Personal Thought: When Beauty is in the Eye of the Judges

Most of us have probably watched them. Like its commercial on TV who claimed models as "tall, thin and sexy", they are. I was not really into it, until the cable TV recently bombarded the channel with those shows about them. Not just America's Next Top Model, now we can watch similar shows every single day; expanding from America to Canada, Britain, and Australia. It's like the cable channel has no other shows. 

The fact is they are addictive. These girls are not just pretty, but they have selling value. Therefore, they become great commodity for television. And somehow, after watching cycle after cycle, I can't help to feel sorry for them. I mean, who could possibly remember all those faces after a while. Modeling is an industry which based on vanity. Like miss pageant, no model could last forever. Eventually, they must find other things to do besides posing and smize-ing. Those who stand out longer than the rest, like Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss, Heidi Klum, or Tyra Banks, are just rare examples in this superficial dog-eat-dog world.

You may say that watching them is harmless. These shows are simply harmless and entertaining? I don't think so. Check out all of the shows and you will know why a woman would be affected by them. Almost like a brainwash, these shows are absolutely telling you the definition of "beauty". The judges would say that personality matters, but those who got eliminated were those who simply looked less attractive than the others. On one of Australia's Next Top Model episodes, one girl was being criticized because she had pimples. They have to portray themselves as sell-able, flexible, approachable, but graceful and unique at the same time. Those who have squint eyes, uneven legs or arms or legs, dyslexia, or introvert personality, must try hard to cover up those flaws. Being perfect is not an option for them. And if you see their stories, they are actually regular women with high hopes and dreams. Most of them even look unattractive without make-up. One touch of concealer and mascara... and BOOM! They become supermodels. They must sell their images. Most importantly, they must sell their bodies.

I have a friend who tried to loose weight after watching the show. She refused to eat carbs, until one day the doctors said that she was ill.

I have a friend who looks so skinny in trampy clothes. Her old friends said that she used to be fuller when she was in school, until she felt envious of those supermodel bodies and decided to eat diet pills and fast everyday. People still heard her throwing up in the toilet every now and then. I often read her cravings from twitter at night. Yes, she's skinny, but I think she needs help.

I have a former colleague who used to be a bulimic. She is too skinny now, and her face is not glowing and she always looks depressed. She thinks she is pretty now. 

There are many reasons to love the shows. But there are plenty of reasons not to endorse them. I mean, until when will different countries around the world making similar show? Until what decade will tall, skinny, and high-cheek-bones define beauty? Until that trend is changed, we can't really blame those teenagers who want to be like them. Supermodels, however they are, are role models. 

Don't even get me started on plastic surgery. I guess I am just sick of living in pretentious world. If everything is full of covered up, fake imagery, than how are we to know what is real anymore?

PS. However, I do like to watch Jay Manuel and Nigel Barker on ANTM. They looked sincere and kind. Nigel is a half Asian and a former model who became a photographer (her mother was the former Miss Sri Lanka; which explained why he is super cute). Hihi. But then again, maybe it's just their image on television, huh... Anything for the sake of our entertainment.