Society

Tia Johal

How Unrealistic Beauty Standards on TikTok Impact the Mental Health of Female Users

A headshot of a smiling young woman with medium skin tone and long, dark, curly hair. She has a nose piercing on her right nostril, natural eye makeup, and light pink lipstick. She is wearing a black one-shoulder top and a gold necklace with an initial pendant, set against a plain light grey background.

Tia Johal is a fourth year Professional Communications student pursuing a minor in News Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is planning to continue her bachelor’s degree aiming to graduate in 2027. Throughout her studies in Professional Communications, she has learned to advance her written, creative and communication skills. With a strong passion for public relations, news and storytelling. Also, gaining a profound interest in radio while presenting current popular culture news to audiences at MetRadio during her free time. She strives to pursue a career where she can connect, innovate and advocate meaningful stories to the public. 



This capstone project investigates the reinforcement of unrealistic beauty standards on TikTok and how it can impact the mental health of female users. It addresses the wider concerns that become apparent while users are faced with unrealistic beauty standards. It frames the dominant role TikTok plays in showcasing idealist beauty expectations. Leading female users to view them as societal beauty norms. These narrow beauty standards that do not comply with diverse feminine beauty. Exposure to these unrealistic beauty standards causes negative detrimental effects to the psychological and mental health of female users. 


Lightning Talk

Browse More Society Research

More Projects

A smiling young woman with warm brown eyes and long, straight brown hair with lighter caramel highlights, parted slightly off-center, looks directly at the camera. She has a broad smile, showing white teeth, and faint dimples on her cheeks. She is wearing a textured cream or off-white cardigan with a visible button. The background is a plain, smooth grey.

Ava Cheung

The Role of Social Media Influencers in Shaping Consumer Behaviour in the Skincare Industry
A headshot of a young woman with a warm, broad smile, featuring long dark brown hair parted down the middle. She has brown eyes, full eyelashes, well-groomed dark eyebrows, and a small silver stud piercing on her right nostril. She is wearing a black top and a delicate gold necklace with a single white pearl pendant. The background is a soft, light gray.

Lauren Kluthe

OHL: A Media Pipeline to the Big Leagues (NHL)
A headshot shows a young woman with tan skin, dark hair neatly pulled into a high bun, and large gold hoop earrings. She smiles broadly, revealing white teeth, and wears a dark pinstriped blazer over a white shirt, accessorized with two gold necklaces, one featuring a large 'A' pendant and another a smaller round charm. The background is a softly blurred modern indoor setting.

Aydra Teeuwen

What We Say and What We Don’t - Stigma and Disclosure in Online Psilocybin Conversations
Scroll to Top