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2009/11/30
Lifestyle:
“Twiggy”, the birth of the Super Model or the “Glorification of Cadaverous”? |
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I came across this article last night in the Lifestyle insert of The Sunday Times (4th October 2009) that has further been splashed all over “lifestyle” orientated blogs and web castings all day. The article praises the supposed first woman to be categorized as a super model, whatever the criteria was and still is. Lesley Hornby who turned 60 just this last month was only 16 years old when she seemingly had her image monetized for that of the new age 60s fashion revolutionary icon that she is today. |
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"Twiggy" and the "The Look"
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The story reads as follows, “It was a boyish haircut and the andro-gynous look it lent to the stick insect of a woman who started it all. Really, it's that simple: Twiggy's iconic status as the poster child of the '60s "youthquake" - an expression coined by American Vogue's editor Diana Vreeland - was kick started by her softened version of Vidal Sassoon's era-defining, five-point bob.
The look, first captured by a Durban-born photographer, mesmerised the ruling fashion cognoscenti and, with them, much the rest of the world. Just how Twiggy, born Lesley Hornby 60 years ago this past September, came to conquer the fashion world with her fragile beauty, is the stuff of legend. Which is a good enough reason to be cautious. After all, legends are pliable things, easily adapted to the needs of their narrator.
As a starting point, listen to how Time magazine reported on the already famous 16-year-old, North London waif in their November 11 1966 issue. The heat-of-the-moment testimony draws heavily on the hype proffered by Twiggy's then boyfriend, manager and spokesman, Justin de Villeneuve.”
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"Twiggy"...I don't see the big deal really?!
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The above quoted text comes from the online Sunday times which, to my 2AM brain seems very similar to the printed article in the Lifestyle insert read the night before. I don’t want to complain about this article or bitch and moan about the implications of such an article. But I can’t resist, so here we go. Firstly, working in this particular industry through my other company ZAGlamour, I understand the importance of a healthy self-image and physical appearance. In this day and age, a debate has been waging on for what seems like a lifetime, “What is sexier? Skinny or Voluptuous?”
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The Unattainable...
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Over the last decade or so, the image portrayed by movie stars, celebrities and supermodels was the promotion of the lanky, boney and seemingly borderline-death physical appearance and unfortunately still resonates today and in some circles is considered the benchmark for sexy and model-worthy appearance. Recently, celebrities such as Shakira, a Latino musical star and Kim Kardashian, a pseudo semi-famous socialite are trying to break that mould and have embraced their curves in what seems like a revival of the “hour glass”.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, or is beauty in the eye of the beerholder? Either way, it comes down to personal perception of what attracts you to the opposite sex and what you think the opposite sex would be interested in, in return. Getting back to “Twiggy”, the title of this article highlights the idea that this rise to fame could have signaled the start of the ridiculous issues contemporary women have with their own bodies, as they have to page through what I like to call, “image destroyers”, women’s magazines - which will not be named. They are not the only one’s to be blamed, TV channels such as Fashioniesta TV, Doc 90210 and others also play their part in the massacre that is image perception. Popular cultural is something that no one controls and everyone chooses their own path, but the examples set by the “chosen few” in the limelight have set an unattainable, or if somehow attainable then certainly unhealthy, goal that many woman hurt themselves to achieve.
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MORON!!!
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With regards to ZAGlamour, we are all about “the sexy” but we understand that the generic male population out there do not want to be paying for something they can get for free by walking into their local McD’s, so yes, we are selective about who we choose when it comes to signing models, but that in no way means that we promote the “show me the skinny vibe” adopted by “Poop” Culture of today and yester years. We are all about healthy living and in a sordid way encourage our models to eat, and eat well. No one wants to be unhealthy, everyone wants to look good, but there are better ways to achieve that image aside from hugging the toilet bowl after every meal – in the “anorexia and bulimia world” it’s called purging…couldn’t they have found a less disgusting, vivid word than that…sh-t! It makes me feel dirty just saying it. The health implications in doing such things are magnanimous, the destruction of one’s teeth, acid reflux, malnutrition, gingivitis, halitosis, atrophy of the muscles just to name a few…never mind all the mental and psychological damage following this kind of “puke-path” does to someone.
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Twizzle Stick or Beurito??
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Again, back to “Twiggy”, her success has been insurmountable and even though I think she started from a much younger age than a girl should ever have been allowed to participate in such an industry, her path to success is not that different to any other “supermodel” discovered in the last 20 to 30 years. Defining characteristics: starting young (too young), a fresh new look, the willingness to be the best and a strong “pseudo-support” structure behind their emaciated frame egging them along.
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YES!!! YES!!! YES!!!
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I say “pseudo” because, taking a look at the quoted text from the article in question, “Twiggy’s” boyfriend, Justin de Villeneuve, was described as a “former bookie and fairground boxer”, now, is it just me or do you get the distinct feeling like he was interested in industry whoring his - 10 year his junior - girlfriend at any cost for fame and fortune? To me, this mirrors the pushy parents of modern day that are entering their “darling little beauties” into competitions as young as 3 and 5 years old? Well, my mind is made up…you can draw your own conclusions.
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Vote for, change...after his BigMac...!
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Birth of a “Super Model” or the one to blame? Maybe that’s a little harsh, but it’s what I do. I feel like this subject is too broad to cover in one article and the possibility of a follow up is a definite, stay posted for more lambasting from Mr. Anti-skin-and-bone, so…remember to swallow kids, puking is for p-ssies!
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Writer, David Alves 
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