Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Dying to Look the SEXIEST...
(Photo courtesy of Billboard.com)
Sacrifice can be a great measure of how bad you want something - but it can also share a very close relationship to an obsession. For decades, the media has sold images where art imitates life. The only problem is, in real life, an attractive woman who appears in a lingerie catalogue as a size 0 may be one missed meal away from a rush to the hospital because she's had to skip meals for six weeks in order to achieve that size.
In any profession, there has to be a special amount of stamina and work ethic that exists in a person when they want to be better than average. But how much weight do your accomplishments hold if you're too sick to enjoy them? Or even worse, not around anymore to be rewarded for your work?
This story about a former Victoria's Secret model named Kylie Biscutti is a perfect example of talent pushed to the limit and her story of self-examination, which led to her giving up a very promising opportunity. Kylie wrote a book called, "I'm No Angel" - which shares her experience as a Victoria's Secret Model.
Here is a clip of Kylie's interview with the "Today Show":
“Are these my clothes?” I asked, flipping through the outfits on the rack.
“No, yours are over there.” One of the assistants pointed to a rack on the other side of the room.
Tyndale
“Thanks.” I walked to the other rack and grabbed the only two outfits on it.
That’s funny, I thought, I could have sworn they told me I’d be modeling three outfits today.
“Excuse me,” I said, catching the attention of a passing intern. “I seem to be missing an outfit. Do you know where it might be?”
“Let me find out,” she said. Then she called across the studio, “Hey, does anyone know where the rest of the big model’s clothes are?”
The big model? I froze, mortified, as all eyes turned to me.
How can I be the big model? My mind was reeling. I’m only a size 2. Convinced I must have misunderstood, I started thumbing through the other girls’ outfits to check the sizes. Sure enough, every garment on the rack was either a size 0 or a size 00.
I was the big model.
I was flabbergasted. Back in high school, I’d thought I was too skinny when I weighed 125. Now here I was, almost ten pounds lighter, and all of a sudden I was fat?
This is insane, I thought. I weighed the same amount back in February, and I walked in seven shows during Fashion Week! Embarrassed but resolved, I gathered my “enormous” size 2 outfits and skulked off to change. Fashion Week castings started in two weeks, and I felt confident there were at least seven designers out there who would be happy to have me walk in their shows again. I took a deep breath. It was going to take a lot more than one thoughtless comment from an intern to make me crack.
* * *
Two weeks later, Fashion Week castings were in full swing. Brittany and several of the other models I knew from Red Model were going out on two, sometimes three castings a day, and I had yet to be invited to one. My agent kept sending me out for more test shoots, even though my portfolio was already full. When she called to tell me about yet another test shoot, I pushed her for an explanation.
“Why am I doing another test shoot when everyone else is going out on castings for Fashion Week?”
“Do you really want to know, Kylie?” She sounded exasperated. “It’s because you are a fat pig right now. You are a cow, and I don’t want any of our clients to see you this way!”
I felt like I’d been kicked in the gut.
Before I could catch my breath to respond, she continued, “Your thighs are too big. Your butt is too big. You’re just . . . big!”
Okay so now that I've successfully channeled my inner Barbara Walters, lets equate Kylie's story to the urban community.
Silicone/Hydro/Fat injections. Body wraps. Diet/Water pills. The wanting of a slim waist on thick hips and and even thicker rear-end. It's so ironic to me that growing up, the images of ethnic women I normally saw (be it real life or on television) were women with modest-size behinds and if it was large, it wasn't on every other female. You would see a large behind here and there and if it was large, it matched their thighs or mid-section period. I will say I don't believe that every woman goes under the knife to have these popular shaped physiques - (working out sufficiently can do wonders) BUT, I will say that in 2013, the "microwave mindset" with bodies exist now more than ever.
Is this wrong?! Well...I would say that the biggest problem with it is when you see headlines like this:
"Black Market Surgery Goes Wrong"
"Woman's Limbs Amputated from failed Butt Injections"
"Woman Dies from Untreated Infection from Butt Augmentation"
To say that enhancements are wrong would be contradictory to many things. People do plenty of things to enhance themselves, whether they wear make-up, weaves, wigs, a flattering outfit...who is anyone to truly judge another person doing something that may improve their self-esteem? - Yeah, I know what you're thinking. You call yourself the "Purity Population" and have the nerve to halfway support plastic surgery?! LOL.
