Some other thoughts on beauty...
How do YOU define beauty? Share in the Comments below, we'd love to hear!
Happy Healthy Juicy Beauty-full!
Showing posts with label beauty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beauty. Show all posts
Friday, October 4, 2013
Beauty Is In The Function
- Friend, CK
Some other thoughts on beauty...
Happy Healthy Juicy Beauty-full!
Some other thoughts on beauty...
Happy Healthy Juicy Beauty-full!
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Why Women Can't Have It All... Or Can They?
I just stumbled upon Glamour.com's recently-published article: Why The Woman Who 'Has It All' Doesn't Really Exist'.
'Why Women Can't Have It All, According To Barnard College President Debora L. Spar', though, is the title that actually appeared on my Facebook newsfeed and one that drew me in.
Barnard, in case you didn't know, is Columbia's all-women sister school— I went to Columbia, only reason I know. I was curious to see what this Barnard president had to say, expecting something empowering and inspirational. Something on the lines of: 'Feeling down about yourself? [Yes]. Don't feel bad because it's an ideal/unrealizable goal anyway. [...Ok, but that's not what Facebook is telling me...].
The article's headlining photo is a woman dressed as Wonder Woman running in New York City's midtown with a hoard of other women running after her trying to keep up.
As you can see, the woman is 'svelte', 'scantily-clad', hair so thick 'like Beyonce', beautiful enough to be in Glamour's publication, and, actually, real. How appropriate. Does she, the model, have it all..? Clearly, I'm missing the point but the image is loud, hard-to-miss, and relevant. No?
Spar touches on major life areas— self-image, marriage, motherhood, and career— pointing out despite womens' increasing freedom, we are pin-holing ourselves into a greater misery than when we were suppressed. She writes, 'Feminism was meant to remove a fixed set of expectations; instead, we now interpret it as a route to personal perfection. Because we can do anything, we feel as if we have to do everything. In other words, women today face towering expectations: a pileup of the roles society's long heaped on us, plus the opportunities feminism created.'
On this note, Spar has a point. While feminism has opened a lot of doors, at the same time, it has also increased the pressure to achieve more. But is that a bad thing? And is striving for more the same as trying to be perfect? It's one thing to beat yourself up over things you can't necessarily control like finding your soulmate or even landing your dream job— yeah, that's not HealthyButJuicy— but it's another thing to blast others for trying to reach their goals and criticizing 'Why Women Should Stop Trying to Be Perfect'.
Because what about the writer/speaker herself? Spar is the president of 'arguably the most important all-women’s college in the United States', or at least that's what is touted on her book's description on Amazon.com. She is a mother of three, is married to a husband whom she 'adores', and engages in the daily 'burden' of keeping up appearances by spending about 282 hours per year on beauty (unlike the noted, average 30hrs/year compared to men).
It's funny. She shares...
On beauty: 'Any magazine rack confirms our obsession with one scantily clad celebrity after another... As a requirement for success, beauty becomes just another burden.' Huh? Why is this woman publishing her thoughts in Glamour of all places?— a woman's 'guide to the latest fashion trends, outfit ideas, hair + makeup how-tos, and celebrity scoop', and where the focus is all about beauty and 'burden'.
On marriage: 'Marry someone you love and like; finding a person who doesn't care if you're perfect is a good start.' You hear that ladies?! Stop wasting your time on douche-bags you don't even like. Duh. It's easy as finding a box of fiber cereal for breakfast, a great way to start the day. Try the supermarket?
On motherhood: 'Now we've set the standard that if you can become a biological mom—by spending exorbitantly and undergoing endless medical procedures—then you should. Is that liberating? To me, it feels like another way women have to be perfect or, in this case, perfectly fertile.' Ouch. Let's seriously hope her infertile 'friend' doesn't see that comment...
On work: 'Professional women are frequently asked, "How do you do it?" I hate the query, because doing it all, as is expected of women today, is not doable.' But seriously, how did she do it?
Her conclusion: 'The most crucial thing for women to know today? No one does it all. We each, if we're lucky, will have our chance to leave a mark on the world, but we are trying too hard to be perfect. So don't emulate Wonder Woman; think about what's wonderful to you instead. Then boldly, audaciously, joyfully, leave the rest behind.'
