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THE DOVE SELF-ESTEEM PROJECT LAUNCHES NEW BODY CONFIDENCE PROGRAM FOR KIDS AS YOUNG AS 4 YEARS OLD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BLIPPI

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Furthering the brand’s commitment to self-esteem education, Dove launches a new body confidence program for kids as young as 4 years old to support a future where younger generations can experience a healthy and positive body relationship

TORONTO, Dec. 19, 2024 /CNW/ – This year marks Dove’s 20-year history of building body confidence and self-esteem in kids through the Dove Self-Esteem Project. Self-esteem and body confidence are important for a child’s development, helping kids do better at school, at home, and with friends. However, recent research by Dove has shown low body confidence is a growing issue with kids today.

Body image concerns start to manifest as early as 4-years-old, with 1 in 4 girls aged 4-6 years disliking something about their appearance[1] and 1 in 3 girls aged 6 years say they want to look thinner.[2]

In Dove’s latest research study, The Real State of Beauty: A Global Report, Dove surveyed kids aged 10–17 across 20 countries and found body confidence in kids is being impacted when it comes to their experiences at school, with more than 3 in 5 girls (63%) saying they have not felt confident at school because they don’t feel good about the way they look.

Now, the Dove Self-Esteem Project extends its program to a younger audience of 4+, in partnership with the popular live-action preschool brand, Blippi, because Dove believes that starting this education at a younger age will help to minimize self-esteem and body confidence issues, now and in the future. The Dove Self-Esteem Project in partnership with Blippi provides inclusive, upbeat content for kids to protect body confidence in kids as early as four years old and help empower caregivers to have conversations around this complex topic. 

The pressure to look a certain way from a young age can lead to long-term anxiety and unrealistic beauty expectations. Almost half of young girls expect to worry more about their appearance as they get older. Over the past two decades, the Dove Self-Esteem Project has reached over 114 million young people in 153 countries with self-esteem and body confidence education.

“Since 2004 Dove has been committed to building body confidence and self-esteem for the next generation of young people. Now, with children as young as four starting to become aware of their appearance and how they feel about their body, we knew we needed to urgently intervene and extend our program to a younger audience to support a healthy and positive outlook on body image and protect the younger generation from experiencing low body confidence. We want a future where young people feel empowered to confidently challenge beauty standards, advocate for themselves, and feel connected to and celebrate their bodies.” says Marcela Melero, Chief Growth Officer, Dove.

“Partnering with Dove was a dream come true and we are proud to help support Dove. As children become aware of their appearance at an increasingly young age, it’s vital that we continue to offer positive, empowering messages that build self-confidence and a healthy body image. Together with Dove, we’re excited to create a world where kids feel empowered, confident, and ready to embrace who they are.” says Dan’l Hewitt, Vice President, Brand Partnerships, Moonbug Entertainment.

To mark 20 years of the Dove Self-Esteem Project, Dove has united with expert partners to reach new audiences where body confidence is at threat, and raise awareness of the current state of young peoples’ self-esteem.

The Dove Self-Esteem Project and Blippi, in collaboration with body image experts at the Centre for Appearance Research, have developed engaging content proven to protect body appreciation in kids as young as 4 years old. Blippi launches first of its kind content focused on body confidence for young kids on Amazon and other streaming services, with additional episodes and exclusive music videos on Blippi’s YouTube channel, in English and French.In celebration of International Day of the Girl, Dove reached more than 12,000 students through in-person workshops and the first-ever Canada-wide virtual Dove Day event, designed to help students in grades 6-8 build the body confidence and self-esteem they need to reach their full potential.

To learn more, visit Dove.ca/selfesteem to download free, evidence-based resources and tools.

It’s never too early to start teaching kids about body confidence and self-esteem to help them grow into body confident adults. Dove is committed to ensuring the next generation grows up enjoying a positive relationship with the way they look to reach their full potential.

About the new research: 2024 The Real State of Beauty: a global report

Online survey conducted by Edelman DXI (Data x Intelligence), a global, multidisciplinary research, analytics, and data consultancy, in November / December 2023. This 25-minute survey was completed in 20 countries: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, KSA, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Philippines, South Africa, Sweden, Türkiye, the USA, and the UK.

Researchers spoke with more than 33,000 respondents: 19,306 respondents aged between 18 to 64 years old (14,673 women, 3,776 men*) and 14,292 respondents aged 10 to 17 years old (9,475 girls, 4,753 boys*). 

