Chapter 1: I Believed The Hype

Who do you think decides what’s beautiful and successful?

How do you define beauty and success?

What do you think stars, models and other celebrities are the most celebrated women in the world?

Comments

[Kaylie93]

The thing is that I never thought about this stuff before, and now that Im reading this I see it everywhere! LOL! But really, I think there is a lot of hype out there, and some good people in the media too. But not enough of the good people.

[g]

We decide...we go to their movies, we read the gossip columns...Of course, before that, they've gone to casting agencies. But really, WE contribute to it!
I'd love to say that I define beauty by someone who loves themself...But that would be lying. Most of the time, I DO think that, but them other times...well, I envy Ms. Jolie.
I think that sucess is going out there and acheiving your dreams. (As long as your dream isn't to be a Bunny)
Why are they the most celebrated people in the world? Because we make them that. We want to BE like them...But they aren't like that, not really. How many stars are in and out of rehab? Too many to count.

[Marybeth]

Ultimately, I think we have the power to decide what is beautiful and who is successful. We don't need to accept the false and impossible definitions that the media feeds us. I define beauty as who you are - simple as that. it took me a long time to realize that, and honestly, its still a hard concept to live by when everyday, we are told something different. beauty is what you look like when you are taking care of yourself and your body - no matter what size you are or how much you weigh. its what you ALREADY look like naturally, when you are living a healthy lifestyle and loving and ACCEPTING yourself

I think success is anytime you try your hardest and your best - REGARDLESS of whether or not you reach your goal because if you learn something from the experience or the journey toward the goal, then you become a better if not stronger person - and THAT is a success.

I think stars and celebrities are the most celebrated women in the world because of the very reason in the book. people are trying to SELL us something. i never realized or thought about what makes these women so special or why certain characteristics about them - their body, hair, makeup, clothes, fame - made them so special. but its all about marketing and MONEY. certain people on top create these images and ideals and hype them up so that we will want to be like them. they feed us messages to make us dissatisfied with ourselves so that we aspire to be like the celebrities. as a result, their movie does well at the box office, we buy magazines, products - etc.

but the truth is, we're just as special and amazing as they are.

[Jenny]

I really didn't think that teens were SO pressured by the media. I'm Asian so I know I'll never be like those skinny blondes in those magazines. I don't really care that much because I have my own personal style and those blonde girls can do what they want but they ain't brainwashing me!

[Miranda]

In order to make more money, the media and corporations brainwash us to think that a "look" that is impossible to reach without airbrushing is the "perfect look." This gets them more money since the look is impossible, so therefore we "need all these products to even try," according to them. That's how the celebs get all the attention: because they "have" this impossible look. Women should be celebrated for what's inside, not out!

[JETORSON]

HI I HAV'NT READ THE BOOK BUT I WANT TO

DOGS RULE, FRANCES

[JETORSON]

HI I HAV'NT READ THE BOOK BUT I WANT TO

DOGS RULE, FRANCES

[julia]

i think that the people decide who is beautiful and successfull
Imagine popstars nd nobody liking them would they be beautiful and successful i think not . its the same with models .I nobody liked them they wuldn't be the role model of all beauty and success.
i think beauty is being kind thoughtful yata yata yata .Beauty is NOT being a model or actress. its being the best you can be.

stars models are the most celebrated women in the world because we let them be they wuld be nothing without their fans . and model wannabes.

[Audrey]

It's true. Stars WOULD be nothing if WE didn't look up to them, emulate them etc. But it's such a hard situation. I know that from my personal experiences (read all about it in Chapter 1 of All Made Up!) that it can be hard NOT to get caught up in all the hype when we see how rewarded and famous etc those who do, are. Know what I mean? Like, is it really any surprise that some girls/women get caught up in the hype when those who go after acheiving The Look and a label like model/starlet/pop singer etc end up doing so well???

