Makeover Mania....

[Marilyn777]

Makeover Mania

Extreme Makeover and other reality shows suggest that people can change from the outside in. But real beauty doesn't come from a Botox injection.

By Margaret Feinberg

ABC's Extreme Makeover has been called the reality-TV version of the classic "ugly duckling" story. The popular show documents the physical transformation of everyday people using all the tricks of the Hollywood trade, including cosmetic surgery, make-up artists, stylists, and personal trainers. Last year more than 7,000 people nationwide auditioned to appear on the show. And not surprisingly, it has inspired a number of copycats. FOX's The Swan, another big hit, took the concept further by pitting radically made-over women against each other in a made-for-tv beauty contest.

Anyone who has watched Extreme Makeover or The Swan knows that amid the hype and focus on external appearances, more than a few participants have received cosmetic work that has helped them correct physical blemishes and disfigurements that have taken a toll on their self-esteem. To up the dramatic element, the producers clearly have searched for people whose stories offer heart-wrenching human-interest value. And at times, the unveiling of their "new look" is truly inspiring.

Even Constance Rhodes, author of Life Inside the Thin Cage and founder of FINDING balance (www.findingbalance.com), a ministry that helps people with eating disorders and self-image issues, confesses that she's "a bit fascinated" with makeover shows. "Who doesn't love the story of a respectable-yet-unremarkable-looking person being transformed into a lovely swan who suddenly is noticed by everyone?" she says. "This is the stuff of fairy tales, and it's almost irresistible to watch."

But there is a catch. Rhodes cautions that taken at face value, shows such as Extreme Makeover, The Swan, and the makeover segments that are often featured on daytime talk shows, send the troubling message that it's possible to change any and every element of one's looks, and that in doing so it's possible to overcome struggles and live happily ever after.

When life revolves around outward image, then what others think becomes more important than what God thinks.

[kittyjo]

I've always liked this, although I'm not sure who the author is, it has been attributed to Audrey Hepburn. I thought it fit well here...

Beauty Tips

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

For poise walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed; never throw out anybody.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.

As you grow, older you will find that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows. And the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

I'm not sure about that one... Might be in danger of getting grape jelly in your hair!

[Guest koppen]

I would love to have a make over but just not as extreme...When we look good and feel good about our outward appearance you feel like you can concur the world!...I don't put beauty above anything else... I just know that I feel much dofferent when I know I look good. There many different version to each one on what actually looks good.

[Guest Kandi]

I am all for people knowing they are beautiful without any help from any people who are going to take their money. I saw a beautiful seventeen year old girl risking surgery to have a size larger breast. Imagine. And she must have heard about the people who became terrible disfigured from forms that leaked inside of them. Yuk. :wac:

Kelli

God loves you just the way you are. God thinks you are beautiful. I don't know what you look like but I would bet you are beautiful just as you are. It is all in trusting that God made no mistake.

Edited September 15, 2004 by Kandi

[Kabowd]

I posted this a while back on another site about makeovers:

I have to admit, I'm a reality tv junky. From Survivor to the Newlyweds to Punk'd .... I just get sucked in. And I am mezmorized by make-overs. I don't know why, but I absolutely love to see transformations. I like seeing ppl's lives changed for the better, to see them improved right before your very eyes, and you don't have to wait months and months..it all happens in the span of 60 minutes. But are they really improved? MTV has the show "Made" and "I Want a Famous Face" now that focus on young ppl who are wanting changed. "Made" is not so extreme, there is no surgery involved. But "I Want a Famous Face" is really disturbing. People (male and female) spend any amount of money, undergo any amount of surgery or procedure..all for the purpose of looking like someone else (a celebrity). It's shallowness, vanity and insecurity in it's purest form. Last night I watched "Extreme Makeover" and saw two ppl completely overhauled. By the end of the show they had a combined total of at least 15 procedures done on them and came out looking TOTALLY different.

While it's intriguing to watch these transformations, and part of me feels happy that these ppl's dreams are coming true and you get to see them put years of insecurity behind them...the other part of me wonders if this is doing more harm than good. There are so many shows now devoted to cosmetic surgery and extreme makeovers. What does this communicate? As a teenage girl, I'll tell you right now it's easy enough to believe the lie you aren't beautiful. I don't even have a low self-esteem and am pretty secure about my looks, but even I start examining myself after watching those shows. Thoughts like "if I went on there, this is what I would have fixed", or "if I could only change ___ (fill in the blank)".

Last night, my brother and I sat with our jaws dropped after watching the transformations in these ppl. Then he looked at me and goes, "The problem with these shows is that they are defining for us what is beautiful, what is desirable. They completely deny the inner self. It's all superficial, it's all surface, it's all temporary. While it's entertaining, it's also a lie. They're slowly feeding society the lie that you need to have the perfect nose, the perfect smile, the perfect body. It's not much different than Adolph Hitler really. He just killed the people he thought were worthless. These people exploit them and make them look like themselves."

[Guest kitkat]

Nice article Marilyn!!

I've watched Extreme Makeover before and for those people whose lives were depressed and devastated because of their looks, such as a sadly mishapened jaw or nose, I was always very happy for them when the makeovers changed and transformed their lives and made them happy. Most of them had a totally different outlook on life and while I know that this show can give the public the wrong impression, that you have to look a certain way to be accepted, I'm still happy for them when I see their faces light up and they face the world with a whole new outlook on life.

No, Botox or any type of plastic surgery, can't change the inside of a person, but if it makes them feel better about themselves, I think it can help them to love themselves and others better, simply because they feel better about themselves.

I don't frown down on people who seek to improve their looks by plastic surgery or any other beauty treatment.

True beauty comes from within, and that can't be bought for any price, except when you invite Christ into your life and He then transforms you into a beautiful person inside.

In Christ,

Kat

[hmh]

Does the phrase "Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes straight to the bone" make any sense? I know of several "beautiful" people who have the most ugliest attitudes. For all the beauty on the outside, they are the ugliest, most vile people around. I would rather go out with a person who is considered ugly on the outside just because of their beauty is on the inside. :sam: :prayer

[senerhu]

Does the phrase "Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes straight to the bone" make any sense? I know of several "beautiful" people who have the most ugliest attitudes. For all the beauty on the outside, they are the ugliest, most vile people around. I would rather go out with a person who is considered ugly on the outside just because of their beauty is on the inside. :sam: :prayer

That's an old phrase but it's true. What is really a blessing is when a woman possesses (SP) beauty on the outside and inside...

[Guest koppen]

I am all for people knowing they are beautiful without any help from any people who are going to take their money. I saw a beautiful seventeen year old girl risking surgery to have a size larger breast. Imagine. And she must have heard about the people who became terrible disfigured from forms that leaked inside of them. Yuk. :wac:

Kelli

God loves you just the way you are. God thinks you are beautiful. I don't know what you look like but I would bet you are beautiful just as you are. It is all in trusting that God made no mistake.

Awe Kandi... you so sweet...Here's what I look like.....I don't think I am ugly or anything , I just am not happy with my weight is all..But I am losing it feeling better everyday! Love ya hun!

[Guest Kandi]

God bless you Kelli :hug:

You are beautiful and when you know that, the weight will take care of itself. Not being happy with the way you are makes you want to eat more to make up for it. If God loves you the way you are, and I love you and everyone here loves you the way you are, please don't say we are wrong. Believe in yourself and your body will love you for it.

Peace Love :dove