What *is* beauty?
27/10/16 14:20![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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talkpoliticsMiss Iceland has quit an international beauty pageant after she was told she had too much fat and broad shoulders. Arna Ýr Jónsdóttir published a hand-written farewell note on her Instagram profile, where she explained why she was withdrawing from the Miss Grand International pageant in Vegas:
Since the pageant is international, the organisers have to be able to appreciate international beauty standards, she argues, while still wishing success to the show.
Arna Ýr has received plenty of support across the social media for speaking out on the issue, arguing that she has done more with her statement than decades of Miss-Whatever has even thought doing for young women.
Not to mention that she is truly gorgeous, looks very healthy, and bold enough to speak her mind (well, she is an Icelander after all). Her comment about international standards of beauty is also true. Just because America worships stick-figure women, that does not mean the rest of the world does, or should.
That said, perhaps it is time that in the 21st century, the whole beauty pageant thing just goes away and dies already. Just like some fashion magazines, they send a bad message to girls around the world - not to mention how outdated they are in their objectification of women.
Since the pageant is international, the organisers have to be able to appreciate international beauty standards, she argues, while still wishing success to the show.
Arna Ýr has received plenty of support across the social media for speaking out on the issue, arguing that she has done more with her statement than decades of Miss-Whatever has even thought doing for young women.
Not to mention that she is truly gorgeous, looks very healthy, and bold enough to speak her mind (well, she is an Icelander after all). Her comment about international standards of beauty is also true. Just because America worships stick-figure women, that does not mean the rest of the world does, or should.
That said, perhaps it is time that in the 21st century, the whole beauty pageant thing just goes away and dies already. Just like some fashion magazines, they send a bad message to girls around the world - not to mention how outdated they are in their objectification of women.
(no subject)
Date: 27/10/16 12:20 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 27/10/16 13:01 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 27/10/16 12:38 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 27/10/16 15:19 (UTC)But if beauty pageants exist this lass should be in the running on her own terms. She is unbelievably beautiful, and if (because of her youth I will always feel thus) she were my daughter I'd be proud of her intelligence, her beauty, and her stance.
(no subject)
Date: 27/10/16 17:59 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 27/10/16 18:19 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 27/10/16 18:40 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 27/10/16 19:01 (UTC)1. This is an example of an enterprise being taken to task for it's own positioning.
That is, it bills itself as an arena for objectively judging the standard of beauty, regardless (and/or inclusive of) culture, geographical location, et cetera, but what it really is, is a competition to find a debutante that makes the best conduit for the fashion industry, as judged by an enclave of wealthy, well-connected old people. This is a valid complaint: They need to be more honest in who and what they are, even though it would make them seem less popular or less relevant than they claim to be, because their fake positioning is in direct conflict with the ethics and standards of many of the communities they play in.
and 2. This is a bit of a Trojan-horse for old-school paternalism.
Bodybuilding competitions are not under scrutiny quite simply because they are exploitative mainly of men, rather than women. The desire to protect women is much, much stronger. But, take the broader view on this, and an interesting question comes up: Why would you protest a beauty pageant for not including you, when the truer embodiment of your ideals would be to protest the beauty pageant existing at all? Is this empowerment - or is this hypocrisy?
(no subject)
Date: 27/10/16 19:17 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 27/10/16 19:30 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 27/10/16 22:51 (UTC)Of course she wouldn't be in this pageant. Duh.
But this blonde, tall, slender young white woman with clean skin?
It's immoral that she's NOT in this pageant!!!
I mean, what's wrong with all of us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why aren't we doing more for the self-esteem of blonde, tall, slender young white women with clean skin? (P.s.: Obese, older women, with skin conditions, probably don't exist at all. I mean, I don't see them in media anywhere, so...)
(no subject)
Date: 28/10/16 02:39 (UTC)Truth.
(no subject)
Date: 28/10/16 05:06 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 28/10/16 07:37 (UTC)(PS, I know some pretty beautiful lies.)
(no subject)
Date: 28/10/16 19:06 (UTC)We all know that art is not truth. It is the lie that makes us realize the truth. -Picasso.
(no subject)
Date: 28/10/16 22:51 (UTC)