News / National
Buttocks enhancers demand skyrocket
10 Jan 2015 at 03:54hrs | Views
Plagued by a less shapely rear, flat chest or hips? Well, worry no more because there is now a solution for you. Skip the gym and go straight for the body enhancers that have taken the local and international market by storm.
Companies are cashing in on the growing demand from women seeking the more curvaceous figures of their favourite stars, who flaunt their fuller rear ends like Kim Kardashian, Nicki Minaj and Jennifer Lopez among others.
Recently, the desire for a bigger bottom has become more mainstream, in large part due to pop culture influences and hit songs that are being made to compliment women with fuller figures.
Local women have found themselves caught up in the body enhancing craze as they are now queuing up in shops to buy items like bum boosting panties, bust enhancers and hip pads.
Most of them claim that they do it for self-confidence and to attract men. Others have for some time been indulging in freely available pills such as Apetito and hip enhancing gels that they can get either on the streets or in downtown shops. While it is expected that such drugs should be prescribed, most local women have decided to throw caution to the wind and patronise the street vendors who are now enjoying good business.
Those with better pockets have even gone to the extremes of having surgeries whereby fat is taken from the stomach and stuffed into their hips and bottoms.
Some of these items are as expensive as $80 for a full set comprising of a tummy tucker, silicon bust enhancers and hip pads but stock is fast running out. Businesspeople like Vanessa Chiyangwa have since opened shops that sell these body enhancers with prices ranging from $10 to $70.
Chipo Dube, who is a shop owner who sells body shapers in the CBD said that ever since she started selling these novelties, her sales have increased.
"I used to sell clothing items like jeans, suits and dresses only but noticed that most women were talking about enhancing their bodies with artificial items and I decided to give them a try. Since then my profits have increased," said Dube.
Since most Zimbabwean women cannot afford to go for surgery to have their bodies enhanced, they have opted for these cheaper methods which also do not have side effects.
"I go to Dubai every month to get more stock and local women do not only come to the shop but they also call me to place their orders because some are from far away towns.
"Some customers ask me to bring them the body shapers in all colours and some have even asked if I can get them arm shapers, this business is the new money maker in twon," said Memory Makwerwere another retailer specialising in body enhancers.
We traced the reason of why women would go to the extremes to change the way their bodies look. The root of the growing fascination with butt injections and body enhancers can easily be traced to men, especially blacks. They sing about it, rap about it, stare at it and constantly chase it — and that's been to women's disadvantage.
Saturday Lifestyle caught up with some of the women and men to get their views.
"Truly, it's not a really good message for the young women coming up in this world.
Would you want your daughter, niece, mother or aunt putting silicone in their behind and not knowing what will happen to them because of the chemicals? What will happen when they all get old?
"And women need to stop thinking that having an oversized, unreal butt or breasts will make them look better, it actually makes you look laughable and stupid," said Tendai Shonhiwa.
Said Doreen Kasipo: "Yes men influence what's considered beautiful. Women also spend huge amounts of time and money trying to meet some of the beauty standards and I think the individual has to make her decision and ultimately feel comfortable with her own body," .
Some women who use these body enhancers have expressed satisfaction and said that they have managed to get good results.
"I also want to be admired by men and these products really work for me. I usually use the bum-lifting tights which are very comfortable. The sizes vary and you can choose one that is not really big so that people do not notice the difference. They are very comfortable and there are no side effects at all," said Stella Chijake.
Another woman, who refused to be named said that she has been using breast enhancers for a very long time and people do not recognise that they are fake.
However, most people are claiming that there are no side effects to these body enhancers but the question is, what will happen if a man admires your body and you reach a point whereby he will have to see you naked? Are you going to conveniently switch off the lights as you unload your baggage or you will be straight enough to declare your consignment?
Companies are cashing in on the growing demand from women seeking the more curvaceous figures of their favourite stars, who flaunt their fuller rear ends like Kim Kardashian, Nicki Minaj and Jennifer Lopez among others.
Recently, the desire for a bigger bottom has become more mainstream, in large part due to pop culture influences and hit songs that are being made to compliment women with fuller figures.
Local women have found themselves caught up in the body enhancing craze as they are now queuing up in shops to buy items like bum boosting panties, bust enhancers and hip pads.
Most of them claim that they do it for self-confidence and to attract men. Others have for some time been indulging in freely available pills such as Apetito and hip enhancing gels that they can get either on the streets or in downtown shops. While it is expected that such drugs should be prescribed, most local women have decided to throw caution to the wind and patronise the street vendors who are now enjoying good business.
Those with better pockets have even gone to the extremes of having surgeries whereby fat is taken from the stomach and stuffed into their hips and bottoms.
Some of these items are as expensive as $80 for a full set comprising of a tummy tucker, silicon bust enhancers and hip pads but stock is fast running out. Businesspeople like Vanessa Chiyangwa have since opened shops that sell these body enhancers with prices ranging from $10 to $70.
Chipo Dube, who is a shop owner who sells body shapers in the CBD said that ever since she started selling these novelties, her sales have increased.
"I used to sell clothing items like jeans, suits and dresses only but noticed that most women were talking about enhancing their bodies with artificial items and I decided to give them a try. Since then my profits have increased," said Dube.
Since most Zimbabwean women cannot afford to go for surgery to have their bodies enhanced, they have opted for these cheaper methods which also do not have side effects.
"I go to Dubai every month to get more stock and local women do not only come to the shop but they also call me to place their orders because some are from far away towns.
"Some customers ask me to bring them the body shapers in all colours and some have even asked if I can get them arm shapers, this business is the new money maker in twon," said Memory Makwerwere another retailer specialising in body enhancers.
We traced the reason of why women would go to the extremes to change the way their bodies look. The root of the growing fascination with butt injections and body enhancers can easily be traced to men, especially blacks. They sing about it, rap about it, stare at it and constantly chase it — and that's been to women's disadvantage.
Saturday Lifestyle caught up with some of the women and men to get their views.
"Truly, it's not a really good message for the young women coming up in this world.
Would you want your daughter, niece, mother or aunt putting silicone in their behind and not knowing what will happen to them because of the chemicals? What will happen when they all get old?
"And women need to stop thinking that having an oversized, unreal butt or breasts will make them look better, it actually makes you look laughable and stupid," said Tendai Shonhiwa.
Said Doreen Kasipo: "Yes men influence what's considered beautiful. Women also spend huge amounts of time and money trying to meet some of the beauty standards and I think the individual has to make her decision and ultimately feel comfortable with her own body," .
Some women who use these body enhancers have expressed satisfaction and said that they have managed to get good results.
"I also want to be admired by men and these products really work for me. I usually use the bum-lifting tights which are very comfortable. The sizes vary and you can choose one that is not really big so that people do not notice the difference. They are very comfortable and there are no side effects at all," said Stella Chijake.
Another woman, who refused to be named said that she has been using breast enhancers for a very long time and people do not recognise that they are fake.
However, most people are claiming that there are no side effects to these body enhancers but the question is, what will happen if a man admires your body and you reach a point whereby he will have to see you naked? Are you going to conveniently switch off the lights as you unload your baggage or you will be straight enough to declare your consignment?
Source - The Herald
