I'm angry.
In fact, it irks me to realize what a hypocrite I've become. I've come to the sad and frustrating conclusion that Certain things will never be considered beautiful. Not in this decade anyway.
Let's be honest. Being a nerd will never be cool either. Sure, you can fall for the "geeky" type, but this "geek", too, I'd an idealized version of what a nerd should be.
I'm guessing that if he were truly a "nerd" (ironically, through my own stereotypical views, and experience with unpretentious technicians and the like), and came with his body odor, riddled with acne, scrawniness (or obesity, due to addiction to mayonnaise) and social awkwardness, you might not even prod him with a ten foot bamboo pole, let alone idealize this very real character. Sure, the braces and intelligence are quite uhm. Cute. But BO? Not so. And real nerds don't wear "geek specs", by the way.
Dove did well with its 'Campaign for real beauty'. Suddenly, plus sized models were enjoying the limelight, changing the look of modeling and what 'ideal' beauty was. It was like suddenly, we all felt happy to have wrinkles, freckles, simply skin, curvy bodies!
But something must have changed in the minds of people because eventually when the hype died down, suddenly we had Kim Kardashan went through a freaking bootcamp to prepare for her wedding, and 18 year old Charice went for Botox because her face was "too round". America's Next Top Model is going into it's which season again? Kudos to Tyra for trying, but it's not enough! It'll never be enough.
I suppose we weren't born this way. We work for our bodies, hoping to reach impossible ideals like celebrities, and people we see in magazines and posters. Gaga is an inspiration, but at times she becomes lost in her own world, and again, makes it impossible for us mere mortals to keep up with. I'm sure no one will find it amusing if I were to turn up for dinner in a steak dress.
I look at Kate Gosselin (from Jon and Kate plus 8) and see her transformation from 'plain Jane' (read as: one of us) to glamazon who eventually perhaps destroys her marriage (Jon is also responsible) and it saddens me that she had to up her game to keep up with the media. Let's take this moment to also remember Susan Boyle. Why? "Ugly" people don't have talent is it?
Why are we shocked when people who are not close to the ideal of beauty- ordinary people- display some sort of talent that supposedly only beautiful people should possess? Doesn't make sense does it?
Anyone who doesn't consider the ideal surely has a "fetish". And if they are celebrities and will therefore be impossible to see as 'role models', why then do we still consider them 'the standard'? Oh yes, it is also not enough to look like a celebrity. One should also have some kind of wonderful personality too!
Pfft. This is where I roll my eyes.
Somewhere along the way I must have lost myself in all this hype of being "beautiful". Truth is, we're all different, but in this day and age, we are still living in a freaking man's world. It makes me angry to say this, and angrier to feel like I have accepted it.
But I want to fight this. I have to.
I will first need to strengthen my mind and prepare my body. To change my mindset. Reframing thoughts here and there again.
Only when we have accepted change for ourself that we will be able to affect change in others, if ever. Let's keep our minds open, and work towards change. Let's open our hearts to what real beauty is, whatever it means to us. Let us be strong in our minds and not let anyone make us feel inadequate or unpretty (Yep. I just quoted TLC).
It is time.
In fact, it irks me to realize what a hypocrite I've become. I've come to the sad and frustrating conclusion that Certain things will never be considered beautiful. Not in this decade anyway.
Let's be honest. Being a nerd will never be cool either. Sure, you can fall for the "geeky" type, but this "geek", too, I'd an idealized version of what a nerd should be.
I'm guessing that if he were truly a "nerd" (ironically, through my own stereotypical views, and experience with unpretentious technicians and the like), and came with his body odor, riddled with acne, scrawniness (or obesity, due to addiction to mayonnaise) and social awkwardness, you might not even prod him with a ten foot bamboo pole, let alone idealize this very real character. Sure, the braces and intelligence are quite uhm. Cute. But BO? Not so. And real nerds don't wear "geek specs", by the way.
Dove did well with its 'Campaign for real beauty'. Suddenly, plus sized models were enjoying the limelight, changing the look of modeling and what 'ideal' beauty was. It was like suddenly, we all felt happy to have wrinkles, freckles, simply skin, curvy bodies!
But something must have changed in the minds of people because eventually when the hype died down, suddenly we had Kim Kardashan went through a freaking bootcamp to prepare for her wedding, and 18 year old Charice went for Botox because her face was "too round". America's Next Top Model is going into it's which season again? Kudos to Tyra for trying, but it's not enough! It'll never be enough.
I suppose we weren't born this way. We work for our bodies, hoping to reach impossible ideals like celebrities, and people we see in magazines and posters. Gaga is an inspiration, but at times she becomes lost in her own world, and again, makes it impossible for us mere mortals to keep up with. I'm sure no one will find it amusing if I were to turn up for dinner in a steak dress.
I look at Kate Gosselin (from Jon and Kate plus 8) and see her transformation from 'plain Jane' (read as: one of us) to glamazon who eventually perhaps destroys her marriage (Jon is also responsible) and it saddens me that she had to up her game to keep up with the media. Let's take this moment to also remember Susan Boyle. Why? "Ugly" people don't have talent is it?
Why are we shocked when people who are not close to the ideal of beauty- ordinary people- display some sort of talent that supposedly only beautiful people should possess? Doesn't make sense does it?
Anyone who doesn't consider the ideal surely has a "fetish". And if they are celebrities and will therefore be impossible to see as 'role models', why then do we still consider them 'the standard'? Oh yes, it is also not enough to look like a celebrity. One should also have some kind of wonderful personality too!
Pfft. This is where I roll my eyes.
Somewhere along the way I must have lost myself in all this hype of being "beautiful". Truth is, we're all different, but in this day and age, we are still living in a freaking man's world. It makes me angry to say this, and angrier to feel like I have accepted it.
But I want to fight this. I have to.
I will first need to strengthen my mind and prepare my body. To change my mindset. Reframing thoughts here and there again.
Only when we have accepted change for ourself that we will be able to affect change in others, if ever. Let's keep our minds open, and work towards change. Let's open our hearts to what real beauty is, whatever it means to us. Let us be strong in our minds and not let anyone make us feel inadequate or unpretty (Yep. I just quoted TLC).
It is time.