In other words, 'You'd be lucky if you have any impact in this world. Stop trying to be like me. And just settle.'
HealthyButJuicy thinks otherwise.
On beauty: To reiterate MissGlamorazzi's philosophy, 'Makeup is a supplement, not a requirement.' Other than maintaining acceptable hygiene (ie. showering), if you adhere to a beauty routine that feels burdensome, stop it. Use the time to work on your inner beauty.
On love:
Source
On motherhood: However you became a mother— through sex, adoption, or one of the 'at least 15 additional ways.. none of which involve sex'— makes you no less of a woman nor crazy.
On being a homemaker: Spar referred to the toils of having to make this dish— Harvest Vegetable Pancakes With Greens and Goat Cheese via Martha Stewart's Everyday Day Food magazine
. This is yet another case and point about the author and reason to question how relevant what she is saying is to the average consumer/woman/reader. Who makes vegetable pancakes with beets, carrots, potatoes, and chickpeas? From scratch? Seriously. Who? At the risk of sounding controversial, people who are health-conscious might. People who have the time might. People who are highly educated are the most likely. Time and time again, studies show folks with higher education tend to be healthier. It's an unfortunate disparity but one that still has not yet been bridged. Moreover, it doesn't help when leaders in our educational field don't help, or even make the gap wider with garbage to sell.
On work: There will always be someone out there who is better than you. Likewise, though, there will always be someone out there who lacks your talent. But who even cares? It's not about them, it's about you.
The HealthyButJuicy conclusion: Like everything you hear about health, take what Spar is saying with a grain of salt and always ask questions. Is she a reliable source of information? What will you do differently (if anything) and, ultimately, will your actions make you a better, happier version of you?
All in all, women can't always get what they want. That much is true. Neither can men. But does that necessarily and automatically restrict your ability to be happy, to have drive, to be HealthyButJuicy, or to have it 'all'?
I'm single and unemployed. I lost 10 years of my life to illness, and friends and career-building time along with it. I have this beautiful sunshine I call daughter and the most amazing mother that is an angelic warrior who loves me. I smile. And I laugh. It's not a perfect life nor am I expecting it to be but I kinda feel like I do sorta have it all... Is that crazy?
What're your thoughts? On Spar's opinions, article on women, perfectionism, and having it 'all'? Share below in the Comments and/or Tweet us your thoughts. We'd love to hear!
Happy Healthy Juicy Women! HealthyButJuicy believes in you! xoxo :>
'Why Women Can't Have It All, According To Barnard College President Debora L. Spar', though, is the title that actually appeared on my Facebook newsfeed and one that drew me in.
Barnard, in case you didn't know, is Columbia's all-women sister school— I went to Columbia, only reason I know. I was curious to see what this Barnard president had to say, expecting something empowering and inspirational. Something on the lines of: 'Feeling down about yourself? [Yes]. Don't feel bad because it's an ideal/unrealizable goal anyway. [...Ok, but that's not what Facebook is telling me...].
The article's headlining photo is a woman dressed as Wonder Woman running in New York City's midtown with a hoard of other women running after her trying to keep up.
As you can see, the woman is 'svelte', 'scantily-clad', hair so thick 'like Beyonce', beautiful enough to be in Glamour's publication, and, actually, real. How appropriate. Does she, the model, have it all..? Clearly, I'm missing the point but the image is loud, hard-to-miss, and relevant. No?
Spar touches on major life areas— self-image, marriage, motherhood, and career— pointing out despite womens' increasing freedom, we are pin-holing ourselves into a greater misery than when we were suppressed. She writes, 'Feminism was meant to remove a fixed set of expectations; instead, we now interpret it as a route to personal perfection. Because we can do anything, we feel as if we have to do everything. In other words, women today face towering expectations: a pileup of the roles society's long heaped on us, plus the opportunities feminism created.'
On this note, Spar has a point. While feminism has opened a lot of doors, at the same time, it has also increased the pressure to achieve more. But is that a bad thing? And is striving for more the same as trying to be perfect? It's one thing to beat yourself up over things you can't necessarily control like finding your soulmate or even landing your dream job— yeah, that's not HealthyButJuicy— but it's another thing to blast others for trying to reach their goals and criticizing 'Why Women Should Stop Trying to Be Perfect'.
