Chop, Chop (To Be A Pretty) Lady
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
Just the other night, I was flipping through the latest Cosmo US issue, the one with gorgeous Katie Holmes on the cover. Same old articles were recycled with new titles, same rules, same advices, different fashion and makeup styles. Same old, same old, mindlessly flipping through the pages, occasionally pausing to look at a top/ dress/ pair of shoes. Until one article caught my eye. "How We Fell In Love In Extreme Makeover." Or something to that effect. Now it was not even the topic that caught my eye but the before and after pictures of the two people who met and fell in love on the show.
Apparently, Extreme Makeover is one of the gazillion reality shows (You'll be surprised to know what I learned about the latest reality tv show in the US!- more on that later... Hahaha! I sound like a tv ad!). Simply put, extreme is as far as cosmetic surgery goes. Oh no, not just one surgery but as much as it would take to make you close to aesthetically perfect. They do all sorts of surgery- from nose jobs, breast implants, botox injects, laser eye surgery, hair transplants and coloring, liposuction, eye lifts, ear tucks to tummy tucks, rhinoplastry and even reverse vasectomy! In the Cosmo feature, the woman had 9 painful surgeries, while the man had 7.
Now a lot of these participants go through screening. Some people join because for so long their looks were being ridiculed that they no longer have self- confidence and esteem. One woman said she wanted to make drastic changes to her looks to attract men. Two sisters who have a cleft pallete birth defect undergo surgery too. Even an engaged couple went under the knife, only to have their new looks revealed upon reaching the altar!
After the surgery, the participants recuperate in the--- Makeover Mansion!!! Yes, there is such a place. Tucked in the hills of Hollywood with a stunning view of -- uhh-- Hollywood, the mansion has a swimming pool, fully equipped gym, and plasma televisions (like those matter if you had your eye lifts)! But don't think that Extreme Maveover is just all about looks and body. It also has a program that uplifts one's spirits.
For instance, the show makes one realize their dreams and help them fulfill it. They flew an aspiring actress to Manhattan to attend the New York Fashion Week, complete with a dress designed especially for her by Nicole Miller, a talented violinist playing beside her idol, Le Ann Rimes, and a woman who grew up being laughed at by her classmates first unveils at her school's tenth year reunion.
Here are the before and after pictures of some of the participants. Tim is the guy who had a reverse vasectomy. He wanted to give his wife another child (among other things, a new "lover"-- probably the reason why he had an extreme makeover is because his wife wouldn't sleep with him! Okay, that was mean). Stacie, the first one woman, is one of the sisters who had a cleft pallete. I'm happy for her. I bet her self- confidence and esteem skyrocketed right after. Lastly, there's Kacie, the woman featured in the Cosmo article. She went from a Plain Jane to one Sexy Janey.
While it is amazing- or appaling, whichever angle you look at it- how these transformations are made and how the end result is, no doubt, incredible, sadly, we cannot afford such makeovers. I don't even think that with such procedures, it should even be called a makeover but a transformation because one looks faaaaaaarrr from the original state. Their eyes, nose, lips and cheek are no longer the same. And sure, they may look pretty or handsome now. But what about in a few years? When laugh lines, wrinkles and crinkles start setting in? What about when one of them has a child and the child grows up wondering where did she get her huge, bright eyes? Her cute button nose? The cleft in her chin? Perhaps what the show isn't telling Great America that once the participants start with these procedures, they have to go back every so often for more procedures to maintain their looks. Sure, some of the surgery are permanent like laser surgery or breast implants (which women have to take out eventually when they get old, I'm told), and teeth implants, but I'm talking about liposuction and tummy tucks. And so eventually, one goes bankrupt trying to maintain their Golden Adonis/ Ethereal Venus- like looks. So is it worth it at all?
So when we aspire for a makeover, what do we do? We go the old fashion way. Change the part of your hair, change your hair color and style. Change your clothes. Find out what are your best features and high light them. Makeovers don't have to burn a hole in your wallet, pocket and credit card and leave your grandchildren in debt.
