Commenting on the viral image that stirred a beauty debate, SMU Professor of Psychology Norman Li said that individuals might have a warped perception of those from other countries due to the media. Prof Li added that Singaporean women might be more critical in perceiving physical attractiveness due to their financial independence, which leads them to hyperfocus on looks. SMU Assistant Professor of Marketing Shilpa Madan said the image normalised treating appearance as a legitimate basis for ranking whole communities, fuelling prejudice against "less attractive" groups. She added that Asians already experienced high levels of pressure to conform to such ideals due to their culture and were more likely to undergo surgery to change their appearance.