Well, first of all, some people with "enhancements" have a more genuine personality than a person who exudes the "natural movement". Let's not forget the premise that a person's outside damn sure doesn't have to match their inside and I know PLENTY of assholes who will try to convince the world that their "soul brotha/sista #1". But I will certainly elaborate on that matter in a future post.
My issue (however) is HEALTH and sacrificing that in order to obtain many things that are CONDITIONAL. Money is CONDITIONAL. Emotions (i.e. - public acceptance/following, attraction, fans) are extremely CONDITIONAL. It's a very dangerous game to play when you place so much stock and emphasis on being loved and admired for your appearance and then realize that you are broke in SUBSTANCE. So what happens when all the "wear and tear" on your body catches up with you? After all, time isn't free and we don't stay attractive forever. We can damn sure try but that's when you have the plastic faces that don't wear emotions anymore - I'm sure you can name PLENTY of celebs who fit that category.
I think I've made my point. If you read the entirety of this long ass article, YOUR WELCOME. ((smiles))
Silicone/Hydro/Fat injections. Body wraps. Diet/Water pills. The wanting of a slim waist on thick hips and and even thicker rear-end. It's so ironic to me that growing up, the images of ethnic women I normally saw (be it real life or on television) were women with modest-size behinds and if it was large, it wasn't on every other female. You would see a large behind here and there and if it was large, it matched their thighs or mid-section period. I will say I don't believe that every woman goes under the knife to have these popular shaped physiques - (working out sufficiently can do wonders) BUT, I will say that in 2013, the "microwave mindset" with bodies exist now more than ever.
Is this wrong?! Well...I would say that the biggest problem with it is when you see headlines like this:
"Black Market Surgery Goes Wrong"
"Woman's Limbs Amputated from failed Butt Injections"
"Woman Dies from Untreated Infection from Butt Augmentation"
To say that enhancements are wrong would be contradictory to many things. People do plenty of things to enhance themselves, whether they wear make-up, weaves, wigs, a flattering outfit...who is anyone to truly judge another person doing something that may improve their self-esteem? - Yeah, I know what you're thinking. You call yourself the "Purity Population" and have the nerve to halfway support plastic surgery?! LOL.
Well, first of all, some people with "enhancements" have a more genuine personality than a person who exudes the "natural movement". Let's not forget the premise that a person's outside damn sure doesn't have to match their inside and I know PLENTY of assholes who will try to convince the world that their "soul brotha/sista #1". But I will certainly elaborate on that matter in a future post.
My issue (however) is HEALTH and sacrificing that in order to obtain many things that are CONDITIONAL. Money is CONDITIONAL. Emotions (i.e. - public acceptance/following, attraction, fans) are extremely CONDITIONAL. It's a very dangerous game to play when you place so much stock and emphasis on being loved and admired for your appearance and then realize that you are broke in SUBSTANCE. So what happens when all the "wear and tear" on your body catches up with you? After all, time isn't free and we don't stay attractive forever. We can damn sure try but that's when you have the plastic faces that don't wear emotions anymore - I'm sure you can name PLENTY of celebs who fit that category.
I think I've made my point. If you read the entirety of this long ass article, YOUR WELCOME. ((smiles))
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Kelly Rowland Exposes her Abusive Past
(photo of Kelly courtesy of RollingOut.com)
My purists...PLEASE peep this:
It's crazy how artists that are more on the mainstream side of the equation can throw a curve ball at you and make you nod your head in deep ADMIRATION.
I can't say that I've ever been mad at Kelly from an artistic standpoint because she did (in many ways) appear to take the leftover spotlight from the Beyonce' movement. It's been hard to give her undivided attention when artistically she never really stood out without the blessing of a top artist collaboration. UNTIL NOW.
I personally don't feel that an artist has to be exempt from a mainstream cycle of attention in order to meet the criteria of "PURENESS".
And I was very intrigued (to say the least) about her latest release called, "Dirty Laundry" which not only speaks into her jealousy of Beyonce', but recollects moments of an abusive relationship she endured.
I can imagine the difficulty in expressing a song of this nature when you aren't sure of the potential backlash, but the main lyrics that hit the hardest are not the ones about the envy she felt for Beyonce' being in the spotlight - that point was all too obvious for anyone with a working brain. But these lyrics here:
"Off the record, I was going through some bullshit
Post-survivor, she on fire, who wanna hear my bullshit?