A couple of years ago, I was watching the Oprah Winfrey Show (no need to link up here as everybody knows who Oprah is and if you happen to be one of the few who live under a rock, just google her up! I Silly me, I bet you don't even know what google is!). Anyway, we all know that Oprah often has makeovers in her show and when we chance upon an episode, we oooh and ahh in delight. But this episode I saw was just the best one yet. Way over the top, on a league of its own. The episode was called Age- Defying Makeovers. Literally, makeovers that shed years off your face and body. For this makeover, they brought in Iman, the famous 80's black model, more known as Queen Cleopatra in Michael Jackson's "Remember The Time" video, also known as David Bowie's wife, who looked as if she was the only thing from the 80's that is here to stay (meaning, she never aged) and Victoria Principal, an author and actress, who's in her fifties but looks not even a day above thirty five. Luckily, Oprah's website had pictures of the makeover, which I'll be posting, so you're in for a treat! Below are the people they made over:
The first woman is Barbara Ann. Her long, gray hair and baggy outfits make her look older than her actual age, 54 years old. She looks so old that she gets senior citizen discounts. Barbara hasn't been in a date in the last ten years and so she signs up for a makeover to let the fellas know that there is "a sexy babe, foxy chick underneath all those baggy sweaters and dresses."
The next is a couple, Tim and Wendy, who have been married for 12 years. With their hair, she, who hasn't had her hair cut since '92, he, since '85 (!) call themselves, "The Rock and Roll Hair Couple." They hope that the makeover will make them feel younger and sexier.
Lastly, there's Alina, a friend of the show's lightning director. She knows that behind the glasses and baggy sweats, there's "a hot mama ready to hit the dance floors." Alina's friends hope that the makeover releases the girly girl in Alina.
So what happens? Check this out!
When Barbara came out, everybody cheered. The transformation was just amazing because you could hardly compare the old Barbara with the new Barbara. Iman gave her a drastic cut and color and new frames that brighten her face. She picked out a white suit that definitely hugged her curves. A sexy, hot chick, indeed. She was just glowing from happiness. I thought to myself, "I bet when she gets home, she's got loads of proposals from old gentlemen bearing daisies in one hand and a hat on the other, put close to his chest."
Next came the couple. First, they made Tim come out. Everybody cheered again, naturally. Soon after, they made Wendy go out. And it was so funny because Tim didn't realize it was her! It was like somebody invisibly hit him on the head and said, "Idiot! That's your wife!" and when it dawned upon him, he was so shocked. She, seeing him also for the first time since the makeover, was surprised herself. They went up to each other, hugged and started kissing in front of everybody! Oprah had to stop them. Hehehehe! You could really feel the heat between them in the studio and in your living room! And when they stopped to face the audience, they had tears of joy in their eyes. I thought to myself, "Looks like someone's gonna have their second honeymoon tonight! "
As for Alina, she looked so hot! As always, the audience cheered for her. I don't remember how she felt but I think she said she liked it but she looked like she was feeling awkward in her new skin. Nevertheless, she looks great and could pass for J. Lo's older sister, don't you think?
See? It just goes to show that makeovers need not be expensive, need not to alter your God- given features. It's just a matter of highlighting your best features and the right attitude. Growing up, I thought I was ugly- okay, that's a harsh word- not pretty. I thought no guy would fall in love with me because I was dark, had braces, curly, untamable hair, moles on my face, a wide nose. I was stick straight, flat chested and had knobby knees.
Ten years later, I've come to like my looks. I've got the height most girls would kill for though I'm only 5'4" and three quarters. But because I'm slim and I have long, slim legs, I look taller (I no longer complain about my knobby, fat knees). I've stopped wearing my retainers and had my braces pulled off long before. My hair is not as curly but just wavy. It gives me hell sometimes but I find ways to tame it. I'm still waiting for the right time to have my hair rebonded (which is when I get back from Boracay). But then again, I heard wavy hair is starting to be the hair style of the moment so I got to wait and see. I've learned to live with the tiny moles on my face because I know I can't do anything about it. The rest of my face has caught up with my wide nose so it's not as bad anymore. Though at times, when I dress up for parties, I put shadows on the side of my nose to make it look narrower in pictures (a trick my stepmom, the commercial model, taught me). As for my skin, I'm not that dark anymore. I have nice olive skin which I love to tan because it gives me a nice orangy glow when I get back from the beach. And well, as for my being flat- chested (thanks, mom!), I improvise. No! No socks or wads of tissue for me but I do rely on padded or push up brassieres. How I wish though that some of the mass in my ass can be moved to my chest. That way, I'm more proportioned. I am more or less comfortable now with my looks and body. I say more or less, because the insecurity comes up once in awhile. Hey! I'm not perfect.
