Celebrity ‘yummy mummies’, who seem to effortlessly manage motherhood, work and domestic life, are making other mums feel like failures, a survey has revealed.

In a survey of 8,500 people conducted out by YouGov and Netmums for Nivea Soft, more than two third of mums said they believe celebrity role models such as Victoria Beckham and Madonna, put them under pressure to live up to an unrealistic ideal. Mum’s say they’re feeling under pressure in a variety of ways. Four in five claimed to feel pressurised to look good and feel sexy and over a third said they felt pressured to have a successful career as well.

It’s not only the yummy mummies though. Celebrity dads, such as the chef Jamie Oliver, are making 75% of mums even more concerned about diet and nutrition issues and the food they’re feeding their children.

Sixty-seven per cent said that they feel like they’re regarded as a mother first and a woman second and are left feeling like second-rate citizens.

“When an ideal ‘yummy mummy’ is forced on society, particularly when it’s spearheaded with unrealistic celebrity role models, it alters expectations and attitudes towards motherhood,” commented psychologist, David Maxon.

“When society starts to place idealistic views of how mums should appear it not only leaves them feeling disillusioned with their own lives, it can also lead to partners, family members and friends being dismissive when mums in their own life don’t live up to these unrealistic expectations.”

The celebrity mums voted the most unrealistic were Victoria Beckham (42%), Angelina Jolie (11%) and Madonna (9%). 

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