It’s got pubes in it!
Women's shaving products are not only getting real with their advertising, but their newfound natural approach is finally being accepted by consumers...
How Venus’ 2025 Ad is Redefining Body Hair Norms
As recently as 2018, the sight of body hair in women’s shaving adverts was enough to spark controversy. When Billie launched its “Project Body Hair” campaign, it became the first major brand to show actual hair on women’s bodies. While the campaign was praised for its authenticity, it also faced backlash, with some platforms even flagging the content as “sensitive” .
Fast forward to 2025, and Gillette Venus has taken a bold, yet refreshingly grounded step forward. Their latest campaign under the “My Skin. My Way.” banner features real women shaving their legs, armpits, and bikini lines—complete with visible body hair. No airbrushing. No euphemisms. Just real skin, real hair, and real choices.
Why This Matters
For decades, women’s shaving adverts have shown impossibly smooth, already hairless legs being shaved—an ironic and unrealistic standard that subtly reinforced the idea that body hair on women was something to be hidden, not acknowledged.
Venus’ new campaign flips that narrative. By showing women with visible hair confidently shaving in everyday settings, the brand is sending a powerful message: body hair is normal, and how you choose to manage it is entirely up to you.
“And let’s be honest—men’s shaving ads have been showing beards being trimmed for decades. Imagine if they’d been shaving clean-shaven faces all this time. It’s like advertising toothpaste without teeth”
The Cultural Shift
This campaign lands at a time when body positivity and authenticity are more than just buzzwords—they’re expectations. Consumers, especially younger generations, are demanding that brands reflect real experiences and diverse bodies. Venus’ ad doesn’t sensationalise or shock; it simply normalises.
And that’s what makes it revolutionary.
Reception and Impact
While some critics still find the visibility of body hair “too much,” the broader reception has been largely positive. Social media responses have praised the ad for its honesty and inclusivity, with many women expressing relief at finally seeing their own grooming routines reflected on screen.
This isn’t just about razors. It’s about representation. It’s about giving women permission to see themselves—hair and all—as worthy of visibility and respect.
Venus’ 2025 campaign may not be the first to show body hair, but this years might be the first to do so with such clarity, confidence, and mainstream reach that it finally sticks...