Sometimes I tease A by telling him that I'm thinking of getting breast implants or a nose job. He gets alarmed because he thinks I'm serious and he tells me not to change anything because he loves me the way I am or the way I look and it's just so sweet to see how much he cares. Of course, the lines "But, babe! Your boobs are fine!" just crack me up anytime. Of course, I push for more when I tell him that I can't wear those V- neck tops because of my non- existent cleavage. Instead of hills and mountains, there's a valley down there. But still he assures me, "You don't need humongous breasts! Yours are fine!" Now, you've gotta love a man who loves you, imperfections and all. And that is enough for me... for now. =p
Apparently, Extreme Makeover is one of the gazillion reality shows (You'll be surprised to know what I learned about the latest reality tv show in the US!- more on that later... Hahaha! I sound like a tv ad!). Simply put, extreme is as far as cosmetic surgery goes. Oh no, not just one surgery but as much as it would take to make you close to aesthetically perfect. They do all sorts of surgery- from nose jobs, breast implants, botox injects, laser eye surgery, hair transplants and coloring, liposuction, eye lifts, ear tucks to tummy tucks, rhinoplastry and even reverse vasectomy! In the Cosmo feature, the woman had 9 painful surgeries, while the man had 7.
Now a lot of these participants go through screening. Some people join because for so long their looks were being ridiculed that they no longer have self- confidence and esteem. One woman said she wanted to make drastic changes to her looks to attract men. Two sisters who have a cleft pallete birth defect undergo surgery too. Even an engaged couple went under the knife, only to have their new looks revealed upon reaching the altar!
After the surgery, the participants recuperate in the--- Makeover Mansion!!! Yes, there is such a place. Tucked in the hills of Hollywood with a stunning view of -- uhh-- Hollywood, the mansion has a swimming pool, fully equipped gym, and plasma televisions (like those matter if you had your eye lifts)! But don't think that Extreme Maveover is just all about looks and body. It also has a program that uplifts one's spirits.
For instance, the show makes one realize their dreams and help them fulfill it. They flew an aspiring actress to Manhattan to attend the New York Fashion Week, complete with a dress designed especially for her by Nicole Miller, a talented violinist playing beside her idol, Le Ann Rimes, and a woman who grew up being laughed at by her classmates first unveils at her school's tenth year reunion.
Here are the before and after pictures of some of the participants. Tim is the guy who had a reverse vasectomy. He wanted to give his wife another child (among other things, a new "lover"-- probably the reason why he had an extreme makeover is because his wife wouldn't sleep with him! Okay, that was mean). Stacie, the first one woman, is one of the sisters who had a cleft pallete. I'm happy for her. I bet her self- confidence and esteem skyrocketed right after. Lastly, there's Kacie, the woman featured in the Cosmo article. She went from a Plain Jane to one Sexy Janey.
While it is amazing- or appaling, whichever angle you look at it- how these transformations are made and how the end result is, no doubt, incredible, sadly, we cannot afford such makeovers. I don't even think that with such procedures, it should even be called a makeover but a transformation because one looks faaaaaaarrr from the original state. Their eyes, nose, lips and cheek are no longer the same. And sure, they may look pretty or handsome now. But what about in a few years? When laugh lines, wrinkles and crinkles start setting in? What about when one of them has a child and the child grows up wondering where did she get her huge, bright eyes? Her cute button nose? The cleft in her chin? Perhaps what the show isn't telling Great America that once the participants start with these procedures, they have to go back every so often for more procedures to maintain their looks. Sure, some of the surgery are permanent like laser surgery or breast implants (which women have to take out eventually when they get old, I'm told), and teeth implants, but I'm talking about liposuction and tummy tucks. And so eventually, one goes bankrupt trying to maintain their Golden Adonis/ Ethereal Venus- like looks. So is it worth it at all?
So when we aspire for a makeover, what do we do? We go the old fashion way. Change the part of your hair, change your hair color and style. Change your clothes. Find out what are your best features and high light them. Makeovers don't have to burn a hole in your wallet, pocket and credit card and leave your grandchildren in debt.
A couple of years ago, I was watching the Oprah Winfrey Show (no need to link up here as everybody knows who Oprah is and if you happen to be one of the few who live under a rock, just google her up! I Silly me, I bet you don't even know what google is!). Anyway, we all know that Oprah often has makeovers in her show and when we chance upon an episode, we oooh and ahh in delight. But this episode I saw was just the best one yet. Way over the top, on a league of its own. The episode was called Age- Defying Makeovers. Literally, makeovers that shed years off your face and body. For this makeover, they brought in Iman, the famous 80's black model, more known as Queen Cleopatra in Michael Jackson's "Remember The Time" video, also known as David Bowie's wife, who looked as if she was the only thing from the 80's that is here to stay (meaning, she never aged) and Victoria Principal, an author and actress, who's in her fifties but looks not even a day above thirty five. Luckily, Oprah's website had pictures of the makeover, which I'll be posting, so you're in for a treat! Below are the people they made over:
The first woman is Barbara Ann. Her long, gray hair and baggy outfits make her look older than her actual age, 54 years old. She looks so old that she gets senior citizen discounts. Barbara hasn't been in a date in the last ten years and so she signs up for a makeover to let the fellas know that there is "a sexy babe, foxy chick underneath all those baggy sweaters and dresses."