15 experts ranging from academic experts to consultants on body image and activists in the field were consulted on the research questions and outputs, and we ensured the survey was representative of various subgroups e.g. people with larger bodies, disabilities, mental health conditions, LGBTQ+ people and people of colour.

All interviews were conducted in local languages and dialects, with only appropriate questions asked in each market and the methodology was consistent with the level of national online penetration required to avoid sampling bias.

*Note: Other gender identities and non-binary respondents were surveyed but are not reported due to the limited sample sizes.

About the Dove Self-Esteem Project

As the world’s leading provider of self-esteem education for girls, Dove continues to support girls wherever their self-esteem is at stake and ensure the next generation grows up enjoying a positive relationship with how they look. Since 2004, Dove has reached over 100 million young people globally, in over 150 countries through the Dove Self-Esteem Project, with a goal of reaching 250M young lives by 2030.

About Dove

Dove started its life in 1957 in the US, with the launch of the Beauty Bar, with its patented blend of mild cleansers and ¼ moisturizing cream. Dove’s heritage is based on moisturization, and it is proof not promises that enabled Dove to grow from a Beauty Bar into one of the world’s most beloved beauty brands. 

Women have always been our inspiration and since the beginning, we have been wholly committed to providing superior care to all women and to championing real beauty in our advertising. Dove believes that beauty is for everyone. That beauty should be a source of confidence and not anxiety. Dove’s mission is to inspire women everywhere to develop a positive relationship with the way they look and realize their personal potential for beauty. 

For more than 65 years, Dove has been committed to broadening the narrow definition of beauty in the work they do. With the ‘Dove Real Beauty Pledge,’ Dove vows to:

Portray women with honesty, diversity and respect. We feature women of different ages, sizes, ethnicities, hair colour, type, and style.Portray women as they are in real life, with zero digital distortion and all images approved by the women they feature.Help young people build body confidence and self-esteem through the Dove Self-Esteem Project, the biggest provider of self-esteem education in the world.

About Blippi:

Blippi, the world’s most popular live-action preschool brand, turns the world into a playground for preschoolers everywhere. The brand encourages a lifelong love of learning which helps to instill confidence and curiosity at a young age. Blippi has become a worldwide sensation with more than one billion monthly views across platforms including Netflix, HBO Max, Cartoonito, Sky, Amazon and YouTube and millions of fans around the world. The franchise has expanded rapidly since it was acquired by Moonbug Entertainment in 2020. Blippi is available in more than 20 languages, including ASL, and is distributed by more than 30 global broadcast and streaming partners. Blippi’s buddies Meekah and Juca have spun off into their own shows and Blippi lives off the screen with sold-out live events, popular music tracks, and in-demand toys available at all major retailers.

_____________________________

[1] Hayes, S., & Tantleff‐Dunn, S. (2010). Am I too fat to be a princess? Examining the effects of popular children’s media on young girls’ body image. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 28(2), 413-426.

[2] León, M. P., González-Martí, I., & Contreras-Jordán, O. R. (2021). What do children think of their perceived and ideal bodies? Understandings of body image at early ages: A mixed study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(9), 4871.

SOURCE Dove

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New Cornerstone Advisors Research Reveals Community Banks Are Ceding a $106 Billion Consumer Lending Opportunity

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Study finds consumer lending can protect commercial relationships, deposits and future growth

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Community banks that treat consumer lending as a low-margin, low-priority product risk surrendering valuable customer relationships and billions in loan demand to competitors, according to new Cornerstone Advisors research commissioned by Teslar Software.

The report, The Most Valuable Loan Community Banks Don’t Make: The Hidden Value of Consumer Lending, says consumer lending should be viewed not as a standalone profit center but as a way to retain business-owner relationships, protect deposits and defend against fintechs, credit unions and large banks.

Across approximately 5.5 million U.S. employer small businesses, owners are expected to generate roughly $106 billion in consumer loan demand over the next two years — much of which community banks currently allow to flow elsewhere. The study, based on a survey of 1,249 small-business owners and executives and interviews with community bank executives, found that nearly 60% of business owners bank with one of the five largest U.S. banks, where consumer lending represents 12% to 24% of total loan portfolios.

Additionally:

Median consumer loans are just 1.2% of total loans at U.S. banks with $500 million to $20 billion in assets and 0.83% at banks with $10 billion to $20 billion.Only 46% of business owners who obtained a personal loan in the past three years used their primary business bank; 54% borrowed elsewhere.Business owners cited rates or terms (41%), slow approval (35%) and lack of awareness or availability (14%) as reasons for borrowing elsewhere.

