Now that we’ve counted down to the new year, let’s countdown the top eight beauty stories of ‘08:
8. EVERDAY FACES AND BODIES
Late in 2008, Ellen DeGeneres became the new face appearing in CoverGirl ads. Media articles wrote that this indicated a continued shift towards the use of “everyday looking people” in advertisements instead of models. I certainly see their point, but let’s keep in mind that Ellen also brings in that celebrity factor that advertisers can’t get enough of. Interestingly, though, a study out of Australia found that how people respond to an ad, and their willingness to consider buying what it promotes, was the same whether the model was slim or of average body weight. Hmmm…
7. APPEARANCE-BASED DISCRIMMINATION
In 2008, we saw the launch of the online club beautifulpeople.com (new members must be voted in by existing members of the opposite sex based on whether they are attractive enough), were introduced to a computer program that creates ideal faces, and the world learned that the young girl we saw singing during the opening ceremony at the Olympics in China was chosen to lip sync to the beautiful voice of a young girl who was deemed “not cute enough” to appear on TV.
6. CARLA BRUNI-SARKOZY
Carla Bruni may not have landed a lucrative new modelling contract, but the model-turned-singer landed herself a new husband of presidential proportions: Nicholas Sarkozy, the President of France. In a whirlwind romance, Bruni went from obscurity (for most people) to the First Lady. This Italian-born beauty was one of the top fashion models of the 1990s, speaks three languages fluently, is a mother, and is the ambassador to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
5. BEAUTY TALK
There has been much better intelligent discussion about beauty in the media this past year. Take, for example, all of the insightful news articles about image and beauty I’ve been able to post about here on the blog. In addition, more academics are putting thought and research into the subject of beauty, which was once thought to be frivolous and unimportant (nothing could be further from the truth — beauty and image play a large role in culture and society). This category of “beauty talk”, of course, would include the launch of Belle IQ and its contribution to better discussion and understanding about beauty in 2008.
4. SUPERMODEL COMEBACK
Supermodels are making a comeback. Both Spring and Fall designer campaigns were lush with supermodel faces in 2008, including Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Claudia Schiffer, Linda Evangelista, Kate Moss (did she ever really go away?), Eva Herzigova, Amber Valetta, and Stephanie Seymour. These classic beauties (many of whom are in and around the 40 mark) came out of retirement to appear in ad campaigns for the likes of Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Salvatore Ferragamo, Escada, Valentino, Jones New York, Tumi, Roberto Cavalli, Chopar, Prada, DSquared and David Yurman. What’s that? I might not have to retire from modelling at the ripe old age of 25?
3. SARAH PALIN
Here on Belle IQ, I shared some of my thoughts about Sarah Palin and the campaign and more broadly about the importance of attractiveness and politics. Though many disagree with her political views, no one can deny the media frenzy she created in large part thanks to her looks, locks, lipstick, specs, and pumps.
2. RECESSION
The economy has influenced beauty this year in many ways: the Lipstick Indicator held true with lipstick sales going up even though the economy was tanking; fewer people spent money on cosmetic surgery; and, when it came to style at work, professional attire beat out casual duds.
1. TINA FEY
I chose Tina Fey as the top beauty story of 2008 for many reasons: she is an actress, a writer, and producer; a wife and a mother; a hard worker; and a woman who has come to know the importance of image when it comes to success (as Vanity Fair wrote in its January 2009 issue, Fey underwent a major makeover before moving from the writing desk to on-camera at SNL). She is the perfect combination of brains, brawn, and beauty. And no one will ever forget her hilariously accurate imitation of Sarah Palin.
HONOURABLE MENTION: LIPSTICK
Lipstick, on its own, deserves an honourable mention as a top beauty story of 2008. It showed up not only in discussion of the Lipstick Indicator as mentioned above, but also in choice phrases such as: ”You can put lipstick on a pig, but its still a pig” and “What’s the difference between a pitbull and a hockey mom? Lipstick.” (I’m no stranger myself to the benefits of lipstick this past year — I wrote about how a bright red pout helped me land a modelling job.)
Thank you to my dedicated readers for all of your support. I’ve enjoyed launching and writing this blog very much, and look forward to bringing you much more on beauty in 2009.
Happy New Year!
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