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A girlfriend of mine is so addicted to the “Hollywood Image” that
she is always dieting and spending loads on transforming her body. Can you
write something that will open her eyes?
By RWM Experts
I am sure we all agree on some level that it is very apparent that the
celebrity scene does send out many mixed messages as to what beauty on the
exterior must look like...or better said: CAN look like? The fine line is to
whether this affects us positively or negatively.
When we are bombarded through magazine and TV “News Flashes” about actresses
transforming their bodies through supplements and drastic diets, along with
countless introductions of procedures (both non- and evasive) to tuck and
suck our way to timeless youth...to many women the “Hollywood Look” becomes
accessible. Now is this negative or positive?
From a positive perspective, are not celebrities like Demi Moore, Cameron
Diaz, Goldie Hawn and Julia Roberts beautiful women, and a general example
of “healthy” when compared to “average body type” today? Before you answer,
please note that according to the US Centres for Disease Control and
Prevention, “Since the mid-seventies, the prevalence of overweight and
obesity has increased sharply for both adults and children. Data from two
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) studies show that
among adults aged 20 - 74 years, the prevalence of obesity increased from
15.0 percent (in the 1976 - 1980 survey) to 32.9 percent (in the 2003 - 2004
survey).”
So it goes without saying that most Hollywood celebrities today are truly an
icon of health. Alyssa Milano, Brooke Shields, Claudia Schiffer, Anne
Hathaway, Dustin Hoffman and Fiona Apple are vegetarians. Gwyneth Paltrow,
Madonna and Joe Pesci are known macrobiotic diet followers. Sandra Bullock,
Cindy Crawford, Brad Pitt and Renee Zellweger follow The Zone. Woody
Harrelson is a raw foodist. Pamela Lee Anderson is a vegan. Don’t you think
these women and men are taking care of their bodies for more than just their
image on screen? Believe me, they are subject to the same unhealthy garbage
we eat, breath and absorb. Staying healthy is a quest, not a right anymore!
That is a positive Hollywood “Attitude” to idolize, agreed?
Now let’s face it, being at a healthy weight, which realistically today can
be achieved through “dieting”, is just that: HEALTHY. Why do you think the
Jenny Craigs’, Weight Watchers and Somersizing diets are billion dollar
enterprises boasting success stories among even our dearest friends. Are
these to be really considered “drastic diets”? If you look at the average
consumption in our obese nation, I too would think so, but I know better.
Now if we get into the nipping and tucking, sucking and plucking, what
really is the harm? I am sure each and every one of us has a body flaw or
two. And don’t you think that if you had the “solution” to “fix it”, and the
means to do it, you would? The decision of what approach you take, whether
it be to hire a trainer to say, shave off those “love handles”, verses going
to a cosmetic surgeon, is really an individual choice. Trust me, when you
look at the per capita of actors verses we regular folk, celebrities are not
the only ones spearheading this other billion dollar industry.
Now back to the first concept behind this article: Is this obsession with
the Hollywood image positive or negative? From what we have covered so far,
I guess you can categorize it as positive. There are many celebrities that
are an inspiration to healthy-minded women of all ages. Who wouldn’t want to
look as youthful as Jane Seymore - she’s 56 years old! How many times have
you said, “I wish I had _____ like ____, while referring a favourite
actress. When was the last time you bought an outfit because you saw a
celebrity wearing a similar one in a magazine or on TV? From a
healthy-minded perspective, the Hollywood scene is merely a convenient
resource to base a personal “wishlist” on, much like the Victoria’s Secret
catalogue.
Now I am not saying that we should all be completely “Pro-Celebrity Scene”;
it definitely has its negative value. Of all the celebrities listed in this
article and the many others that are an inspiration to us as individuals,
the truth is that these “idols” are not making the mainstream “news” because
they lead a healthy lifestyle - that’s boring! Truth be known, along side
the billion dollar diet and beauty industry, the one that shadows them all
is the all-mighty media. And unfortunately, the Nicole Ritchies’ and Anna
Nicoles’ are what sell the tabloids so the media makes sure that their
stories are visual and heard. And because these stories bombard us daily,
the real issue becomes diluted by the glamour of it all...if you are in the
news, you are obviously what’s HOT, right? This message has unfortunately
created another epidemic among women and girls that is not so positive. The
victims are the one’s who struggle with self-worth and self-confidence.
An image survey conducted in 2007 by Seventeen Magazine and the Dove
Self-Esteem Fund found that “56 percent of girls and women believe
celebrities have perfect bodies”. It also revealed that 93 percent of women
and girls admitted that dressing to “fit in” was very stressful, and another
70 percent indulged in unhealthy activities in an effort to improve their
physical appearance. According to the survey, this “celebrity imagery” is
driving women and girls to destructive behaviour because they have
unrealistic ideals of beauty.
So is an addiction to the “Hollywood Image” positive or negative? From what
we have covered, it is apparent that it is an individual’s ideology of
themselves that determines whether this attitude is destructive or not.
Where do you fit in?
To have your questions answered by our panel of Experts, email
experts@risingwomen.com
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