“Many banks ask whether consumer loans generate enough profit on their own to justify the investment,” said Elizabeth Gujral, director at Cornerstone Advisors. “The real question is what banks stand to lose when business owners turn elsewhere. Every loan that leaves creates an opening for a competitor to deepen the relationship, attract deposits and win future business. Consumer lending is increasingly a relationship-retention strategy.”

Other key survey findings:

72% of business owners expect to need a consumer loan within three years, up from 66% who obtained one in the previous three years.80% would consider a consumer loan from their primary business bank if it offered the product.Banks with the highest consumer lending mix outperformed those with the lowest, posting median ROA of 1.44% versus 1.15%, ROE of 13.4% versus 10.5%, and deposit growth of 9.9% versus 8.0%.

“Consumer lending is about more than the loan itself,” said Joe Ehrhardt, CEO and founder of Teslar Software. “It’s an opportunity to deepen existing relationships today and build the commercial relationships of tomorrow. By modernizing origination and automating routine processes, community institutions can make consumer lending efficient and profitable while supporting long-term growth.”

The report concludes that although consumer lending may not drive profits on a loan-by-loan basis, it plays a critical role in strengthening customer relationships and defending against growing competition.

The full report, The Most Valuable Loan Community Banks Don’t Make: The Hidden Value of Consumer Lending, is available for download here.

About Cornerstone Advisors

For more than 20 years, Cornerstone Advisors has provided advisory services and research to banks, credit unions and fintech companies. The firm helps financial institutions improve performance, modernize technology, increase efficiency and execute growth strategies.

About Teslar Software

Teslar Software helps community financial institutions modernize operations and accelerate growth while preserving relationship banking. Its unified platform supports loan origination, portfolio management, AI-powered workflow automation and exception tracking.

Media Contact
Cate Pitts, Editorial Director
Cornerstone Advisors
480-425-5203
424179@email4pr.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-cornerstone-advisors-research-reveals-community-banks-are-ceding-a-106-billion-consumer-lending-opportunity-302899390.html

SOURCE Cornerstone Advisors

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New Cornerstone Advisors Research Reveals Community Banks Are Ceding a $106 Billion Consumer Lending Opportunity

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Study finds consumer lending can protect commercial relationships, deposits and future growth

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Community banks that treat consumer lending as a low-margin, low-priority product risk surrendering valuable customer relationships and billions in loan demand to competitors, according to new Cornerstone Advisors research commissioned by Teslar Software.

The report, The Most Valuable Loan Community Banks Don’t Make: The Hidden Value of Consumer Lending, says consumer lending should be viewed not as a standalone profit center but as a way to retain business-owner relationships, protect deposits and defend against fintechs, credit unions and large banks.

Across approximately 5.5 million U.S. employer small businesses, owners are expected to generate roughly $106 billion in consumer loan demand over the next two years — much of which community banks currently allow to flow elsewhere. The study, based on a survey of 1,249 small-business owners and executives and interviews with community bank executives, found that nearly 60% of business owners bank with one of the five largest U.S. banks, where consumer lending represents 12% to 24% of total loan portfolios.

Additionally:

Median consumer loans are just 1.2% of total loans at U.S. banks with $500 million to $20 billion in assets and 0.83% at banks with $10 billion to $20 billion.Only 46% of business owners who obtained a personal loan in the past three years used their primary business bank; 54% borrowed elsewhere.Business owners cited rates or terms (41%), slow approval (35%) and lack of awareness or availability (14%) as reasons for borrowing elsewhere.

“Many banks ask whether consumer loans generate enough profit on their own to justify the investment,” said Elizabeth Gujral, director at Cornerstone Advisors. “The real question is what banks stand to lose when business owners turn elsewhere. Every loan that leaves creates an opening for a competitor to deepen the relationship, attract deposits and win future business. Consumer lending is increasingly a relationship-retention strategy.”

Other key survey findings:

72% of business owners expect to need a consumer loan within three years, up from 66% who obtained one in the previous three years.80% would consider a consumer loan from their primary business bank if it offered the product.Banks with the highest consumer lending mix outperformed those with the lowest, posting median ROA of 1.44% versus 1.15%, ROE of 13.4% versus 10.5%, and deposit growth of 9.9% versus 8.0%.

“Consumer lending is about more than the loan itself,” said Joe Ehrhardt, CEO and founder of Teslar Software. “It’s an opportunity to deepen existing relationships today and build the commercial relationships of tomorrow. By modernizing origination and automating routine processes, community institutions can make consumer lending efficient and profitable while supporting long-term growth.”