[Keeley]

I think its the deep and dark voice inside of us that decides that were the ones not good enough and that we should be like the ones on tv , magazines , and other types of media
i think that TRUE beauty comes from deep inside each and every girls soul (and boys) but anywho
its not being extremley skinny or having "the look" its what we make of our selves - how we act - how we respond to life
the people on tv are only celebrated and high and mighty because they make other people look down on them selves and then they look highly of them - its because the people on tv ACT like they are beautiful so they are portrayed that way

[Anonymous]

I think sometimes the world is going crazy. It just scares me when i see those girls that are anorexic. I also don't understand kids that want to be movie starts and/or models. I mean look at your chances how many people that are always wanting to be discovered actually get discovered. Most of our stars, well at least some, never thought of acting or modeling but made these careers successful. Most girls think that to be a good actor/actress, singer or model(which ever you choose to call yourself) is as easy as applying some make-up. GET REAL GIRLS... acting modeling and singing are not just the make-up and the glamorous face. They won't win you a noble peace prize or any noble accomplishment awards at that. For your first few years your successful, suddenly you hit the big 4-0, FORTY and your nothing forgotten. It's sad but a lot of girls believe that this will make a good career and help hold up a family but i almost doubt that.

If you feel this was a waste of your time sorry.
-Anonymous

[Anonymosu]

The book has made me really think about celebraties and models. Some models will do anything to be rich and beautiful but some not. Not all models etc. get caught up in it. It's sad that some people don't get recongized for the great things that do for examle a docter they save lifes almost every day or an envoirnmetalist they do good things that help us and our planet.

[sara]

Ummm...good question!

I think it's mostly the media who decide who SHOULD be thought of as beautiful but we as individuals are capable of deciding for ourselves who's beautiful. Does that make sense?

Beauty is (I know I sound like a mother or a book or whatever) confidence and shining from within and in my opinion models have that confidence - but what's the point of loving yourself when you look like everyone else?

[kiiyana]

The first question I think the media and the crictics and the people decide who is beautiful and successful.because if they didn't decide than the people wantknow who to decide and the celebs want make money because people want buy any thing.The second question I define beaty and success by s plump and beautiful like my mom she a single working mother and she beautoful andsuccess she deals with me and my sister all the time and she always keeps a home and food and I think she beautiful ans successful and there this saying that she says because me and my sister was always wanting to buy something out the store and she'll say you "Don't always have to buy there cd's you are just making them richer and what are you doing while you making them more successful".The third question I think the celebrates are not celebrated I think they are praised for what they do like make a new cd that people like and want they look like in commercials and videos.

[jennifer]

I totally think that our generations defines what is pretty.If you walk down the street you may not do it subconsiously but i'm sure you do is that you look at people and think they're pretty or there ugly.I know I do!
The point is is that if we don't start chonging soon then it's going to be like the old times when nobody really thinks that what women have to say is important.We'll just be property with a certain look plastered on our face.

[Marie]

I think God and ourselves decides what is beautiful and what is or not, but we are all beautiful in every way.

[Christine]

well, to me, success isn't just about having a lot of money, and buying big houses. Success is something that you have always wanted to accomplish yourself, and you have accomplished it.basically it's what you think of yourself when you have reached a personal goal.j Beauty is natural (ok i didn't get what that meant!). Beauty is the person who you really are. Looks do matter, in some instances. For example, you don't want to go to a job interview looking like you came out of a dumpster, right?? But u don't want to look like a prostitute either. It's a matter of how you answer the questions during an interview, right?? I can't say that I am not star struck, because I am, but i never follow any trends at all. I want to be a singer, but i have other careers in mind that i want just a little bit more. Such as: being a grade school teacher, entrepenuer, and maybe even a politician. If i do become a singer, then i will bring a message to girls that trends aren't really that important, and that they should follow their own dreams without doing harm to themselves. Like for anyone who wants to be a model: DON'T STARVE YOURSELVES! THAT'S RIDICULOUS! My motto is for models, or for those who want to starve themselve just to get skinnier: Eat first, worry later..

[sophaloph]

This chapter really helped me open my eyes to what the media was doing to me and show me to always be myself. the whole book was a learning expereince. i read it for a class in school and shared some of the information with my friends. if i had never read tihs book, i would have probably kept listening to the media and being influenced by it. i never knew all the messeges they were basically subliminating to me and i feel educated and i am trying to be myself and not fall for the hype. THANK YOU Audrey d. Brashich!

