A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about super-skinny models: “#NYFW: The Size-Zero War.” I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the “super-skinny” ideal and what it means for everyone – for both the celebrities and and the girls who look up to them.
Over the summer, I picked up a random magazine while I was stuck at the drying station at the nail salon. It was some celebrity tabloid like US Weekly or In Touch that makes a habit of running unconfirmed, speculative reports about celebrities and their lives (Alyson Hannigan is anorexic now!, OMG Miley Cyrus is pregnant!). This one decided to feature a lengthy report on Khloe Kardashian and her “lifelong weight struggle,” complete with a timeline.
I’ve always thought that the media focus on celebrity appearances is damaging and shallow, but in that moment, looking at the pictures of Khloe’s body being critically examined over the years, it really hit me – this is completely messed up. There’s so much emphasis on dieting and weight gain in Hollywood that actual acting talent is pretty much secondary to looks.
In Jennifer Lawrence’s interview for the November 2013 Harper’s Bazaar UK, she recalled being told that she was fat early in her career, and that she would be fired if she didn’t lose weight. “They brought in pictures of me…and told me to use them as motivation for my diet,” she said. These days, JLaw is known and loved for her down-to-earth personality and silly antics, but that doesn’t mean she’s immune to criticism – she goes on to reveal that the comment really hurt her, and the incident still bothers her today despite her great success. Personally, I love Jennifer Lawrence because she acts like a real person; she’s funny, witty, socially awkward, and doesn’t buy into the ridiculousness that surrounds Hollywood. Check out this (hilarious) video of her post-2013 Oscars press conference. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget that these singers, actors, actresses, and models are real people with real lives and real feelings.
It’s no secret that the media’s representation of beautiful, thin women can have negative effects on young girls, making them feel like they need to look a certain way in order to have value. However, a closer look reveals another argument: “The Myth of the Eating Actress” (or “The Myth of the Effortlessly Perfect Girl”). These arguments look at movies and television shows that portray beautiful women eating junk food and drinking beer – while having magically perfect bodies. This illusion that flawless skin and six-pack abs are effortlessly obtained and maintained creates a disconnect in the viewer which could almost be as damaging as portraying women who are dieting all the time. We have this image of slim women who can eat anything, but what we don’t see is those same women exercising and eating healthy for the entirety of their time off-camera.
Another thing that everyone loves about JLaw is her love of food. However, it’s definitely not magic that gets her fit and strong enough to do stunts as Katniss Everdeen. She does a healthy amount of exercise normally, and even had this intense workout regimen pre-Hunger Games that included archery training and tree-climbing lessons. No joke. The website, PopWorkouts.com also has some hilarious posts about other celebrities, such as “Kim Kardashian Workout Routine: How to Make Your Butt Look Bigger” and “Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine Workout.” While these trainer-monitored workouts definitely aren’t meant for everyday exercise, they’re proof that moviestar bodies don’t come easy.
I think the bottom line is that moderation is everything. You can’t have extremes on either end of the diet scale. And at the end of the day, celebrities are people too. People who love french fries.