Dove Announces Global Partnership With Cartoon Network's Steven Universe to Build Self-Esteem and Body Confidence in Young People Using Mainstream Entertainment for the First Time

LONDON, April 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

The two-year partnership takes the Dove Self-Esteem Project, the world's largest provider of self-esteem education, to a scale never-seen-before 

Dove announces a two-year global partnership with Cartoon Network's Steven Universe to educate young people on body confidence through the cartoon's themes of inclusivity and empowerment, world and characters - going directly to them in a medium they know and love, something that has never been done before.

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This pioneering collaboration comes from the Dove Self-Esteem Project which has been helping young people build self-esteem and body confidence through educational programmes since 2004. The project is based on the knowledge that over half of girls do not have high body confidence, leading them to avoid spending time with friends and family, put their health at risk and opt-out of important life events. The Dove Self-Esteem Project exists in 140 countries around the world and is committed to reaching 40 million young people by 2020 through its existing educational programmes; and with the help of Steven Universe, will now reach 20 million more.

Using a public health intervention model, the Dove Self-Esteem Project will expand beyond structured workshops delivered by adults, to taking educational content direct to young people on a scale never-seen before. And in the case of the project's partnership with Cartoon Network, this will be Steven Universe's young viewers to positively impact their self-esteem and body confidence.

The partnership will come to life in a series of six short animated films directed by Steven Universe creator Rebecca Sugar, the first of which premieres today. Working with the Dove Self-Esteem Project, all content has been carefully co-created and grounded in scientific evidence by body image expert, Dr Phillippa Diedrichs at the Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England in order to make a meaningful impact on a young person's self-esteem and body confidence.

Later this year, an original song featuring the cast of the show, an accompanying music video, and an educational eBook will also be launched adding to the Dove Self-Esteem Project's commitment to create a media landscape for young people that is inclusive by acknowledging every person's uniqueness and representing true diversity.