Digital Scrapbook #5: Glamour Magazine Loves Photoshop

In Cindy Childress’ article about Queen Latifa’s Glamour magazine cover we learn that even though society says that it embraces curves and has a desire to see healthier women in fashion, it really doesn’t. Cindy Childress discusses her time at rehabilitation for an eating disorder and how this was the first magazine she had looked at in awhile. Initially, the author was thrilled to see a “more healthy body featured on the cover of a popular women’s magazine.” (Childress 2005)
Her first reaction was that Queen Latifa’s cover was a good thing but upon further examination that changed. Interestingly enough, through this article we learn that people with eating disorders and overweight people have similar methods in dealing with concealment. Cindy quickly notices an empire waist dress, which is ideal for covering up some of those curves. A reference to a fellow anorexic who wears empire dresses for the same reason. Another valid point is made when the author states that the outfit Latifa is wearing disguises “the curves of which she is supposed to be proud of.” (Childress 2005)
Body shape is the second issue Cindy Childress has with this particular cover. As a former overweight woman, Childress says that she was the same weight as Latifa, but in no way resembled her perfect hourglass figure. At the same weight, Cindy eludes that she was apple-shaped. Upon opening the cover she finds out how this hourglass shape is more plausible. The answer was plastic surgery and a breast reduction, which could do wonders for anybody. Cindy’s main frustration lies in the fact that Latifa’s weight loss was the focus of that issue, even though her results were not attainable by the average woman.. Ultimately, this cover really does nothing to make strives as Cindy Childress states, “toward fat-positive media.”(Childress 2005)
Lately, the trend is that we are trying to put women on covers that are deemed to look “healthy.” Healthy equates as having curves, and having curves usually means that you are either Black or Hispanic. It is pretty safe to say that the only fat Caucasian woman on the cover of a fashion magazine is probably pregnant. Know that sounds terrible, but you can blame our patriarchal society for that.
To test my theory, I googled another celebrity who is commonly refered to as curvaceous. Glamour magazine struck again. In September of 2007, America Ferrera, the star of Ugly Betty graced the cover Glamour. Apparently, this was one of magazine’s most controversial issues. The fact that this cover even made it to print is embarrassing, and whoever was responsible for choosing the cover should be fired. The photo looks like somebody cut out her head and pasted it on a skinnier model. I even searched the web to find America’s pant size, only to find out that she wears a size 6-8. She is too thin to even constitute as plus sized. It just makes it more interesting that we celebrate this woman as a voluptuous Latina icon.
If you look at the additional cover stories, a great deal of them reference weight loss or concealment. The cover of Glamour’s issue says, “101 ways to dress your body better, The secret reasons women gain weight and how to stop, “ and finally, “1st annual figure-flattery issue.” (Glamour 2007) If a traditionally skinny model was on the cover then they would most likely not talk about weightloss or flattering your figure. This is just one example of the hypocrisy society exhibits toward normal women. Even though fashion magazines say they want to appeal to the average woman, they don’t want to actually put the average woman on the cover. In the actual article itself Glamour asks the actress some interesting questions. They are almost borderline insulting considering they basically tell her she is not what Hollywood really wants and is plus size.

GLAMOUR: So do you think Hollywood is moving away from the
tall, skinny blond as the actress ideal?
AF: It’s happening all over television: You turn on Desperate Housewives and there’s Eva Longoria; you turn on Scrubs and there’s Judy Reyes. I’ve gotten scripts for romantic comedies sent to me that were originally conceived for a blond-haired, blue-eyed actress. At the end of the day, studios are learning there is a market out there that doesn’t necessarily want to go with predictable choices.
GLAMOUR: How do you feel about being the newest spokeswoman for curvy figures in Hollywood?
AF: I don’t hate it. I feel like I’m a regular- size person—I’m a size 6 or 8, which is totally normal. Sometimes I worry more about losing weight than gaining weight, because this is how people know and accept me. I do feel like if I wanted to get in
better shape, there might be a backlash of, Why isn’t she comfortable with
herself anymore? So I try to figure out what my own goals are. (Glamour 2007)

America’s response to the second question makes the cover even more awkward. The actress mentions the fact that she feels that if she wanted to get in better shape then there would be some sort of back lash. I guess if she cannot actually get in shape then a digital make over would be an alternative.
After researching this topic, I think I am done with fashion magazines. (but not US Weekly) I can completely empathize with Cindy Childress as well. It must have been incredibly difficult for a person struggling with disordered eating to look at a magazine like that and get such mixed signals. She was being treated for losing weight and was supposed to be happy with the way she looks, but society is telling Cindy that no matter what she must fit the beauty norm. Thin is in, White is right, and Blonde is beautiful. With all of the mixed signals and negativity society casts on even average women, it is no wonder people have difficulty recovering from anorexia and bulimia.

Links:
Image from: http://ayyyy.com/2007/09/06/skinny-betty/
Childress, Cindy. “Queen Latifa’s Glamour Magazine Cover: Carmen
Glamour Interview with America Ferrara- http://www.glamour.com/news/articles/2007/09/americaferrera