Because what about the writer/speaker herself? Spar is the president of 'arguably the most important all-women’s college in the United States', or at least that's what is touted on her book's description on Amazon.com. She is a mother of three, is married to a husband whom she 'adores', and engages in the daily 'burden' of keeping up appearances by spending about 282 hours per year on beauty (unlike the noted, average 30hrs/year compared to men).
It's funny. She shares...
On beauty: 'Any magazine rack confirms our obsession with one scantily clad celebrity after another... As a requirement for success, beauty becomes just another burden.' Huh? Why is this woman publishing her thoughts in Glamour of all places?— a woman's 'guide to the latest fashion trends, outfit ideas, hair + makeup how-tos, and celebrity scoop', and where the focus is all about beauty and 'burden'. On marriage: 'Marry someone you love and like; finding a person who doesn't care if you're perfect is a good start.' You hear that ladies?! Stop wasting your time on douche-bags you don't even like. Duh. It's easy as finding a box of fiber cereal for breakfast, a great way to start the day. Try the supermarket?
On motherhood: 'Now we've set the standard that if you can become a biological mom—by spending exorbitantly and undergoing endless medical procedures—then you should. Is that liberating? To me, it feels like another way women have to be perfect or, in this case, perfectly fertile.' Ouch. Let's seriously hope her infertile 'friend' doesn't see that comment...
On work: 'Professional women are frequently asked, "How do you do it?" I hate the query, because doing it all, as is expected of women today, is not doable.' But seriously, how did she do it?
Her conclusion: 'The most crucial thing for women to know today? No one does it all. We each, if we're lucky, will have our chance to leave a mark on the world, but we are trying too hard to be perfect. So don't emulate Wonder Woman; think about what's wonderful to you instead. Then boldly, audaciously, joyfully, leave the rest behind.'
In other words, 'You'd be lucky if you have any impact in this world. Stop trying to be like me. And just settle.'
HealthyButJuicy thinks otherwise.
On beauty: To reiterate MissGlamorazzi's philosophy, 'Makeup is a supplement, not a requirement.' Other than maintaining acceptable hygiene (ie. showering), if you adhere to a beauty routine that feels burdensome, stop it. Use the time to work on your inner beauty.
On love:
SourceOn motherhood: However you became a mother— through sex, adoption, or one of the 'at least 15 additional ways.. none of which involve sex'— makes you no less of a woman nor crazy.
On being a homemaker: Spar referred to the toils of having to make this dish— Harvest Vegetable Pancakes With Greens and Goat Cheese via Martha Stewart's Everyday Day Food magazine
. This is yet another case and point about the author and reason to question how relevant what she is saying is to the average consumer/woman/reader. Who makes vegetable pancakes with beets, carrots, potatoes, and chickpeas? From scratch? Seriously. Who? At the risk of sounding controversial, people who are health-conscious might. People who have the time might. People who are highly educated are the most likely. Time and time again, studies show folks with higher education tend to be healthier. It's an unfortunate disparity but one that still has not yet been bridged. Moreover, it doesn't help when leaders in our educational field don't help, or even make the gap wider with garbage to sell.On work: There will always be someone out there who is better than you. Likewise, though, there will always be someone out there who lacks your talent. But who even cares? It's not about them, it's about you.
The HealthyButJuicy conclusion: Like everything you hear about health, take what Spar is saying with a grain of salt and always ask questions. Is she a reliable source of information? What will you do differently (if anything) and, ultimately, will your actions make you a better, happier version of you?
All in all, women can't always get what they want. That much is true. Neither can men. But does that necessarily and automatically restrict your ability to be happy, to have drive, to be HealthyButJuicy, or to have it 'all'?
I'm single and unemployed. I lost 10 years of my life to illness, and friends and career-building time along with it. I have this beautiful sunshine I call daughter and the most amazing mother that is an angelic warrior who loves me. I smile. And I laugh. It's not a perfect life nor am I expecting it to be but I kinda feel like I do sorta have it all... Is that crazy?
What're your thoughts? On Spar's opinions, article on women, perfectionism, and having it 'all'? Share below in the Comments and/or Tweet us your thoughts. We'd love to hear!
