This week, Georgia debates the term ‘girl boss’, focusing on Love Island Star turned PrettyLittleThing Creative Director, Molly Mae Hague. Why does the media seem to sexualise her success, or place her in competition with male counterparts?
When I hear the collocation ‘girl boss’, I think of a female-identifying individual who is succeeding in life, happy in herself and defying gender norms. Someone I want to focus on is Molly Mae, who took the internet by storm after her Love Island appearance in 2019. Since then, she has become a very successful influencer, gaining brand deals with the likes of Beauty Works and Charlotte Tilbury, and most recently, the job title of creative director of fast fashion brand Pretty Little Thing. All positive things to look up to, right? Not according to the media. Harmful tabloids such as the Daily Mail, The Sun and Daily Star, decidedly emphasise other aspects of her existence, tarnishing her name with trivial stories. Not only is she a target of trolls, the media seems to mock her in a way that focuses on gender. What’s worse – most are written by women.
There is a focus on her body.
The Mail Online published this online article in October 2021. It was during Molly’s business trip to Seville, shooting an exciting PrettyLittleThing X Beauty Works campaign. Instead of mentioning this impressive feat in the article, the journalist decided to focus on her ‘bronzed legs’ that she ‘flashes’. Rather than being respected for her work ethic, she is instead objectified for simply walking around Seville in a day-to-day outfit.
“Molly-Mae Hague puts on sizzling display during bikini-clad shoot on the beach” – IRISH MIRROR.
Although this article was not necessarily negative, by her body being the main focus of the article, it invites readers to comment on her appearance. Many felt the need to assert their own definition of ‘sizzling’, suggesting that Hague did not make the cut to be labelled with this adjective. Such destructive scrutinization of her appearance only leads to harmful, unattainable expectations for women to aspire to. A simple search of ‘Molly Mae’ on Google brings up hundreds of articles, in which most surround her body image. However, if you type in ‘Tommy Fury’, her boyfriend, articles mainly accumulate in his professional boxing career, rather than his body. Why is this?
Judging her self worth in relation to her male counterpart.
“Molly-Mae Hague begs boyfriend Tommy Fury to propose to her ‘soon’ as she wants ‘a ring” – THE SUN.
This article was published shortly after Molly Mae made an appearance on Pretty Little Thing’s podcast. Here she discusses a range of topics, including her new position as creative director and exciting new job prospects. However, the Sun manipulates the section about Tommy. Although she goes on to gush about how happy she is with him, the article gives us the impression that Molly is desperate for marriage with the word ‘begs’. This simply corroborates the harmful stereotype that a woman should want to ‘settle down’. Whilst her career developments are brushed aside, the importance is solely placed on the fact that she ‘wants’ a ring, painting her to be demanding and that her focus is on marriage.
Double standards.
“Molly Mae Hague has learnt her lesson after burglary” – CAPITAL.
As you probably know from media coverage, Molly Mae was recently forced out of her home due to a traumatic robbery, worth 800k of her items. She faced scrutiny from trolls and the media, who suggested it was her fault for showing off her wealth and recent Van Cleef purchases. However, why shouldn’t a woman that has financially succeeded be able to exhibit her wealth without being targeted? If we compare this headline to the likes of footballer John Terry, who was also burgled back in 2017, the media was much more apologetic. Below is an article published a week after the attack: ‘Chelsea hero John Terry shows off extension at £4.35m mansion – with iconic 26 on hi-vis’ – DAILY STAR
Instead of learning his lesson, he is instead branded a ‘hero’, with a focus on his success as a football player. Compare this to a week after Molly Mae’s attack: “Molly-Mae Hague shows off trim waist in £2,000 Prada ski jacket as she poses in Alps after robbery” – THE SUN.
She is again, objectified. It is implied that the robbery is self-inflicted through the emphasis on the fact that she still showcases her ‘£2000 Prada ski jacket’ even ‘after robbery’.
So, instead of bringing women down, why can’t girls support girls and applaud other people’s successes? The only way to make change happen is through solidarity. Keep doing you, Molly!