[Phoebe]

I think we should, ourselves define the meaning of 'beautiful'. my friend, who is born beautiful, wants to be a model. When I tell her that I am jealous of her long hair, glowing skin and long (eye)lashes, and said that she is perfect, she said she was just too short to be a model. SO WHAT? Not all models have to be tall!! She just has the WHOLE PACKAGE. But well, for me. If I want to be beautiful i can't... To me beautiful is NOT wearing glasses (which look nerdy to me....) I wear glassess and i hate it..... I don't even dare to put on contact lens. my friend(the one i was jealous of, Kassandra,) said that when i wear or not wear glassess, I look good... AS IF!!!! and I have all the opposite of her!!! I wish i had her glowing skin, long silky hair and perfect eyesight, and her looong lashes.... argh!!!!!
AS for being sucessfull, being beautiful is a sucess???? N.O!!!!!! Why is being beautiful a sucess??(to those who say that being beautiful is a sucess). It is the best to show unfairness. People who work really really hard to make the world a better place earns lesser than models. I wanted to be a model. But not really cause my first choice was a singer. I practice my singing everyday. Which means I worked hard. While Models just get pampered and look pretty. ( a real stuck-up!!)
And i think that celebrties are the most celebrated people in the world as they are famous..... and many people like them for their talent and advertising, and as for models, all they can do is model for people's fashion shows. and just eat the money off others (like the filmmakers)

that's my opinion for that topic.

[Sinclair]

Being beautiful is feeling good about yourself. You might not be a gorgous model, but most gorgous models aren't very nice and think that they are the best. Believe me; been there done that.

[Mimi]

I'd just like to encourage girls out there to get involved in changing how girls & women see ourselves.

Check out our girl-powered rebellion called The Dressing Room Project. Help post affirming positive body image cards on dressing room mirrors in clothing stores. http://www.thedressingroomproject.org

[Nicole]

I am in the process of reading this book and it is really nice to have a book that speaks the truth about all this star and model hype. Yes, I have a couple of favorite actors/actresses and singers but I am not obsessed with them or anything. Also I think that if you have time to waste on dreaming about becoming a model or thinking that whatever they do is right then you need to find a hobbie because you have way to much time on your hands. And that is what I call the truth!

[Emily age 12]

I think everyone is beutiful in thier own way. I'm fed up with men and boys who only like you for your looks. There's more to us then just our bodies.

[Tori]

I think that if you yourself don't think you are beautiful, than you're not.

[Rosestars]

There are only one group of person who can decides if someone is beautiful and successful,that is the person who believe in ourselves and know that we can do it,like our family,friends,our partners,its because they have been with us for so long that they know who we are,the media shouldn't decide who is beautiful and successful because after all,they are just the media,not the families of the person who's beautiful or successful,people who doesn't know anything or doesn't know much about things,like the media,tend to be judgemental and some of the things they said aren't even true.

Beauty is define by inner and outer,there's nothing beautiful about a women even though she has the most gorgeous body and beautiful face but if she's self-centered,put on airs,or criticize other people,or think nothing or no one is more important to her but herself,that is ugly.I believe that every women is beautiful,in some way or another,even the tiniest things about them,but the most beautiful thing is when they have a beautiful heart,because at the end of it all,its the inside that matters the most.Beauty and success comes together by this explanation of mine,a beautiful heart,if accompanied by a beautiful face,then that's an advantage,but a heart of gold,that's beauty and success.

Stars,models and celebrities are the most celebrated because they work in the entertainment industry,and somehow,everyone in the world needs entertainment,that's why the celebs,models are all there,to entertain us,people look forward to so much entertainment that they take notice of these models,celebs,stars,that's why they are the most celebrated women,they bring fun,good humor,some even relieve stress just by watching these models/celebs/stars on tv..i guess its nature,because i doubt it if a man who just got back from a long day at work would find it interesting to watch a documentary about volunteers helping out at third-world countries,i'm not dissing here,no offense,but lets face the facts,maybe he would find it more interesting to watch some models doing catwalks,and some good movies..