Happy Healthy Juicy Women! HealthyButJuicy believes in you! xoxo :>
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
5 Minute Makeup Challenge! TAG - Momma Edition
As a mom to an almost 10 month old, I find I don't have a lot of time, especially for things like doing my makeup. I think this is a great tag video— highly relevant for us girls who have only minutes to spare (if that), especially us mommas out there.
Hope you enjoy and can get something out of this! :>
Comment below and tell me what you think, I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Hope you enjoy and can get something out of this! :>
Comment below and tell me what you think, I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Coming of Age: Stylishly or Skankily..?
Earlier this month, mother-daughter duo, Madonna & Lourdes [nickname Lola], launched their much anticipated Material Girl Collection for Macy's. Madonna credited much of the designs to 13-year-old Lola, in which case the fashion line might be described as: For tweens by a tween.. and her super-rich&famous mom.
Here's 13-year-old Lola on the left and 17-year-old Taylor Momsen, the face of the collection, on the right.
In this week's Fall Fashion issue of New York Magazine, exploring the 'world of adult-girl fashion', Alex Morris writes, 'The Material Girl line is perfect for you if you are an NYU art major with a killer body. There’s lace and leather and a lavish assortment of body-con dresses.' [The thing is is that university students aren't the only ones consuming this stuff— clothing and images alike..]
He then goes on to point out:
These are some pics from the photo shoot for the collection [and remember, think tween, these are for tweens..]..
[..tweens..]
These are some of the final pics posted for the collection's site [..tweens.. these are marketed for tweens..]..
[..tweens..]
So what do you think? Are these appropriate images for young women [or 'older girls'] to get fashion tips from?
If not, perhaps you might find some, um, less-provocative alternatives in the Olsenboye collection..
Or even more affordable, in the Cyrus-Azria collection [heels not included]..
Happy Healthy Juicy Stylish yet [age-] Decent!
Here's 13-year-old Lola on the left and 17-year-old Taylor Momsen, the face of the collection, on the right.
In this week's Fall Fashion issue of New York Magazine, exploring the 'world of adult-girl fashion', Alex Morris writes, 'The Material Girl line is perfect for you if you are an NYU art major with a killer body. There’s lace and leather and a lavish assortment of body-con dresses.' [The thing is is that university students aren't the only ones consuming this stuff— clothing and images alike..]
He then goes on to point out:
'Throughout history, cultures have had strict dress codes relating to age, but no longer: Our fetishization of youth not only means that older women are dressing younger, but also that young girls are dressing older, pushing themselves into sexualized terrain. For tweens at the intersection of childhood and adulthood—an age that’s a natural fashion fault line—this role reversal can present particular confusion. No one knows quite what to wear. Not even Madonna. “I always have two reactions when Lola comes into my room with an outfit on,” she says in a video discussing the line. “One is, ‘Oh my God, she looks amazing, what incredible style.’ And then my second reaction is, ‘She’s dressed completely inappropriately for school.’ ”
These are some pics from the photo shoot for the collection [and remember, think tween, these are for tweens..]..
[..tweens..]
These are some of the final pics posted for the collection's site [..tweens.. these are marketed for tweens..]..
[..tweens..]
So what do you think? Are these appropriate images for young women [or 'older girls'] to get fashion tips from?
If not, perhaps you might find some, um, less-provocative alternatives in the Olsenboye collection..
Or even more affordable, in the Cyrus-Azria collection [heels not included]..
Happy Healthy Juicy Stylish yet [age-] Decent!
Friday, August 13, 2010
Hatcher Buries the Hatchet on Fake Beauty
Teri Hatcher let the critics get under her skin and took to her Facebook page [which the Desperate Housewife apparently has] to post self-shot pics of herself in nothing but a towel in an album titled, 'Oy with the Botox!!!'.
'Out of the bath getting ready for bed. Thought about all those damn critics of my face. Love it or hate it, my face that is, no surgery, no implants, no matter what "they" say. Decided I'd shoot myself in to reveal some truths about "beauty" and hope it makes you all easier on yourself.'
She attempts to inspire..
'Did I every toy with fillers or Botox over the years? yes. Tell me does this look Botoxed to you?
Yes I am alone in my bathroom naked in a towel on behalf of women everywhere trying to make a point. Women YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL'
She raves about role models just like her..
'I can be mad, or confused or sad and tired. Julia Roberts had that same vein in her forehead in Eat Pray Love. Proud of Julia for being a real woman on a real journey.'
