“Verily” refreshing magazine for young women

Our society certainly seems intent on pressing on women the seemingly impossible task of “looking good all the time.” With the glamorization of things like the Victoria’s Secret fashion show and a cultural fascination with celebrities that somehow look like porcelain dolls, it can be difficult being a young woman constantly surrounded by this body scrutiny. Magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Vogue have been somewhat of a catalyst in pushing this idea that young women must always look or behave a certain way.

We are starting to see some small turns the right direction, though. For instance, the company Aerie has taken on a “no Photoshop campaign” for their models. This decision certainly gained a lot of attention because it had been a taboo concept in the media. And one particular online women’s magazine, Verily, has embraced a healthy feminism and has made it their mission to instill body positivity and “to empower and inspire women to be the best versions of themselves.” This is a refreshing concept, and they have done an incredible job in doing so.

Verily has taken all the topics that women have an interest in — health and wellness, fashion, relationships, etc. — but presents them in a modest, wholesome way that makes women feel good about themselves, rather than make them feel as if they are not living up to an impossible beauty standard.

Their articles give women something to strive for such as ambition and confidence, and rather than just being sexy. They cover a range of relationships, from marriage to single life to friendships and do not simply focus on finding or keeping a man. They highlight celebrities to look up to for personality and substance, rather than just covering the latest Kardashian drama. Even the fashion, beauty, and health sections are all placed in a body positive light. While magazines like Vogue and Cosmo have a few articles that encourage this positivity, there’s something about the airbrushed models or celebrities on their website and the cover of each issue that contradict that message.

What I enjoy most about Verily is that some of their articles are daring enough to go against the grain. They challenge social norms such as birth control or the constant use of your cell phone, to encourage women that we do not all have to follow the path that society and the media has laid out for us. We can dare to be different! These articles make me feel informed and inspired. I do not have to be like the women that are presented in other magazines…I can be me.

This is not a Catholic magazine, but good values and authentic femininity are front and center. Check out verilymag.com and see these refreshingly positive articles for yourself!

— Megan Imwalle
Communications Intern