Thank you for tearing this latest body beautiful sickness to shreds. I was wondering when the beauty industry would get here since aging baby boomers represent a HUGE cash cow if they can just find the right hook. Sorry if I sound cynical, but I spent a good portion of my youth torturing myself (eating disorders, addiction to exercise, alcoholism - I had it bad) over my looks, trying to look like the latest image the marketers fed us. I never dreamed that my real beauty lay within. What a waste of talent, creativity, and life! I wish I could take my younger self in my arms and say you are GORGEOUS as you are. Now go out and do what you love and show others how to do the same.
What's needed here is a very loud and boisterous party in which the emperor (or emperoress in this case) is shown to have no clothes and we all get together to start our own clothing line designed to celebrate all kinds of women of all colors, all kinds of skin, at all stages of the aging process.
I will stop raging now, but it really does tick me off. Thank you for letting me go on. Hugs.
Val! Bravo!! I feel ambushed by Paulina and exhausted by Emily R and I am ACTUALLY now invisible (recently confirmed at the first wedding I attended since dawn of Covid) and I applaud your ability to sum it all up. Now, wait, what do I need to do to my face???
Hmm, I was just thinking about how I thought Laura Geller was TOO real recently. Aside from the new ad campaign I found their Instagram filled with tons of “real” women that sometimes even found me saying to myself, “Really?”. And for Paulina, why can’t older women be beautiful AND not-so-beautiful? She doesn’t appear to have anything cosmetically done to her face. I don’t know, I’ve followed her for a while now and admire her as more than just a pretty face and rockin’ bod.
Yes! I feel the same about cosmetic and skincare companies using such spokespeople as if I can attain those "goals" without being honest that those folx have resources beyond the sky to care for their hairs, skin and bodies. It's just disingenous.
I was wrong. The emeryboards post was the funniest. This one is the best. Thank you for telling it like it is. I guess I understand that if you’ve been objectified your whole life, being hot when you’re over 50 is a thing. For the rest of us, let us turn to good friends and laughter and be done with pretense.
"Paulina—and other aesthetically-gifted women (by certain standards) like her—still evokes an unattainable beauty standard we’re all accustomed to, no matter what she tells us about how tough it is to feel invisible."
This reminds me of the time I posted something about being proud of my wrinkles before I actually had them. The idea of growing old alongside a supermodel makes me want to hurl myself from a high precipice. I am filled with loathing for the beauty industry at the moment. The day they stop talking about aging as a problem to be overcome or a superpower to be wielded will be a very good day. Why is it so hard? Evolve already, people.
As always I love your column. This time I am holding off the rabbit hole...but I know tonight I will probably hit that link hard. 56 ! Heck I felt my strongest at 56. Let ME at 75 be the spokeswoman for aging! hahahahaha
Thank you for tearing this latest body beautiful sickness to shreds. I was wondering when the beauty industry would get here since aging baby boomers represent a HUGE cash cow if they can just find the right hook. Sorry if I sound cynical, but I spent a good portion of my youth torturing myself (eating disorders, addiction to exercise, alcoholism - I had it bad) over my looks, trying to look like the latest image the marketers fed us. I never dreamed that my real beauty lay within. What a waste of talent, creativity, and life! I wish I could take my younger self in my arms and say you are GORGEOUS as you are. Now go out and do what you love and show others how to do the same.
What's needed here is a very loud and boisterous party in which the emperor (or emperoress in this case) is shown to have no clothes and we all get together to start our own clothing line designed to celebrate all kinds of women of all colors, all kinds of skin, at all stages of the aging process.
I will stop raging now, but it really does tick me off. Thank you for letting me go on. Hugs.
Val! Bravo!! I feel ambushed by Paulina and exhausted by Emily R and I am ACTUALLY now invisible (recently confirmed at the first wedding I attended since dawn of Covid) and I applaud your ability to sum it all up. Now, wait, what do I need to do to my face???
Hmm, I was just thinking about how I thought Laura Geller was TOO real recently. Aside from the new ad campaign I found their Instagram filled with tons of “real” women that sometimes even found me saying to myself, “Really?”. And for Paulina, why can’t older women be beautiful AND not-so-beautiful? She doesn’t appear to have anything cosmetically done to her face. I don’t know, I’ve followed her for a while now and admire her as more than just a pretty face and rockin’ bod.
Yes! I feel the same about cosmetic and skincare companies using such spokespeople as if I can attain those "goals" without being honest that those folx have resources beyond the sky to care for their hairs, skin and bodies. It's just disingenous.
I was wrong. The emeryboards post was the funniest. This one is the best. Thank you for telling it like it is. I guess I understand that if you’ve been objectified your whole life, being hot when you’re over 50 is a thing. For the rest of us, let us turn to good friends and laughter and be done with pretense.
EGGGZACTLY, VAL
"Paulina—and other aesthetically-gifted women (by certain standards) like her—still evokes an unattainable beauty standard we’re all accustomed to, no matter what she tells us about how tough it is to feel invisible."
I would never guess that was a commercial for makeup. I half expected to hear a voiceover listing the possible side effects of some miracle drug.
But also... I really don't like the competitive aspect of this at all.
YIPPEE Val! Loved reading this! <3
This reminds me of the time I posted something about being proud of my wrinkles before I actually had them. The idea of growing old alongside a supermodel makes me want to hurl myself from a high precipice. I am filled with loathing for the beauty industry at the moment. The day they stop talking about aging as a problem to be overcome or a superpower to be wielded will be a very good day. Why is it so hard? Evolve already, people.
Yessss. Loved this one!
As always I love your column. This time I am holding off the rabbit hole...but I know tonight I will probably hit that link hard. 56 ! Heck I felt my strongest at 56. Let ME at 75 be the spokeswoman for aging! hahahahaha