touching each other!

LAUGHTER AND WHISTLING

And I don't like it that it's popular now

to be self-deprecating and we put each other down, right?

And even worse, we put ourselves down.

I saw a friend the other day. I said, "Babe, you look great.

"That's a nice dress."

Do you know what her response was to "that's a nice dress"?

She went "Oh, this? Oh, yeah, I got it in the sale three years ago.

"It was really cheap, but I bought it. It doesn't really suit me any more because when I bought it I was

"really skinny and I've put on loads of weight.

"I didn't think I'd see anybody and I've left the house and seen you.

"Oh, my God, this is so humiliating!

"You're seeing me in this dress, I hate myself, I hate myself,

"I hate myself!"

After a compliment!

Louisa posted her thigh-gap sketch on Facebook,

and so far it's been watched by 40 million.

Yes, 40 million viewers - the majority women.

I'm in an Islington pub to watch Louisa

and see why her gig has proved to be such an online success.

You know what I've noticed recently? We like to judge a lot, don't we?

We like to judge.

For example. Since when is my weight any of your goddamn business, right?

Since when? But it annoys me when people comment what I look like.

Babe, I like this. So what I've got a bit of a belly? And what?

What makes you think I want to lose that?

This means I go out to dinner with friends.

That's what this means. Thank you for being such a wonderful audience.

I'm Luisa Omielan, big love. Thank you, goodnight.

A terrific performance.

Where did it all begin?

I like to comment on things that I think are ridiculous.

I noticed going out to dinner with friends that

they'd be really fussy about what they're eating,

or we'd plan for weeks to go out for a nice meal,

and then we'd go to really fancy restaurant and they'd order a salad.

And I was like, this is ridiculous. Why are you not ordering the steak?

It's a steak restaurant. And so I started ridiculing things like that.

I think you have to be brave enough to go, "This is it, this is here,

"I'm OK with it. You need to be OK with yours."

People, they're dying to hear a refreshing,

truthful voice on body image and self-love and self-acknowledgement,

rather than berating women all the time.

We're criticised constantly for our age, for our weight,

what we look like.

It's so ridiculous that having a gap in between your

thighs, like, your legs touch.

Like, they're actually touch. That's ridiculous that that's a fad,

and that's the thing. That's what I'm mocking.

That's what I want you to laugh at. And that's why I show it to you,

so you can say, can you see how ridiculous this is?

But some of the guys just like

looking at your thighs and your knickers.

Well, listen, it's a part of the job, isn't it, I guess.

It's... It's what you get!

So what do you worry about in terms of how you look?

Making sure I've got nice braids, nice hair.

-And do you colour your hair?

-I do colour my hair, yeah.

OK. You do things to improve yourself, don't you?

-Yeah, of course.

-So have you plucked your eyebrows?

-Yeah.

-Do you shave under your arms?

-Of course, yeah.

-And when you see yourself naked...

-Yeah.

-..in front of the mirror, what do you think?

Bow-chicka-wow-wow!

-She is the strongest link.

-Whoo! Goodbye!

Thank you so much!

-Thank you so much for coming.

-Well done.

-Thanks, Anne, take care!

I think Louisa speaks for millions of women

worried about the thigh gap.

Or rather worried about having a big belly and no gap between their

thighs. And she's girlie enough to colour her hair,

to have a bikini wax, to pluck her eyebrows,

but she refuses to join in the angst about the flawless figure.

Very cheering, don't you think?

A young voice striking out and making a joke

against the trend for perfection.

There is nothing new about body obsession - I'm a good example -

but the pressures now are different and greater.

Social media, television, newspapers,

magazines have to take their share of the blame.

They definitely encourage youngsters like Jack in Liverpool

to have his face pulled out of shape,

and made those lovely Scouse girls desperate to ape Kim Kardashian.

All of which seems to provide a lot of anxiety, and not much fun.

Whereas Miriam and Danny, and Wendy and Mike,

who couldn't care less how they look, are much happier with life.

Diets, daily gym workouts, plastic surgery all help,

but, actually, the most effective way to feel good about our bodies

is to stop worrying about them!

What's wrong with being ugly?

Nothing! It's learning to live with what we've got

that's proving to be tricky.