Do you MEASURE UP?

GIRLFRIENDS, December 2008, by Jenifer Merifield


Do You MEASURE UP?
And Are Models Real?



Let’s talk about professional models and celebrities! For those of you that are die-hard GCDA fans from the very beginning, you know that we don’t use celebrities or professional models in our magazine.

We get the odd letter asking us to interview Miley Cyrus or those ‘adorable’ Jonas Brothers... but gossip isn’t our style. So what ARE we all about? And why no celebrities and models? I’m going to answer that in a sec, first let me tell you about a cool experience I had in Calgary this past November...

I was invited by the fabulous folks at the Glenbow Museum to be part of a panel discussion titled: ‘Is Beauty an Ugly Obsession?’. You know when you watch the political debates and the politicians get on stage and answer audience questions and defend their sides? It was kinda like that, but without the bashing of each others’ character that can sometimes erupt!

So I was there with 3 other experts in their fields, including the founder of a very successful modeling agency. Back track just a bit... before I did the panel discussion, this modeling agency owner and I did a call-in radio show on CBC. It was great! I wanted to know how the modeling industry supported girls to feel good enough while portraying them in ways we can never live up to. For instance, you take a professional model right out of the shower say, and you send her to get her hair done, then over to makeup, then wardrobe and then on set... she is asked to pose a certain way and the cameras start shooting madly. Well, that’s not the end of it there! The photos then go to their own ‘hair and makeup’ if you will. It’s called touch-ups, AKA: airbrushing. You’ve all seen that awesome Dove video? Like that. So after all is said and done, the photo that ends up on the cover of a magazine (other than GCDA, of course ;) is no longer a representation of the girl who modeled, it’s become a sort of product, an ideal. And if the model who did it wasn’t even good enough because it had to be touched up, what does that make us? It’s a big fat ‘supposed-to’ as far as I’m concerned... as in you’re supposed-to look like that, dress like that, be like that, weigh that, have that, and so on.

Here’s a cool thing... this agency owner said he spends time encouraging his models to be more than just that. He talks to them about self-esteem and how they should expect flack if they are going to be in the industry.

Okay, so that’s great for the models (and I was happy to hear about that support), however, what about the girls who see the photos? I don’t know, but when you see these covers and photos are you getting that we shouldn’t really have to try to live up to those standards of beauty? Are we getting pep talks about self esteem and how to objectively view these pictures? Hmmm... I kind of get more of a big scream that says “YOU’RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH! YOU ‘SHOULD’ CHANGE”... and that’s just me.

The letters we get from our readers here are filled with struggles to fit in and feel good enough, thin enough, smart enough and so on. That leads me back to answering my initial question now... the reason we don’t use celebrities or professional models in GCDA is because we want YOU to feel good enough. We want YOU to feel like you don’t have to change a thing. We don’t want to put girls into what I call a ‘supposed-to box’ and say “THIS is how you are 'supposed-to' be”.

ARE MODELS REAL GIRLS?
So here’s another great point that came up in the panel discussion... I was asked if I thought models are ‘real girls’. Great question! My answer was “Of course they are!”. I know some successful models and I know that when they aren’t in front of the camera they are very real! They have interests and struggles and challenges just like the rest of us. It’s the ‘product’ that comes from the photos that isn’t real. Not the girls themselves. There is a big difference! Hey, wouldn’t it be cool to have a celebrity or professional model on a cover with NO airbrushing, no labels, no unrealistic adjustments?

Oh, and you should seriously check out our Inspirational Girl this issue... I actually met Megan at the discussion in Alberta and her book is ALL about this stuff. She’s 17, you’ll totally relate and love her book.

Have faith ladies, things are changing! And remember, the only ‘supposed to’s’ are the ones we choose to believe!

~ Jenifer

Add Comment

(Please use a nickname or your first name only. To help other girls relate, let us know your age and what province/state or country you live in. Other identifying information like email address, address, web sites or phone numbers will NOT be accepted. Thanks for your comments (: COMMENTS WILL BE POSTED WITHIN 24HRS.)

*Name:
*Name:
*Email (your email will not be displayed):
*Comment:

*By clicking "submit", you acknowledge that you are 13 or older, or have received parental permission to send your information, according to our privacy policy.

Reproduction of any article or content herein, in whole or in part, without written permission is strictly prohibited.
© Girls Can Do Anything Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved.