As a subset of my Stupid Tuesday Questions, I’ve decided to introduce a semi-regular category of question. There is much in our popular culture that I accept is simply not targeted at me. Beer commercials. The Superbowl. Pamela Anderson. All of them exist to promote a lifestyle I find gently bemusing. (When Oscar season rolls around, feel free to express the same bemusement when I pay a ridiculous amount of attention to who won what at which awards show.) Anyhow, most of the time I just shrug and move along to something more interesting. But sometimes I have questions, which I can now pass along to you.
This week, I want to ask about this:
Really? I would not have made this call. But then, I’ve always found Ms. Lopez’s success as an actress and singer somewhat perplexing. (I was going to put scare quotes around “actress” and “singer,” but she’s a hell of a lot richer than I’ll ever be, so who am I to judge?) Clearly she appeals to someone. And I hear she’s better on “American Idol” than I would have given her credit for.
Anyhow, there are lots of other women I would have said are more deserving of a ridiculously overblown description like “World’s Most Beautiful Woman!” Like this one. Or this one. Or this one. But I’m not the target audience.
So, am I wrong? Is J. Lo our Helen of Troy? If not, who is?
JLo= Meh. Now Christina Hendricks…..wowsa wowyy wow
Anything Titled Most Beautiful anything is more of a anthropological exercise on cultural standards and advertising pressure to make people more inadequate.
Us heteros are no different than you all on “the other team” — the most beautiful person in the world is the one we’re in love with; in my case, that’s my wife.
If you hadn’t linked to Aishwarya Rai already, I would have. She’s a much better candidate for “World’s Most Beautiful Woman” if we’re talking superficially attractive celebrities which is, after all, what People Magazine is selling. Natalie Portman, Angelina Jolie and red-headed Nicole Kidman are good candidates as well. Good call on Halle Berry, too — but that blonde from Glee I can take or leave, if we’re in this category.
J.Lo does look pretty when she is groomed properly and appropriately posed. Not so much in candid shots. ‘Course, I’ve not ever encountered her in person. I used to think Keri Russell was “certainly cute but not mind-blowingly beautiful” and then I sat across the aisle from her at a movie and couldn’t keep my eyes off of her. So that could make a lot of difference too.
Dude, I can think of three explanations for the above comment:
1) Your wife monitors and reads all your blog posts and comments.
2) Two weeks in Italy has had an understandably salubrious effect on your relationships, mental health and general outlook on life.
3) You are actually this romantic, for reals (as I’m told kids have been saying recently). In which case, carry on — your wife is lucky to have you.
1) is half-true (she reads my posts but not the comments).
2) is 100% true.
3) is half-true (I’m the one who is lucky to have her).
Elizabeth Fraser. By a damn sight.
If we were going just by voice, I’d be hard-pressed to disagree with you.
Something else that probably bears pointing out, is that (at least it seems this way to me, correct me if I’m wrong) People is targeted towards and mostly read by women, so they’re going to have a different idea of what’s attractive in a woman. I’m constantly surprised at some of the women that my girlfriend thinks are “most beautiful” vs. who I would put up there.