The report concludes that although consumer lending may not drive profits on a loan-by-loan basis, it plays a critical role in strengthening customer relationships and defending against growing competition.

The full report, The Most Valuable Loan Community Banks Don’t Make: The Hidden Value of Consumer Lending, is available for download here.

About Cornerstone Advisors

For more than 20 years, Cornerstone Advisors has provided advisory services and research to banks, credit unions and fintech companies. The firm helps financial institutions improve performance, modernize technology, increase efficiency and execute growth strategies.

About Teslar Software

Teslar Software helps community financial institutions modernize operations and accelerate growth while preserving relationship banking. Its unified platform supports loan origination, portfolio management, AI-powered workflow automation and exception tracking.

Media Contact
Cate Pitts, Editorial Director
Cornerstone Advisors
480-425-5203
424179@email4pr.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-cornerstone-advisors-research-reveals-community-banks-are-ceding-a-106-billion-consumer-lending-opportunity-302899390.html

SOURCE Cornerstone Advisors

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Itibari-Waynne & Partners (IWP) and VYRE Activate Partnership with Exclusive Content for VBNGtv

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First Projects Announced: ‘The Plug’ and Season Two of ‘self!’ as IWP prepares to open in early 2027

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Itibari-Waynne & Partners (IWP), the agentic financing platform for creator-led projects, and VYRE Network are kicking off their partnership with the launch of content created exclusively for VYRE Business News Global (VBNGtv), VYRE’s free streaming business channel.

With IWP officially opening for business in the first quarter of 2027, they are inviting creators, investors, lenders, vendors and apprentices to get a headstart where projects meet capital right now. Join their “Reserve Your Spot Today!” campaign today and Plug In to gain first access to funding.

“When we announced this partnership, the goal was to bring capital and content together on one network. Today that becomes real,” said David Hill, CEO of VYRE Network. “VBNGtv viewers get exclusive programming about business and capital, and creators get a direct line to IWP’s financing platform.”

‘The Plug’: First Proven Project

Debuting this fall, ‘The Plug’ is a video podcast series hosted by Grammy Award-winning producer Bruce Waynne, Founder and CEO of IWP, and Itibari Zulu, President of IWP and Chief Investment Officer of VYRE. It features long-form conversations with entrepreneurs, financiers, investors and entertainers about access to capital, ownership and building a company.

Named after PLUG, IWP’s dedicated funding agent, the series puts IWP’s model in front of the audience it serves: creators seeking funding, investors and lenders seeking vetted deals, and vendors and apprentices seeking funded work.

‘The Plug’ is also the first project financed under IWP’s model and serves as its proof of concept. The model layers risk protection with identifiable repayment sources; depending on the transaction, up to 80% of financing may be supported by insurance-backed credit enhancements, government incentives, tax credits, minimum guarantees, presales and distribution commitments.

‘self!’: IWP Helps Fund Second Season

IWP is contributing funding for Season Two of the successful VBNGtv original series, ‘self!’ which stands for Self-Empowerment Lessons Flourished. The recorded presentation-style talks provide an open-door look at how influential business leaders have elevated their companies to the next level.

The highest viewed episode from the first season featured a candid account from Itibari Zulu, who reveals how he found motivation and transformed it into a successful career in the financial services industry for over two decades. Watch this ‘self!’ episode now: ‘Itibari Zulu – Understanding the 4 Phases in Business’ 

“‘self!’ gave me the chance to share my story,” adds Zulu. “Season Two is about helping more people tell theirs, and that’s what IWP was built to do: put capital behind the people doing the work.”

Both ‘The Plug’ and ‘self!’ can be streamed for free at VBNGtv.com, the VYRE app, and on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Samsung and LG Smart TVs, iOS and Android.

About IWP
IWP is an agentic financing platform that provides the infrastructure layer for entrepreneurs, powered by PLUG, its dedicated funding agent. www.iwp.fund

About VBNGtv
VBNGtv is a capital markets media engine and global streaming business channel showcasing small-cap and micro-cap companies, business leaders and brand partners.

About VYRE Network
VYRE is a vertically integrated media and entertainment technology company that helps creators, studios and brands distribute, finance, market and monetize premium content worldwide.

Media Contact:
Tammy Lynn, Spotlight PR Company
310-867-1952 / 424183@email4pr.com 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/itibari-waynne–partners-iwp-and-vyre-activate-partnership-with-exclusive-content-for-vbngtv-302899709.html

SOURCE Itibari-Waynne & Partners (IWP)

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