Is Jessica Simpson The Best Person To Lead A Conversation About Unrealistic Beauty Standards?
Posted by: Jessica Wakeman
Filed in:
style
10:00AM, Tuesday June 23rd 2009
When I heard a few months ago that pop star Jessica Simpson was considering a reality TV show about “real beauty,” I was thrilled. Finally! A celeb who sought to use the negative press attention towards her and spin it a positive way! In the wake of the offensive tabloid lynch mob over Simpson’s “mom jeans” weight gain, taking the high road seemed like a classy thing to do.
The details of said show are finally out: in a docu-series called “The Price of Beauty” for VH1, Simpson will travel around the world speaking to women about the lengths they go to to achieve physical perfection, including their diets, clothes and beauty regimens.
It does sounds like a cool premise for a TV program. But when I read Jessica’s statement regarding her show, I came to my senses about just who the feel-good, body-positive “messenger” is.
In a statement about “The Price of Beauty,” Simpson said:
“I have always believed that beauty comes from within and confidence will always make a woman beautiful, but I know how much pressure some women put on themselves to look perfect. I am really looking forward to discovering how beauty is perceived in different cultures and participating in some of the crazy things people do to feel beautiful. I know we will all learn a lot on this journey.”
Really, Jessica? “Real” beauty is where it’s at for you? You promote lip plumper and body shimmer, perfume, and hair extensions, and even talk about how you got Restylane in your lips. But now you’re saying women do some “crazy” things to look good and you believe real beauty comes from within.
Instead of traveling around the world, Simpson should focus in her own backyard. She could put klieg lights on the computerized body-slimming and airbrushing that goes on in Hollywood, as well as the the insane amount of exercise and dieting that starlets undergo to get their bodies—including her own back-to-Daisy-Dukes weight loss after her “fat” photos fracas. If she really wants to start a conversation about the lengths women could to look perfect, she could start with the beauty industry she has not only participated in herself to further her career, but promoted as a spokesperson. I know she’s trying to take the high road, which is admirable, but it just smells hypocritical.
Who would I rather see lead this delicate conversation? Kate Winslet. Winslet’s body is as “big,” if not bigger, than Simpson’s and she’s been in the public eye (and trashed for her weight) for a bit longer. But Winslet has never talked out of both sides of her (one hopes un-Restylyne’d) mouth when it comes to her appearance—in fact, she has repeatedly stated how much she is airbrushed in magazines. Kate Winslet is an actress, I believe, who has true integrity.
In comparison, Jessica Simpson warbling a post-public humiliation body-positive spiel is a bit like trotting out Bristol Palin as a role model for teen girls not to have sex before marriage. Why, pray tell, are we listening to you, exactly?
I am glad Simpson wants to contribute to this public conversation about beauty in some way; her heart is definitely in the same zip code of the right place. But “The Price of Beauty” had better be one damn sincere show for it to actually work.
TheFrisky.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network
Riley
wrote on June 23 2009 @ 10:06 am: [report]
Perhaps she is a good commentator on the issue because she lives through all of it. Kate Winslet, while less hypocritical, would only know those lengths people go to from the outside looking in; I’m sure it is a lot uglier from the inside.
That is assuming she is sincere about the show.
Jessica Wakeman
wrote on June 23 2009 @ 10:17 am: [report]
@Riley Yes, but ALL celebrities live through all of it.
Anniekins
wrote on June 23 2009 @ 11:10 am: [report]
It’s an interesting topic for a show. However, while Jessica Simpson my have experienced a lot of issues with appearance, the fact that she has #### for brains makes me not want to take it seriously.
GreenAura
wrote on June 23 2009 @ 11:20 am: [report]
Well, maybe Jessica has finally seen the light. And by light I mean more shiny objects that she can buy with the $$ she receives from this show. Ah well, I’m still holding out hope that this will actually be a show worth watching.
emflow
wrote on June 23 2009 @ 11:48 am: [report]
I think the quote from Jessica Simpson sums up the problem with this show - It doesn’t sound like she’s thought about beauty beyond the platitudes that everyone automatically agrees with. Yes, true beauty comes from within. Yes, women (and men) struggle for physical beauty. Have anything deeper than that to say? Nope?
Unless she (or her writers) come up with a bit more substance, the show will basically be cotton candy - all fluff, no nutritional value.
Jessica Wakeman
wrote on June 23 2009 @ 11:52 am: [report]
@emflow Good point—let’s hope Jessica Simpson and her writers come up with something substantive!
jimnist10
wrote on June 23 2009 @ 12:53 pm: [report]
This show is going to be on VH1 AND Jessica Simpson is the “host”. How much substance are you expecting from the network that promotes such classy ideals of people, not to mention women, through shows like “Rock of Love” and “Charm School” to name a few. Jessica Simpson traveling around the world and “trying out” other women’s “crazy beauty things” sounds like it’s going to be something like “New York Goes to Work”. “OMG! I can’t believe these women acutally use beetle’s insides as lipstick! Ok, well I’ll smother beetle guts on my lips too! EEWWW!” Right. I have better fare to preoccupy my mind with, like…re-runs of “Housewives of NJ”.
stephoney22
wrote on June 23 2009 @ 02:39 pm: [report]
I believe I already ranted on this topic when the news first came out. But I’ll say again, Jessica is NOT a good role model. I’m not saying she’s the worst, she’s just not any good. As jimnist10 said, it’s Jessica Simpson and it’s on VH1, so how quality could it truly be? Women who could actually benefit from a show like this will not receive the inspiration they need with a host like Jessica Simpson. They need someone intelligent and someone whose body is for real. Most women who have issues with looks and their body and believing they are beautiful have trouble changing the way they think and women who look more like them have much more impact. But if we watch the show, woo-hoo we could find out what women use to plump their lips in Afghanistan!!! Seems like women and children’s health and rights would be a better topic…