I dunno, I thought she was kinda hot at the get-go really. Like I said on one of Tex's blogs - I call it the WKRP in Cincinnati syndrome or as Gid put it, the Ginger vs. Mary Ann thing. At the end of the day I really dig (as I think the lion's share of most guys do) the girl next door best.

She was pretty at the beginning. But obviously, she was not pretty enough because her imaged had to be "fixed" before it could be used. From what my PR major friends tell me, this is a lot more common that I would have originally thought.

Besides, Shovelheat, you and most of the guys on here are (for the most part) decent people who are not pigs. Unfortunately, the pressure to be perfect usually comes from other women and from the media. This "perfect image" is then internalized, and we then put the pressure on ourselves.

I really only have myself to blame for starving myself and wasting money on a new cream eyeshadow.

I'm with ya, sista! I wrote about this a bit ago. http://arlya.joeuser.com/index.asp?aid=134500

Heh...I'm a big guy, myself. As for my views on women...it really depends on the personality with me. I've seen the typical "hot" girl be a total and unrelenting bitch and that's not attractive. However, if a girl is a nice person, good sense of humor, and got a pretty good head on her shoulders then I'm all over that.

Besides, Shovelheat, you and most of the guys on here are (for the most part) decent people who are not pigs

Thanks for that, by the way.

~Zoo

Whatever, this has always been done, just with airbrushing instead of computers.

Advertising is about being visually pleasing to the largest number of people possible.   Now to do so you could spend lots of time and money auditioning girls (the actual girls who throw up and starve themselves) until you find someone who has the exact type of beauty that you want, or you can edit someone up.

Your article seems to say that it's a BAD THING for women to strive to take better care of themselves by keeping up on fitness, dressing with style, and putting on some make up.  It's like saying there's something wrong with people who drive a Ferrari, because it's unrealistic that most people will ever own one.

If girls compare themselves to models and feel inferior, it means that they aren't getting enough love and support from their family and friends to make them feel confident.

 

Very enlightening post, SHE.

I especially enjoyed the fat rant. Most, most interesting.

At the end of the day I really dig (as I think the lion's share of most guys do) the girl next door best.

Yep!  On both counts.  She was not ugly at all.  She was very pretty!

On the contrary. As Joy says in "The Fat Rant", "If you exercise and eat right, and you still aren't skinny, then you're life isn't over." (paraphrased) My point is that we should not be killing ourselves to achieve something that isn't real anyway. Why not let real women do the advertising? I realize that they want everyone to say, "Ooo! She's wearing Old Navy and she's pretty, so if I wear Old Navy, I'll be pretty too!" but deep down, I think we all realize that wearing Old Navy, Gap, Cover Girl, or any other product will not make us pretty, at least not the way the air brushed model looks.

I think it's more like having every person in movies, tv, advertisements and the music industry driving Ferraris in every shot, as though that were the only symbol that someone is successful. Success means more than driving a Ferrari, just as beauty is more than glow-in-the-dark white teeth, big boobs and a tiny waist.

To Everyone else: glad you liked it.

I agree that deep down, we realize that wearing Gap clothes doesnt make you pretty.  But that's deep down.  Subliminally, and on the surface we DO believe it...which is why advertising works.

If the girl who did the Fat Rant video was on a commercial for Levi's ..... a lot less people would buy their jeans.

If the girl who did the Fat Rant video was on a commercial for Levi's ..... a lot less people would buy their jeans.

Ahhhhh,  I think you need to re-think that statement Jeremy.  If statistics are correct,  we're a nation of obese people,  more obesity now than ever before.  THAT being the case,  Levi Jeans would get LOTS of buyers that are overweight,  simply because Levis come in bigger sizes!

BTW Sugar Elf,  great article!  point well made

and the rant was true and uplifting as well

Here's a cookie too,  for an insightful article! 

I loved those videos.

The fat girl was cute and I really liked the way she talked, except when she called herself a bitch.  I just wasn't feeling the bitch vibe coming from her so was a little taken back when she described herself as such.

I thought the girl on the first one looked great all made up and computerized.  I don't think there is anything wrong with sprucing yourself up...so long as you don't think that is what makes you, you.

 

Good article...good insight.

Back in my misguided youth you coulda saved all that cosemetic money and bought me a six pack and Ida thought you were beautiful is so many ways.

Back in my misguided youth you coulda saved all that cosemetic money and bought me a six pack and Ida thought you were beautiful is so many ways.

If I'm not mistaken, this approach still works on some guys...

Seriously though, as pretty as the computer creation was, what was wrong with the woman before they "fixed" her? The picture they took of her with her hair done and makeup on was fine, why the need to elongate her neck, make her eyes bigger and make her shoulders slimmer?

Tova: I'm with you on the "bitch" thing. She didn't come across that way in the rest of her video. However, she made a good point about blaming "I'm fat" on everything and not working on other aspects of one's personality. It makes a great excuse, but an invalid one.

And, honestly, if I saw her advertising for a pair of jeans, it would encourage me to go shop at that store. She was pretty, and carried herself very well. She would probably make a great model. I know I want the jacket she was wearing, and if I knew where to get it...

She was pretty, and carried herself very well. She would probably make a great model.

I agree. Many people carry their weight very well, they're truly beautiful. I've known many people like that.

I for one am really ugly when I get fat. I look like a bloated greaseball. I feel unhealthy because of all the unhealthy food I crammed into my mouth to get that way. Such people are the ones who give fat a bad name.

But the beautiful, healthy, hereditarily-challenged people need not despair. If you're confident, intelligent, and take good care of yourself, it shows through your attitude and energy level. That's the true picture of health.