Halle Berry
Catherine Zeta-Jones
Beyonce
Jennifer Lopez
Christina Hendricks
Anne Hathaway
Beyonce
Jennifer Lopez
Christina Hendricks
Anne Hathaway
Imagine that face staring
back at you in the mirror,
each and every day.
Not just attractive, but
exquisite.
It's award season for
celebrities, so we are
seeing these faces and
what they are wearing,
nearly every day in the
news, on-line and in print.
It's award season for
celebrities, so we are
seeing these faces and
what they are wearing,
nearly every day in the
news, on-line and in print.
My daughter and I were
considering the idea of true
beauty the other morning
over breakfast.
 |
| My girl |
She explained how one
of her favorite actresses,
the talented and very lovely
Jennifer Lawrence, had been
Photo-Shopped recently
by a magazine.
They changed a bunch of
things and even removed her
freckles.....
She's already so pretty,
Mommy.
Why do they do that?
We discussed the media's
unrealistic standard of beauty,
which they perpetuate by
perfecting even those
who most of us deem pretty
darn perfect to begin with.
{The media meaning
both men and women
promoting these ideals.}
promoting these ideals.}
Sadly, many people idolize
beautiful people only because
they are beautiful. As if somehow
they did something special to
aquire these features, and for
that reason alone, should be
applauded.
In reality, they simply had the
good fortune to be born with
the right genetic mix that
created them.
Luck.
In my day, a face like
a doll was envied.
Barbie, anyone?
Now dolls like Bratz,
heavily made up and
with exaggerated facial
features, are the new
with exaggerated facial
features, are the new
ideal for little girls.
Why do we buy into this?
Is it any wonder that
girls at younger and younger
ages feel compelled to
strive for perfection?
strive for perfection?
The Media puts so much
importance on
outward
appearance.
And yet ~
and yet......
If I asked you to close your
eyes and picture seven women
who you love more than
any others in the world,
would you make the
selection based on how
they look?
Me neither.
Instead, we love them
for characteristics
for characteristics
like kindness, humor,
compassion, dedication,
strength, loyalty and
courage.
courage.
Not traits that you see
in a mirror, but instead,
the ones that you feel
in your heart.
And because they
love us, too,
just as we are.
This is the standard
we should all be
advancing.
we should all be
advancing.
True beauty can't
be Photo-Shopped.
Sorry, Media.
be Photo-Shopped.
Sorry, Media.
xo
Suzanne
32 comments:
i wonder how ordinary a lot of those actresses would look if they weren't photoshopped. i mean, they'd still be gorgeous...but just in a more ordinary way. does that make sense?? :) good thoughts...
Brilliant!!!!!!!
Suzanne,
So true...beauty is so much more than the images that are portrayed in magazines. And frankly with a team of stylists, make up and hair people, not to mention free clothing I think many of us could look even more stunning than we already are.
I hope you have a happy Valentines day!
Elizabeth
Boy, am I ever happy to have met you my gorgeous friend! You are true beauty through and through!
LOVE THIS POST!
much love...
You are so right! Pretty is as pretty does. Beauty is only skin deep. All the cliches are right. We know it, so why don't we believe it? Your post makes me think of Oprah on the cover of her magazine. Sometimes she doesn't even look like a real person! True beauty comes from the inside out!
Great post...so true!
Great post...so true!
You are so right. I will add that some of those "beauties" would look rather plain seen without their professional makeup, hair styling, etc.
I love that E recognizes how crazy it is to modify a picture of someone who is already lovely. She is a vision of loveliness herself by the way! Isn't it funny too how inner beauty can make someone even more beautiful to you? And upon learning that a pretty person is not that kind, they suddenly seem less attractive?
Yes, we were watching the award :) I do like to see what celebrities wear, what they say...me and my husband were laughing at how one actress was posing for the photographers and continuously adjusting her teeth and lips..it was really funny to watch :)hehe
a nice post abut modern standards of beauty..we shall value inner beauty more.
TOTALLY agree, Suzanne. True beauty radiates from the inside and has EVERYTHING to do with character.
Great photos, as always.
xx
nice, Suzanne....always always always a feast of thought here....
Happy Valentines day m'dear.....wishing you and yours lots of love always...
All we have to do is stop buying into it....oh, if it was that simple. The funny thing (in my stubborn opinion) is that it IS THAT SIMPLE. I bet that if the general public showed they would GO FOR the real things in life, the media would jump on it. It is up to the public.
I've known a few uber beautiful women - some models too - and the pressure they put on themselves is so high.
I'd take looking 'normal' over super-human-beautiful any day. And I do think what is on the inside shines through :)
I actually prefer the untouched freckly face...the woman with her wrinkles showing her life through her lines...the real is better. A beautiful soul is the key to real beauty. You've got that my friend.
"Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart." If it's good enough for God, it's good enough for me.
Thanks for reminding us, Suzanne. Beautiful words like yours don't come naturally. They take thought, work, and character. A choice. We all can choose to be beautiful in what we say and do!
Love,
Mary
How True!!!
This is what we need to instill in our children.
xo
Japanese Valentine gift, chocolate is the NO.1.
I am the eldest daughter of a gift set of chocolate and tobacco.
In junior high school and high school, she studied in the United States.
It is a great setting.
I am forever grateful.
I love this! my 15 year old daughter and I had almost the exact conversation. It's sad that my girl sees herself as "plain faced" and I see her as the most beautiful thing inside and out. Until we stop worshipping these celebrities and caring about what they wore, where they went, who they are in a relationship with I am afraid we are stuck with them as "role models" of beauty for our kids.
Wonderful post! I totally agree that beauty comes from within! The most beautiful people I know would not fit the norm of Hollywood standards, but I will keep and love them all the same..
Happy Valentine's Day!
xoxo
Cindy
Wonderful post, Suzanne! I am often amazed at what our society looks at as beautiful now, too. I think a beautiful and loving spirit shines through on a person...you and E both embody this! Happy Valentines Day, sweet friend!
Amen and Amen. Do not get me started on the Bratz dolls. That's why kiddo's need marvelous parents like you to teach them core values. Television teaches shallow values at best. xo, Olive
Suzanne- What a wonderful post- your daughter is a beauty, too!!! xo Diana
When my guys were younger they swam in an outdoor summer league. At nearly every practice was a 92-yr-old woman who came to swim with them. Wrinkles, bathing cap, big smiles - one of the most beautiful woman I ever saw!
Happy ❤ Day!
xo Cathy
Sound like a great chat to have with all of the girls in our lives.
Fondly,
Glenda
Well said! I sent this to all my beautiful girlfriends (trust you don't mind me sharing it). Patty/BC
Amen, dear friend. Amen.
As the mother of all daughters, I couldn't agree with you more...
Julie
Oh wow, do I ever need to read this over and over again. Bookmarking this. So wise. So true.
Another four star post and the images you chose to illustrate it with are just fabulous and perfect. There is much to what you say here -- and bravo for your daughter on the freckle comment. She's a wise woman already!
Right on, Suzanne! I love freckles-- what's there to hide?!
Keri
I wish that this brilliantly shared post could be on the cover of every magazine today. You are so gifted at sharing what is on your heart, and we are most gifted in being able to read your words. Oh how I long for my daughters and granddaughters to grasp this truth. Well written!
Amen, my friend....
Beautiful.
xoxoxo
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