The Case for Natural Beauty

I was scrolling through MSNBC the other day and came across three articles criticizing the now-standardized, yet artificial kind of beauty.

The first was about how Hollywood casting agents are rejecting more young actresses who have had “work” done, and how older actresses are also turning away from their not-so-natural assets.

"Television executives… say they have begun recruiting more natural looking actors from Australia and Britain because the amply endowed, freakishly young-looking crowd that shows up for auditions in Los Angeles suffers from too much sameness…Sharon Osborne recently told Matt Lauer on TODAY that she was going to have her breast implants removed this summer and give them to her husband as paperweights. Lisa Kudrow, in a recent interview with New York magazine, seemed happy to own up to the fact that the face viewers saw on an episode of “Cougar Town” was hers, age lines and all.”

The second article was about Jessica Simpson’s cover photo shoot with Marie Claire magazine, where she poses without make up and natural, air-dried hair. In the Marie Claire article, she talks about the criticism she endured while not living up to typical beauty standards and discusses frankly how much faking went into her Daisy Duke look.

I have to admit – I spent my college years ogling and envying Jessica’s toned and tan body, luscious long blonde hair, and perfect glowing skin, and of course have tried only semi-successfully to emulate it via spray tans, cleavage cupcakes, and hair extensions. So, her au naturel photos in Marie Claire were startling. I had to stop myself from gasping "she's not that hot!" And yet, as unfamiliar as she looked, the photos were oddly refreshing.

It is becoming more apparent that the Hollywood stars and supermodels have their own tricks and secrets to showcasing a misleading look that is not naturally attainable. Photos of stars without make-up, Botox, add-ons, and digital edits certainly help ease the pressure. It makes me (plus millions of other insecure women around the world) feel a little bit less homely. Even beauty pageants don't adhere to natural beauty standards anymore. There is plenty of surgery and faking in that mix as well.

I love the Dove's ad Campaign for Natural Beauty, and the videos that demonstrate how much work goes into making a model Billboard-ready. I also notice more natural-looking, imperfect stars coming into the picture, like Amanda Seyfried, Blake Lively, and that girl in the Alice in Wonderland movie.

I do feel like a hypocrite though, because I buy into the faking myself, and many of my peers have freely ventured into cosmetic surgery territory (and I want to myself!) What I gravitate towards in terms of viewing myself and others as attractive is unfortunately very based on features that are often not real.

Another article sums it up with, "Looking at less-than-perfect pics of celebs makes their status "not that unattainable to those who view them...We internalize the idea that beautiful people are better in every way... and then we are told by society that we don't measure up."

The culture’s (and my) definition of “hot” and “sexy” has definitely been more Maxim/Playboy/Victoria’s Secret-influenced in my generation, but hopefully this new media push will ease us out of such a compartmentalized view, and bring us to embrace natural beauty as well.

If nothing else, it would help save my budget. Spray tans are freaking expensive!!


The articles in full are below :)

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/36697416/ns/today-today_fashion_and_beauty/
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/36276868/ns/today-entertainment/
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/36807988/ns/today-the_new_york_times/

Getting "Old"

This weekend, I was out with the girls at the W Hotel rooftop bar, celebrating my friend’s 25th birthday. It was nothing intense - just light cocktails and strawberries, lounging at a private table overlooking the DC panorama. By 12 AM, at least 4 of us (myself included) were ready to call it quits and go home.

Now, if any of my older co-workers, family, or less socially-inclined acquaintances were to read this, they would see no problem with a 12 AM closing time. The thought of it would, in fact, exhaust them. But for a party girl like me, and for a party group like us, shutting it down at 12 AM could only mean one thing – we are getting old.

Since a lot of us reached the 25-year milestone in life recently, and as the rest of us rapidly approach it, there has been an increasingly common refrain: “I just can’t do the heavy drinking, the 4 am bedtimes, and high energy club dancing anymore!” Suddenly, we can no longer bounce back from a morning hangover with a heavy breakfast and a few extra strength Tylenols. The birthday girl herself said “It takes me 2 days now to recover from a night of drinking and dancing.”

