I don’t know about you, but there is something deliciously devilish in greedily grasping for the magazine shouting from the cover, “Stars Without Make-up” or “Look Who Has Cellulite” or “Damn! It’s Taking Her Forever to Lose That Baby-Weight”. If you’re anything like me, as you stand in line with a cart full of groceries and two helpful toddlers attempting to put the carton of eggs on the conveyor belt, you frantically search for those pictures revealing stars to be just like “us”. And you know what I find? I find women who look just as beautiful without make-up and fancy hair-dos. I find women who are holding their children, walking their dogs, or shopping with friends. And you know something; they are more beautiful BECAUSE they are REAL in those pictures. As I replace the magazine on the rack and simultaneously catch a falling egg, I look around me and realize that beauty surrounds us. Everyone is beautiful in his/her own way. Some, obviously, are more blessed than others, but everyone has something to recommend themselves. Some might have stunning eyes; others may have long, silky hair.
Next time you’re in line, look at the cover picture of the featured celebrity. Look really closely. Here’s what you won’t find: a single zit, chin hair, wrinkle, dark spot, dry patch, baggy eye, drooping eyelid, askew eyebrow hair, or misplaced mole. How can this be? Easy. Digital photo editing. Anybody can look stunningly gorgeous with a little computer retouching. But my question is why. Why do celebrities spend unmentionable amounts of money to keep up the illusion of being PERFECT? Because society expects them to look great all the time. I actually find it quite refreshing when an artist looks “real”. Take for example Cate Blanchett’s cover photo on the newest issue of Intelligent Life. She still looks gorgeous, but it’s a REAL gorgeous. The wrinkles on her face only attest to the wonderful life she’s led. I applaud and respect her bravery for doing such a dangerous thing. Maybe her cover shoot has something to do with Demi Moore’s newest face sponsoring beauty brand Helena Rubinstein. She is so photo shopped that one has to look very hard to find any resemblance to the true 49-year-old actress. I can’t imagine being told that “You’re not young enough nor beautiful enough, so we’re going to photo shop you until you are.”
Frankly, dear readers, I’m tired. I’m tired of watching young girls attempt to look as perfect as their role model’s cover shoot photos. I’m tired of young girls not eating lunch in an attempt to achieve the body only a dedicated athlete could have. I’m tired of young girls not knowing that they are more beautiful without all the trappings of Hollywood glamor. What can we do to stop this run-away “beauty” train before it derails and destroys every sense of self-esteem in our young and vulnerable generation?
Please watch the following YouTube videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hibyAJOSW8U http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP31r70_QNM
