In this episode Miranda Tapsell and Nakkiah Lui, share stories with former Dolly editor Marina Go about perceptions of beauty in Australia, and discuss how beauty is being defined on Aussie TV and in magazines. They also explore how and why Instagram has opened up a space of freedom for women of colour. 

Marina Go became editor of the iconic teenage Australian magazine Dolly at the age of 23. She, like Nakkiah and Miranda, learned about her body, sex and relationships by ripping open the sealed section of the magazine every month. Reading Dolly was a defining experience for many young Australian women, but the girls shown in the magazine did not look like our hosts and guest. 

The majority were “blonde and blue-eyed”, recalls Marina. 

“Growing up I never, ever saw anyone who looked like me … that’s why, when I became the editor I was determined to make sure there were women or girls who looked like I did. 

“I wanted girls who looked like me to see themselves.”