The next is a couple, Tim and Wendy, who have been married for 12 years. With their hair, she, who hasn't had her hair cut since '92, he, since '85 (!) call themselves, "The Rock and Roll Hair Couple." They hope that the makeover will make them feel younger and sexier.
Lastly, there's Alina, a friend of the show's lightning director. She knows that behind the glasses and baggy sweats, there's "a hot mama ready to hit the dance floors." Alina's friends hope that the makeover releases the girly girl in Alina.
So what happens? Check this out!
When Barbara came out, everybody cheered. The transformation was just amazing because you could hardly compare the old Barbara with the new Barbara. Iman gave her a drastic cut and color and new frames that brighten her face. She picked out a white suit that definitely hugged her curves. A sexy, hot chick, indeed. She was just glowing from happiness. I thought to myself, "I bet when she gets home, she's got loads of proposals from old gentlemen bearing daisies in one hand and a hat on the other, put close to his chest."
Next came the couple. First, they made Tim come out. Everybody cheered again, naturally. Soon after, they made Wendy go out. And it was so funny because Tim didn't realize it was her! It was like somebody invisibly hit him on the head and said, "Idiot! That's your wife!" and when it dawned upon him, he was so shocked. She, seeing him also for the first time since the makeover, was surprised herself. They went up to each other, hugged and started kissing in front of everybody! Oprah had to stop them. Hehehehe! You could really feel the heat between them in the studio and in your living room! And when they stopped to face the audience, they had tears of joy in their eyes. I thought to myself, "Looks like someone's gonna have their second honeymoon tonight! "
As for Alina, she looked so hot! As always, the audience cheered for her. I don't remember how she felt but I think she said she liked it but she looked like she was feeling awkward in her new skin. Nevertheless, she looks great and could pass for J. Lo's older sister, don't you think?
See? It just goes to show that makeovers need not be expensive, need not to alter your God- given features. It's just a matter of highlighting your best features and the right attitude. Growing up, I thought I was ugly- okay, that's a harsh word- not pretty. I thought no guy would fall in love with me because I was dark, had braces, curly, untamable hair, moles on my face, a wide nose. I was stick straight, flat chested and had knobby knees.
Ten years later, I've come to like my looks. I've got the height most girls would kill for though I'm only 5'4" and three quarters. But because I'm slim and I have long, slim legs, I look taller (I no longer complain about my knobby, fat knees). I've stopped wearing my retainers and had my braces pulled off long before. My hair is not as curly but just wavy. It gives me hell sometimes but I find ways to tame it. I'm still waiting for the right time to have my hair rebonded (which is when I get back from Boracay). But then again, I heard wavy hair is starting to be the hair style of the moment so I got to wait and see. I've learned to live with the tiny moles on my face because I know I can't do anything about it. The rest of my face has caught up with my wide nose so it's not as bad anymore. Though at times, when I dress up for parties, I put shadows on the side of my nose to make it look narrower in pictures (a trick my stepmom, the commercial model, taught me). As for my skin, I'm not that dark anymore. I have nice olive skin which I love to tan because it gives me a nice orangy glow when I get back from the beach. And well, as for my being flat- chested (thanks, mom!), I improvise. No! No socks or wads of tissue for me but I do rely on padded or push up brassieres. How I wish though that some of the mass in my ass can be moved to my chest. That way, I'm more proportioned. I am more or less comfortable now with my looks and body. I say more or less, because the insecurity comes up once in awhile. Hey! I'm not perfect.
Sometimes I tease A by telling him that I'm thinking of getting breast implants or a nose job. He gets alarmed because he thinks I'm serious and he tells me not to change anything because he loves me the way I am or the way I look and it's just so sweet to see how much he cares. Of course, the lines "But, babe! Your boobs are fine!" just crack me up anytime. Of course, I push for more when I tell him that I can't wear those V- neck tops because of my non- existent cleavage. Instead of hills and mountains, there's a valley down there. But still he assures me, "You don't need humongous breasts! Yours are fine!" Now, you've gotta love a man who loves you, imperfections and all. And that is enough for me... for now. =p
1 Comments:
oh how sad to be a part of the humanity, isn't it?
ergo, this reminds me of the new US show "The Swan." and this is brought to you by the land of everything fastfood.--elen (http://serpentskirt.com/playground/)
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