Meanwhile, this nigga putting his hands on me
I swear y’all don’t know the half of this industry"
The agony of trying to remain squeaky-clean in an industry who would love nothing more than to tear you apart for a story, views and/or notoriety is excruciating - and it's only getting worse. Negative publicity is BETTER than positive publicity in 2013 and the people most appalled by it do not seem to outweigh the people who support it.
For any entertainer to bear what's in their soul and expose themselves artistically is a very rare factor in music today so when we come across it, it will receive praise - especially if it's GOOD.
Kelly could very well become an inspiration for someone who feels trapped by an abusive relationship to seek help or solutions for their situation. She could also shed some light to a person who wants to know more about the "darker side" of the entertainment industry and how it could affect them.
We support this piece 100%. Genu-WINS. Always.
If you or someone you know is a victim of abuse, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−SAFE (7233) or TTY 1−800−787−3224 OR visit this link: GET HELP HERE
Monday, May 13, 2013
Sisters Reunited after 17 years
I can speak personally to the mindset of discovering family members when you least expect it. I met my older brother for the first time at the tender age of 7 and also found out about one of my first cousins that I met by chance because our boyfriends at the time were best friends.
But my story pales in comparison to these two sisters who crossed paths through their dedication to the athletic field.
Their names are Robin and Jordan Jeter. Robin, a senior at Friendship Collegiate High School and Jordan, a junior at Wilson High School reunited with one another when several members of Jordan's team made comments of another girl (Robin) looking JUST like her on the field. Then they approached one another and have been "two peas in a pod" ever since. Imagine that scene.
After watching their story, they are clearly in the "honeymoon phase" of the relationship. There is a great deal of catching up to do, but just as WUSA and many other media outlets have reported, they have many serious issues to tap into such as possible other siblings, their birth parents, and etc.
The thing that hits home for me would be the choices parents often make that haunt the children when they get older. I've seen so many instances where a decision was made to keep an estranged child away from their siblings because it was in the best interest of the couple affected by possible infidelity, lies, etc. - but the problem occurs when these children (who grow into adults) and get old enough to understand what has happened, what they have been deprived of, and then it puts the parent in a position to do damage control when they could have addressed it from the very beginning. A classic case of procrastination and then the volcano erupts one day.
Of course, it's easier said than done - who knows the reasoning behind the Jeter sisters' separation and the plight of their parents. However, in a situation where a child is involved and there are outside siblings and family members involved, it is so important to make your children AWARE of the story. God forbid your child runs into their long lost brother or cousin with no knowledge of the connection and decides to date them or become intimate.
There are too many people in the world who put their own biases, feelings and agendas before their children. They don't look into the future because they want to avoid the confrontation until they have no other choice.
"I asked her what's your mother's name on your birth certificate, what's her birthday, what does your birth certificate say at the bottom," says Robin.
Jordan was a little leery of the conversation at first.
"I was like ‘What is this, an interrogation”’ she said.
After watching their story, they are clearly in the "honeymoon phase" of the relationship. There is a great deal of catching up to do, but just as WUSA and many other media outlets have reported, they have many serious issues to tap into such as possible other siblings, their birth parents, and etc.
The thing that hits home for me would be the choices parents often make that haunt the children when they get older. I've seen so many instances where a decision was made to keep an estranged child away from their siblings because it was in the best interest of the couple affected by possible infidelity, lies, etc. - but the problem occurs when these children (who grow into adults) and get old enough to understand what has happened, what they have been deprived of, and then it puts the parent in a position to do damage control when they could have addressed it from the very beginning. A classic case of procrastination and then the volcano erupts one day.
Of course, it's easier said than done - who knows the reasoning behind the Jeter sisters' separation and the plight of their parents. However, in a situation where a child is involved and there are outside siblings and family members involved, it is so important to make your children AWARE of the story. God forbid your child runs into their long lost brother or cousin with no knowledge of the connection and decides to date them or become intimate.
There are too many people in the world who put their own biases, feelings and agendas before their children. They don't look into the future because they want to avoid the confrontation until they have no other choice.
God (however) controls all (my personal belief) and clearly they were meant to be there for one another. Way to go for the reunited young ladies. Good luck to your new-found sisterhood and friendship!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)