The 90-second spot lays bare the truth about what goes into making models and celebrities gorgeous. It will help girls understand the distorted picture of beauty being marketed to them day in and day out. After all, by the age of 17, they will have seen more than 250,000 messages about their appearance. And boys also need to see the artifice behind the almost-unattainable ideals of beauty that our media broadcasts to them at every turn.

We recommend that parents watch this ad with their kids because it\'s the perfect way to open a discussion about body image and self-esteem. The ad helps counter the omnipresent, unrealistic portrayals of beauty against which boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 15 begin to measure themselves. Eating disorders, over-exercise, and low self-worth are just a few byproducts of living in a culture that worships and broadcasts thin, muscular, pimple-free models and celebrities.

Although the media\'s influence is powerful, there are many ways that parents can raise children who view media with a critical eye and develop a positive self-image based on a variety of role models and influences -- not just the ones in the magazines, on TV, and in movies. Here are some suggestions:

Watch the ad with your kids. Either go to www.campaignforrealbeauty.com or watch it on Google Video or YouTube.

Ask kids for their reaction. This is about opening a dialogue. Were your kids surprised by the ad? Did they think the woman was plain or beautiful before?

Broaden the discussion. Ask kids whether they think their favorite celebrities go through this kind of transformation -- and whether they think the celebrities would be as popular if they didn’t.

Bring the discussion back to your children. Do they feel pressure to be thin? Beautiful? Built? Do they think beauty and popularity go together? Why? How do they feel about their own looks?

What other examples can they think of? What other celebrities and models come to mind as examples of unrealistic images of beauty? Who do they find beautiful who doesn’t fit the skinny/Calvin Klein underwear model molds?

Share your own experiences and insecurities and how you coped with them. You want your kids to know you understand. After all, this is just he beginning of a life-long dialogue.

Remember that it might be easier for your kids to talk about their friends or about celebrities than about themselves. Adolescence and insecurity go hand-in-hand, and when it comes to beauty and body image, kids are not only very sensitive, but they\'re also quick to find their parents judgmental.

Seen the ad? Discuss it now on our blog.