She even gives us a lesson in photography.. who knew acting wasn't her only craft?
'45 year old me. Just me wanting to teach that all those glam versus trash pictures of celebs are about LIGHTING. It's not makeup it's not suregery or botox its LIGHT. Flat front light in you face especially sun setting 4pm light blows out all wrinkles and imperfections. Over head light, sun anything casts shadows under your eye from your brow making you look tired. Shoot all family reunion photos that way over the camera man who should be holding the camera a little higher than your eye line.'
Props to Lois Lane for reporting that women don't need Botox & the artificial like to be beautiful. Now, if only she were able to recognize that Dean Cain was both Clark Kent and Superman..
But in all seriousness, take it from Bruno Mars— doling sweet candy for your ears, filling you with self-respect, and leaving you without a single cavity.
Happy Healthy Juicy Love Yourself Just the Way You Are! ..wrinkles, sags, aging and all!
'Out of the bath getting ready for bed. Thought about all those damn critics of my face. Love it or hate it, my face that is, no surgery, no implants, no matter what "they" say. Decided I'd shoot myself in to reveal some truths about "beauty" and hope it makes you all easier on yourself.'
She attempts to inspire..
'Did I every toy with fillers or Botox over the years? yes. Tell me does this look Botoxed to you?
Yes I am alone in my bathroom naked in a towel on behalf of women everywhere trying to make a point. Women YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL'
She raves about role models just like her..
'I can be mad, or confused or sad and tired. Julia Roberts had that same vein in her forehead in Eat Pray Love. Proud of Julia for being a real woman on a real journey.'
She even gives us a lesson in photography.. who knew acting wasn't her only craft?
'45 year old me. Just me wanting to teach that all those glam versus trash pictures of celebs are about LIGHTING. It's not makeup it's not suregery or botox its LIGHT. Flat front light in you face especially sun setting 4pm light blows out all wrinkles and imperfections. Over head light, sun anything casts shadows under your eye from your brow making you look tired. Shoot all family reunion photos that way over the camera man who should be holding the camera a little higher than your eye line.'
Props to Lois Lane for reporting that women don't need Botox & the artificial like to be beautiful. Now, if only she were able to recognize that Dean Cain was both Clark Kent and Superman..
But in all seriousness, take it from Bruno Mars— doling sweet candy for your ears, filling you with self-respect, and leaving you without a single cavity.
Happy Healthy Juicy Love Yourself Just the Way You Are! ..wrinkles, sags, aging and all!
Monday, August 9, 2010
Pretty Woman Shares Insight on How to Age Pretty
Julia Roberts has been working the media circuit as of late to promote her new film, Eat Pray Love, out this Friday. Her promotional tour includes a slew of appearances, including one on the September cover of Elle magazine.In her interview with the fashion magazine, the soon-to-be 43-year-old comments on aging,
'We live in such a panicked, dysmorphic society where women don't even give themselves a chance to see what they'll look like as older persons.'
So how does this mother-of-three feel about injecting paralyzing neurotoxic protein [the same that causes botulism] into her face in the name of vanity? In response to Botox, she says,
'I want my kids to know when I’m pissed, when I’m happy, and when I’m confounded. Your face tells a story... and it shouldn't be a story about your drive to the doctor's office.'
Looks like this Pretty Woman just keeps on getting prettier.
Hopefully her comments will be fashionable enough to sway the over 2.5 million people [yes, women AND men] in the US that got it last year from being repeat offenders and the many more that are even thinking about, or might be influenced into, doing it.
Happy Healthy Juicy au naturel Faces that can move!
Monday, July 26, 2010
One small step for fashion, one giant leap for legkind..
Stop holding your breath, Ladies, literally. This fall season's fashion lineup is finally rolling out Jeggings!
Yes, I know, it's not even August yet—perhaps this is retail's way of saying, 'Hey, you're not spending enough.' So to get your wallet, I mean, attention, stores are already starting to put out autumn threads, despite triple digit weather.. How's that for strategy? In a couple of weeks, it'll be costumes for Halloween, which'll be *like* just around the corner..
So what are jeggings? Jeggings is the hybrid name for jeans + leggings.