Once in a while it still happens, but overall, I can’t party and drink like I used to. The mere thought of a shot makes my stomach turn. The highlight of the night is getting dolled up to Britney music, slipping a sip of wine in between applying strokes of eyeliner. And then… I’m tired! W…T…F.

Age... Suddenly, I have to go to bed early. Suddenly, cosmetics professionals are recommending anti-aging moisturizers. Suddenly, my dentist is warning me of root canals and enamel damage. Suddenly, wearing 4-inch stilettos for 6 hours really hurts my feet.

My dad always joked that when I turned 25, my brain would “mature” and I would no longer do the hard partying thing. I will never admit he was right… I can still work a room! But, given that so many of my friends are experiencing this around the same time, he might… be on to something?

Cleo, the breakup kitten

An article about a jaded woman who learns about love after adopting a kitten.

I love it... for all kinds of reasons. Here's the last (and most interesting) half!


"... The first few weeks and months with Cleo were ... exciting to say the least. There was the time when I walked out of the kitchen and discovered Cleo rolling on the keyboard of my computer. On the screen, I saw an e-mail window. I rushed towards her, but the window vanished and these words appeared: "Your email has been sent."

I opened the sent mail box to figure out what had just happened. My little kitten had sent an email to a very important editor, one I'd been trying to convince to run one of my stories for six months. Here is what the email said: "jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj';;;;;;;;;;;;;'nnnnnnnnnn=====?" (ANNIE!!)

Worried this editor would think I was a nutcase, I wrote him quickly. "So sorry, my new cat somehow managed to send you a rogue email. I think you know what she means."

He didn't seem amused. I never heard from him again. Also, the "L" key on my computer had gone missing....

... But even though she drove me crazy on a regular basis, Cleo helped me navigate the rush of negative emotions that come with the dissolving of a long-term relationship. When I woke up in the middle of the night and felt disoriented in bed alone, I'd feel Cleo jump onto the mattress and walk towards me, purring maniacally.

And when I spent the walk to my apartment thinking that I was unwanted and unneeded, when Cleo heard my key in the lock, she would come prancing towards the door, meowing loudly, as if to say that all was right in the world now that I was home.

It's amazing how much Cleo has taught me about love in 2 ½ years. Even in those moments when she is driving me insane ... it's never once occurred to me that maybe Cleo isn't the cat for me, that maybe she doesn't respect my space, or that maybe we just don't have enough in common for this to work.

These thoughts have all run through my head with significant others, as if my brain is a CNN ticker tape of maybes, questions, and doubts. With Cleo there is no "Are we meant to be together?" There is only that I need her, and she needs me.

It's always baffled me how two people realize that they can spend their lives together. Happy couples, especially those of the married variety, have this annoying habit of saying, "You just know." You just know? The phrase always made me want to grab them by the shoulders, shake them, and yell, "Please, for the love of God, can you be a little more specific?"

But now that I have Cleo, I think I finally understand. It's not that you get hit with a magic lightning bolt of knowledge -- it's that you just stop questioning. The analytical part of your brain shuts off and allows you to just exist. There is no "Do we have a future together?" Because you just do.

Cleo, my breakup kitten, has seen me through another breakup and there's a good chance she will witness many more. But now I know that when I meet someone whom I can build a life with, I'll at least be able to recognize it.

I won't ask myself if he's too quiet/loud, short/tall, introverted/extroverted, needy/detached -- whatever combination he may be (unless, of course, we're talking something really serious), I'll be able to put up with it. Because, hey, I've actually come to love Cleo's quirks.

All I can say for sure is that, whoever this mysterious guy may be, he better not be allergic to cats."

:) :)

(Full article)

My Politics in a Nutshell

While my feelings on individual issues may lean one way or another, this quote by John Avlon, author of "Independent Nation: How Centrists Can Change American Politics" (stolen from a CNN article about the Democratic loss in Massachusetts) speaks to me!

"Independents like the checks and balances of divided government. They dislike the ideological arrogance and legislative overreach that comes when one party
controls both the White House and Congress. That's what you're seeing."

Seriously, it's all about balance. One party in complete control is never a good thing.

