The ugly truth
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Date Posted:
September-1-2010 14:23
63
}
Here at
FHM, we deal in beautiful women. Pictures of them are splashed across our office walls and, every month, we select a few of the world’s finest to share with you.
Female readers should be aware that the models in our magazine are airbrushed prior to publication and they have the time and tools at their disposal to work at looking their best, just as Usain Bolt trains tirelessly to stay cheetah-quick.
But let’s get to the point, before this turns into a Naomi Wolf column. A
recent article in
The Hollywood Reporter revealed that
Glee star Lea Michele wasn’t pretty enough to get acting gigs. “I was always told I was too ethnic or not pretty enough or too much this or not enough of that," she said.
While we reckon Lea is quite fetching, what’s wrong with not being pretty enough? More people than not are ordinary looking. Ugly even.
You get taken more seriously when you’re ugly. And people respect you for your character, as opposed to your looks. That’s why most politicians aren’t former models (except in Italy). That being said, whenever there is, say, a hot politician or academic, we're taken aback. These people are supposed to be ugly, dammit!
And so it goes, said politician or academic becomes known first for their looks and second for their abilities. Just like George Clooney and Brad Pitt, who are both fine actors but are better known for being dreamy.
There’s also the acclaimed-for-being-ugly theory. Cameron Diaz in
Being John Malkovich? Nominated for a Golden Globe, SAG Award and BAFTA. “Our” Nicole in
The Hours? Oscar. Hilary Swank in
Boys Don’t Cry? Oscar. Charlize Theron in
Monster? Oscar.
Keeping with pop culture, now-cancelled
Ugly Betty was about a woman who works at a fashion magazine but just happens to be the least alluring and stylish person in the office. So? She’s also the most positive person in the place. Probably because she isn’t stressed about the seven signs of ageing. Ironically, the show’s executive producer was Salma Hayek.
In the UK, there’s the
UGLY modelling agency. They cater to men and women (many of whom aren’t bad looking at all) and “specials”, such as the world’s most tattooed senior citizen.
This is refreshing. We’re glad to see the fashion industry embracing the “unpretty”, as TLC would say. The ugs amongst us have already conquered politics, science and the arts. Now modelling. Resistance is futile, beautiful people.
What do you think? Is there anything wrong with being ugly? Grab this month's copy of FHM to see if we printed your correspondence and you could win a prize!
Related links:
Appearance isn't everythingAirbrushing: not the root of all evilSupermodels now & then