With skinny jeans leading the trends, women have had to cram their bottom halves into tight, unforgiving sleeves of denim for a while now, which is not completely a bad thing in that the practice likely helps increase body awareness, but cutting off circulation isn't the only way to achieve that; things like fitting rooms, the media, and the beach take care of it already.
Finally though, with jeggings, maybe women can now be more mobile, comfortable, and maybe even be a little more active. I'm excited to see what shoemakers come up with..
Happy Healthy Juicy Fashionable Comfort!
Yes, I know, it's not even August yet—perhaps this is retail's way of saying, 'Hey, you're not spending enough.' So to get your wallet, I mean, attention, stores are already starting to put out autumn threads, despite triple digit weather.. How's that for strategy? In a couple of weeks, it'll be costumes for Halloween, which'll be *like* just around the corner..
So what are jeggings? Jeggings is the hybrid name for jeans + leggings.With skinny jeans leading the trends, women have had to cram their bottom halves into tight, unforgiving sleeves of denim for a while now, which is not completely a bad thing in that the practice likely helps increase body awareness, but cutting off circulation isn't the only way to achieve that; things like fitting rooms, the media, and the beach take care of it already.
Finally though, with jeggings, maybe women can now be more mobile, comfortable, and maybe even be a little more active. I'm excited to see what shoemakers come up with..
Happy Healthy Juicy Fashionable Comfort!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Beauty Isn't a Pretty Picture..
Heidi Montag doesn't annoy me per se. She does, though, make me a little sad.. for her, or her character.. so her?
Heidi nee-Montag-now-Pratt is a starlet on the MTV reality series, The Hills, which is now in its supposed final sixth season and in which Heidi is juicier than ever, literally. Healthy, though, she is a far cry from. Between this season and the last, Heidi played transformers with her self and returns with a new body.
Last November, Heidi underwent 10 (yes, TEN) cosmetic procedures, all in one (anesthetic) shot, which included:
It’s sad (both depressing and pathetic) to watch her become a plastic toy— her doctor, hu$band, media and rest of the world has and continues to play with and use as nothing but fodder. In the end, after all, she is a real person and not just a character of 'reality' tv.
But aside from her fictitiously voluptuous and svelte body, transformer that she is, I really do think she is more than meets the eye. More confident? Anything butt, I mean but. Fame hungry, perhaps..
True, she documented the whole experience and got front cover of People Magazine. Yes, she’s booked interviews (GMA, Ryan Seacrest) and earned herself about 1/3 (=$10,000) of her op(ted) expenses back from her first bikini debut post-op. And yes, she probably is seeking a reality show of her own with video footage of the experience and, I wouldn’t be surprised, a book deal for the diary she kept.
But, despite her (media) claims of wanting more, she also publicly admits..
The girl shows tell-tale signs of abnormal psychology, including perfectionism, self-conscious, and obsession, to name a few, [plus ridiculousness, aka. irrational thoughts and behavior]. She explains: ‘Think about the industry I’m trying to go into. My ultimate dream is to be a pop star.. it was [Britney Spears’] sex appeal that sold. Obviously, looks matter; it’s a superficial industry.’ By ‘pop star’, I’m guessing she was hoping to shine with her chest? I think it worked too because I’m blinded already.
Even so, I am unsure whether she totally fits the DSM-IV criteria for BDD—Body Dysmorphic Disorder—which is what readily springs to mind.
Whatever the case, though, I will never be able to understand why women continue to mutilate themselves in pursuit of beauty and in these so-called modern times no less. Granted, this comes from one who still grapples with the face-painting industry and women’s *willing* daily rituals, but still..
I’m not a historian by any means but we [the female race] have worked so hard and have gotten this far, why are we choosing to regress and remain weak and fragile? How have we succumbed to the foot-binding mentality?
Whilst I’m an advocate of ‘to each his/her own’, one of my greatest concerns is how this will (and already does) affect future generations. It’s been reported that Christie Brinkley and daughter Alexa Ray Joel— who overdosed just last December in her battle with depression, mind you— have recently had what seems like a mother-daughter bonding moment.. in a hospital with knives. Christie lifted her face, Alexa got her nose done (and used the lame excuse of correcting a deviated septum).
Even scarier, which I didn’t know until doing research for this piece, is that the cosmetic industry has teamed up with travel. 'Medical tourism', they call it. The trend these days is all-inclusive vacation package deals, with a buffet of procedures to choose from. As if life-altering (and possibly threatening) changes weren’t enough, why not do it on foreign territory to save a few extra bucks!
Even more scary, or sick?. Industry, of course, capitalizing on the insanity and the numbers that $how it. A look of how insane it is here in the US, bloody capital of the world..
12.5 million: number of cosmetic procedures performed in 2009.
10 Billon (with a capital 'B'): amount spent on cosmetic procedures in 2009.
Top 5 surgical cosmetic procedures (in 2009):
Top 5 'minimally-invasive' procedures (in 2009):
2009 compared to 2000..
I leave you with this..
Does this look like a girl that is happy.. or sane?..
..or healthy and truly loved?..
Was it worth it?..
Would you ever wish this upon your sister, daughter, mother, girl friend, wife, or any other person you did or did not know?
To my understanding, Heidi thought of this as an investment in her career.
If only she could have found some other way to stand out and be unique. Perhaps by *like* getting an education vs. surgery. Maybe then she would have discovered the wonders of things like Photoshop and spared herself the pain and suffering. Maybe then she would have gotten a clue and could wow us with the beauty of her mind and not the Superficial her album and body have flopped to be.
But what's done is done. As for the millions exposed and contemplating, men and women alike: Embrace the ugly (completely) NON-invasively. It's only subjective anyway. Diet, exercise, love, laughter, and hugs—lots of them—are what will lead you to your HealthyButJuicy and help unleash the celestial being you dream to be (not nip/tuck!), duh.
Heidi nee-Montag-now-Pratt is a starlet on the MTV reality series, The Hills, which is now in its supposed final sixth season and in which Heidi is juicier than ever, literally. Healthy, though, she is a far cry from. Between this season and the last, Heidi played transformers with her self and returns with a new body.
Last November, Heidi underwent 10 (yes, TEN) cosmetic procedures, all in one (anesthetic) shot, which included:
- 1. Mini brow lift.
2. Botox in forehead and frown area.
3. Nose job revision. ('revision'='take two')
4. Fat (re)injections in cheeks, nasolabial folds and lips. (from #9)
5. Chin reduction. (for the 'Jay Leno chin')
6. Neck liposuction.
7. Ears pinned back. (for the 'Dumbo ears')
8. Breast augmentation revision. (3Ds, literally)
9. Lipsuction on waist, hips, inner and outer thighs.
10. Buttock augmentation. (Butt lift? Butt lift.)
It’s sad (both depressing and pathetic) to watch her become a plastic toy— her doctor, hu$band, media and rest of the world has and continues to play with and use as nothing but fodder. In the end, after all, she is a real person and not just a character of 'reality' tv.
But aside from her fictitiously voluptuous and svelte body, transformer that she is, I really do think she is more than meets the eye. More confident? Anything butt, I mean but. Fame hungry, perhaps..
True, she documented the whole experience and got front cover of People Magazine. Yes, she’s booked interviews (GMA, Ryan Seacrest) and earned herself about 1/3 (=$10,000) of her op(ted) expenses back from her first bikini debut post-op. And yes, she probably is seeking a reality show of her own with video footage of the experience and, I wouldn’t be surprised, a book deal for the diary she kept.
But, despite her (media) claims of wanting more, she also publicly admits..
- Why she did it: ‘I was flat and insecure..the biggest reason is to feel better, to feel perfect.. I had [had? or have?] insecurities.. I was an ugly duckling before.. For the past three years, I’ve thought about what to have done. I’m absolutely beyond obsessed.. I’ve become obsessed, photo by photo, with how I look. When I was shopping for my boobs, I wanted the best, so I sat down and flipped through a bunch of Playboys.’
- How she felt after: 'The pain was everywhere—my head felt like it had a jackhammer on it. I couldn't talk because of my jaw and chin... I was like, "I wanna die right now. I'm in so much pain. I don't know what to do".. I almost felt like I was gone.. I looked like I had been hit by a bus. I was a purple, swollen mush—I didn’t look human! It was so scary. I could hardly move.. It was more traumatizing just seeing it than even feeling it really.’
- And that..: She said she needed help going to the bathroom and was scared of water the when it was time to bathe—scared of water. Water.
- How some things have changed: She can’t jog anymore and said, ‘I'm very weird about hugging people now.’
- How she now feels: ‘Fragile’. [Claims popping up of prescription pill addiction, which wouldn’t be surprising, though wouldn’t help the situation.]
- And if she's satisfied and done: 'I’m already planning my next surgery—I’m determind to get bigger ones! [referring to DDD breasts, which means she’d need to go international as they are at their FDA max—800cc].. 'Nobody ages perfectly, so I plan to keep using surgery to make me as perfect as I can be.’
The girl shows tell-tale signs of abnormal psychology, including perfectionism, self-conscious, and obsession, to name a few, [plus ridiculousness, aka. irrational thoughts and behavior]. She explains: ‘Think about the industry I’m trying to go into. My ultimate dream is to be a pop star.. it was [Britney Spears’] sex appeal that sold. Obviously, looks matter; it’s a superficial industry.’ By ‘pop star’, I’m guessing she was hoping to shine with her chest? I think it worked too because I’m blinded already.
Even so, I am unsure whether she totally fits the DSM-IV criteria for BDD—Body Dysmorphic Disorder—which is what readily springs to mind.
Whatever the case, though, I will never be able to understand why women continue to mutilate themselves in pursuit of beauty and in these so-called modern times no less. Granted, this comes from one who still grapples with the face-painting industry and women’s *willing* daily rituals, but still..
I’m not a historian by any means but we [the female race] have worked so hard and have gotten this far, why are we choosing to regress and remain weak and fragile? How have we succumbed to the foot-binding mentality?
Whilst I’m an advocate of ‘to each his/her own’, one of my greatest concerns is how this will (and already does) affect future generations. It’s been reported that Christie Brinkley and daughter Alexa Ray Joel— who overdosed just last December in her battle with depression, mind you— have recently had what seems like a mother-daughter bonding moment.. in a hospital with knives. Christie lifted her face, Alexa got her nose done (and used the lame excuse of correcting a deviated septum).Even scarier, which I didn’t know until doing research for this piece, is that the cosmetic industry has teamed up with travel. 'Medical tourism', they call it. The trend these days is all-inclusive vacation package deals, with a buffet of procedures to choose from. As if life-altering (and possibly threatening) changes weren’t enough, why not do it on foreign territory to save a few extra bucks!
Even more scary, or sick?. Industry, of course, capitalizing on the insanity and the numbers that $how it. A look of how insane it is here in the US, bloody capital of the world..
12.5 million: number of cosmetic procedures performed in 2009.
10 Billon (with a capital 'B'): amount spent on cosmetic procedures in 2009.
Top 5 surgical cosmetic procedures (in 2009):
- 1. Breast augmentation (289,000)
2. Nose reshaping (256,000)
3. Eyelid surgery (203,000)
4. Liposuction (198,000)
5. Tummy tuck (115,000)
Top 5 'minimally-invasive' procedures (in 2009):
- 1. Botulinum toxin type A (4.8 million)
2. Soft tissue fillers (1.7 million)
3. Chemical peel (1.1 million)
4. Microdermabrasion (910,000)
5. Laser hair removal (893,000)
2009 compared to 2000..
- Total cosmetic procedures is up 69%
- Botulinum Toxin Type A isup 509%
- Tummy Tuck is up 84%
- Breast augmentation is up 36%
- In sum: "More people [have] turned towards body contouring and minimally-invasive treatments for facial rejuvenation."
I leave you with this..
Does this look like a girl that is happy.. or sane?..
..or healthy and truly loved?..
Was it worth it?..
Would you ever wish this upon your sister, daughter, mother, girl friend, wife, or any other person you did or did not know?
To my understanding, Heidi thought of this as an investment in her career.
If only she could have found some other way to stand out and be unique. Perhaps by *like* getting an education vs. surgery. Maybe then she would have discovered the wonders of things like Photoshop and spared herself the pain and suffering. Maybe then she would have gotten a clue and could wow us with the beauty of her mind and not the Superficial her album and body have flopped to be.
But what's done is done. As for the millions exposed and contemplating, men and women alike: Embrace the ugly (completely) NON-invasively. It's only subjective anyway. Diet, exercise, love, laughter, and hugs—lots of them—are what will lead you to your HealthyButJuicy and help unleash the celestial being you dream to be (not nip/tuck!), duh.
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