Ugly is the new Pretty
Thursday nights have become somewhat routine for me, in a good way. I try to be home by 7:45 so I can shake off the day, grab something to eat and settle in for a night of fabulous television, courtesy of ABC. 'Ugly Betty' kicks it off; for those of you who don't know, the show follows the misadventures of an aesthetically-challenged Latina trying to make it in the world of high fashion - by way of the show's fictional fashion bible Mode magazine.I think Betty strikes a chord in most women, perhaps in most people, in the sense that we all know what it feels like to NOT be on 'the list'. To not fit in or know the secret handshake or inside joke...and to have no clue HOW to get to where we think we should be. I think we can all see a little bit of Betty in ourselves.
However, I find it just a little disingenuous when the fabulous and snazzy try to show the Betty in them to the rest of us. The formula is simple and predictable: cute, famous chick dons a fat/ugly/'anything that doesnt even remotely resemble them' suit to show the masses what it is like to not be fabulous -- and deal with everyday life (can you imagine??)
Tyra Banks captured her Betty moment in a 350 pound fat suit last year. News outlets picked up on her 'undercover' stunt, chronicling Tyra's drastic makeunder and how she was ridiculed as she went through life in Hollywood as a plus-sized girl. Even her blind date couldn't hide his lack of interest (and perhaps disgust) once meeting her face to face. Another guy said his parents would ask him 'What is wrong with you?' if he took her home to meet them. Tyra later called the experience "one of the most heartbreaking days of my life."
And last week came Vanessa Minillo (aka. Nick Lachey's main squeeze), in what her employer Entertainment Tonight called the 'Ugly Vanessa' series. She took a different approach than Tyra, alternating between a blond, blue-eyed Vanessa and a plumper, brown-haired, braces-laden Vanessa. You can imagine the different experiences the two Vanessas encountered, as she visited New York City's high end stores, subway, hottest nightspots and more.
Vanessa's segment was characterized as an expose of sorts, complete with her commentary. She said that being ignored was the worst part and that her feelings were "really hurt" by some of the comments she heard. "People can be so cruel to a real life Ugly Betty," Vanessa said, adding that " 'Ugly' is a four-letter word...and it is time we get rid of it."
What I find funny about these 'hidden camera investigations' is not that they show what happens EVERY day for those of us who didn't hit the genetic jackpot. I think we are all acutely aware of the ease of life that beauty affords. Beauty is not just in the eye of the beholder: it's in the eyes of the salesperson, the folks holding the velvet rope and so on, including the opposite sex. Hell, I picked my cat because she was cute (and no that's not just a biased pet owner's claims, my cat IS cute! Ok, I am back...)
Rather, I think I am surprised at how surprised these chicks are at how poorly they are treated, especially when a large part of their livelihoods is based on how they look. Tyra is a MODEL and Vanessa is an celebrity tv correspondent -- surely they both knew that looking good was a prerequisite for their jobs. I don't think Sports Illustrated or Maxim, respectively, would have placed either woman on their covers if something was amiss in that department. They must realize that if one of their eyes was lower than the other - or their teeth a bit crooked - that life might be a little bit different. Saying that 'being ignored' was the worst part of the day, to me, shows just how out of touch both of these women may be with reality. Your beauty gets you lots of attention, so what exactly did you think would happen when you weren't as attractive?
At the end of the day, though, maybe some viewers did gain insight into how heavier or less attractive people are treated in our society. And maybe that will give them pause the next time they find their minds - and mouths - poised to make a negative judgment as it relates to the person they see walking down the street.
And, Tyra and Vanessa, at least you girls can take that makeup off when the cameras stop rolling.
posted by Miss E @ 8:58 PM
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