By Vanessa • 14 years ago

Why Kelly Clarkson should consider moving to the UK


While Kelly Clarkson’s body has apparently been airbrushed away in SELF magazine’s September cover, members of the UK Parliament are calling for disclaimers on advertisements that have been airbrushed. Love it.
Airbrushing is sadly no new trend in women’s magazines and ads, but the thing about Clarkson’s “slimmed down” cover that’s particularly disturbing is that September is SELF’s “Total Body Confidence Issue,” not to mention Clarkson talks about her (non)issues with weight fluctuation in the piece and the media’s hissies that she just doesn’t get:

“My happy weight changes. Sometimes I eat more; sometimes I play more. I’ll be different sizes all the time. When people talk about my weight, I’m like, ‘You seem to have a problem with it; I don’t. I’m fine!'”

In the meantime, UK Democrats from the House of Parliament just released 42 recommendations to “help improve the lives of women in the UK,” with one of the most controversial being the suggestion that airbrushed ads have a disclaimer saying so.
What really pisses me off is the contention by fashion folks supportive of airbrushing that it somehow benefits the subject being airbrushed. Photographer Nigel Baker said in response to the proposal:

“The idea is that you want to produce the most flattering image possible . . . The reason why talent in the modeling industry is so young is because of this desire to have flawless-looking women. But with good retouching, you can have older-looking women working longer. You can show her maturity, but perhaps you don’t show every wrinkle and line. What you are seeing are older models having longer careers that they never would have had because of retouching.”

See, airbrushing is good for women! We’re allowing older, “flawed” women to continue to work even though they shouldn’t be! In response to Clarkson’s airbrushed cover, SELF editor Lucy Danziger says the “retouching” was “only to make her look her personal best.” But how could that be her personal best when it’s technically not even all of her there?
h/t to Ethan for the link.

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