Years in Review: Some Highlights

Okay... I swear this will be the last feel-good, it's-a-new-year entry of 2010... but a new Facebook application inspired me to write this. The application creates a collage of your Facebook statuses from the past year, and it was really amusing/nostalgic to re-read what I'd posted--quotes, thoughts, experiences, frustrations. But, it also reminded me how interesting, busy, and fun 2009 really was! When I get bored with my life, I'm going to come back to this entry and make myself stop b*tching. Working backwards:

2009: the Highlights (in random order)

*My first Caps game *Summer trip to NYC *Weekend at Chincoteague Island *Tried out for Redskins and Wizards cheerleaders *USMC Ball in Richmond *Gold Cup races *Work at the Pentagon *Christmas cruise to Cozumel *Girls trip to Las Vegas *Chuck *Britney Spears concert *Went platinum blonde, then brunette *Weekend at OBX *Jackie, Mel, and Kat got married
*Weekend at National Harbor *Moved to Arlington

2008: the Highlights (in random order)

*Girls trip to Miami *Playboy Mansion/LA *Beth visits from London *Halloween Monster Bash
*Wendy's b-day in NYC *W&M Homecoming

2007: the Highlights (in random order)

*Graduating W&M *My own apartment (ish) *Spring break cruise to Key West/Mexico *Holidays and New Years in NYC *Summer weekend in NYC

Looks like my years keep getting awesomer! Or maybe my memory is getting awesomer. Or maybe I just updated my statuses more in 2009, and make everything a big deal by sharing them with the world ...

2010: The Plan

Now that the year has come to a close, let’s see how I did on my Resolutions for 2009.

Hit the gym 3-5 times per week. FAIL. Major fail.

Move to Arlington.... with a stranger. DONE. I did this one quickly too. As of mid-February ’09, I was living in an apartment in exciting little Clarendon with a random roommate I met on Craig’s List. It couldn’t be going better!

Daily vitamins. Quasi-victory. I do take vitamins more regularly—a multi for women, and a Vitamin C tablet on occasion, but usually when I am vulnerable to getting sick. Hey… it’s a start.

Drink less alcohol. Quasi-victory! I’m proud of this one. I really do drink less heavily than I used to. And it has made a difference.

Bedtimes. Massive FAIL.

No more eyeliner except when I go out or I’m trying to impress. Win!! I have dramatically cut back on my every-day eyeliner useage.

Febreze and Lysol spray my bed. Almost every day, baby.

Get off of Facebook. Quasi-victory. The details of this resolution involved more than just Facebook—it mentioned other highly addictive sites as well. Perez Hilton and Myspace are dunzo… but Facebook? Well, I’m still working on that…

Protein, Zinc. FAIL. Even though I found out I’m slightly anemic and could benefit from protein and iron supplements, I got tired of taking so many pills, and noticed no significant difference in my energy levels anyway. I’m not all that sad to see this one go.

The Secret. Semi-WIN! I learned all about the Secret, and definitely use it. I’m not super good at it though, except when it comes to Health. I am a pro at the Secret to Health… I’ve been sick this year only a fraction the number of times I was sick years previous! I owe it all to the Secret (and maybe some to my Vitamins and reduced alcohol intake…)

So, what do I have in store for 2010? Nothing quite so regimented, but I have broad things I want to accomplish.

*Getting in shape is a big one, and clichéd, obviously. But I’m not going to kid myself anymore about going to the gym—I signed up for dance classes instead :) It’ll be pricey but well worth it.

*Feeling productive at work is an ongoing challenge, and I’m resuming that mission with renewed energy this year. I’m still stuck and trying to figure out what’s right for me. This is going to be my biggest challenge, without a doubt. But it’s got to dawn on me eventually, right?

*The rest of my resolutions are lifestyle/hobby oriented. I want to learn to knit. Build/improve the relationships in my life. Brush up on my French. Party less. Save money, spend money. Go to the spa. (Yes, pampering myself at a spa is a resolution of mine!)

All in all, I want to take care of myself better. Physically, mentally, financially, and socially. I am bored with my life, so I need to find ways to spruce it back up again. So…for those of you who are interested-- I’ll keep you posted :)