PSA!

As some of you may know, the following topic of discussion is particularly near and dear to my heart ...

If you haven't seen or heard, yet ANOTHER photoshop scandal has made its way into headlines recently. This time, the controversy surrounds Vogue magazine's cover photo and spread of Lena Dunham.

For those who might be unaware, Dunham is both the producer and star of the HBO hit series, Girls. The show has received plenty of criticism and backlash about casting, story line, nudity, et cetera, but that has only helped to propel it further into the realm of extreme popularity. And, as expected, as the show becomes increasingly popular, so too do the stars - most notably, Dunham.

Just like her show, Dunham has been the focal point of unwarranted criticism. Her appearance - generally in relation to her weight - has been, and clearly continues to be, a topic of discussion amongst the media. Although Dunham always responds in a manner that suggests she is not only unfazed by the comments, but also that she is completely comfortable in her own skin, the criticism just doesn't seem to fizzle out.

It's no secret, Dunham doesn't have the body of a Victoria's Secret model, but then again, how many of us do? Instead, Dunahm rocks a body that is but a reflection of the norm in our society. She is not a stick. She is a woman with curves, and she is proud of it.

Now, a while back, Vogue made an international pledge to use "healthy" models within the pages of their magazines. Since, Beyonce (a self-proclaimed modern-day feminist), Michelle Obama (a health and fitness spokesperson), and Jennifer Lawrence (a voice for positive body image) have all graced the cover of the U.S. Vogue.

That being said, it isn't necessarily a shocker that Vogue chose Dunham for their next cover. However, you'd think that in putting Dunham (a curvy woman known to have positive body image) front and center, Vogue would be working toward cultivating a healthy body image for women. And it's true, having Dunham grace the cover is a step in the right direction as far as breaking hegemonic stereotypes is concerned. BUT, in my opinion, that one step forward is only followed by two steps backward once the photoshopping comes into play.

Recently, Dunham told Time that the controversy surrounding her shoot "confuses" her. According to the article, she said, "I don’t understand why, photoshop or no, having a woman who is different than the typical Vogue cover girl, could be a bad thing." (Time article)

Although I agree with her in that having an atypical woman on the cover of Vogue isn't a bad thing (in fact, I think it's a GREAT thing!), I disagree with her view on the use of photoshop.

I understand that the photoshop used on these photos isn't drastic, but I think it's the principle. Photoshopping someone who has come out as having a positive body image and that speaks in favor of being comfortable in one's own skin nearly defeats the entire purpose of placing Dunham on the cover. In essence, this is Vogue telling their readers that although Dunham is a great role model for embracing who she is inside and out, she still needs touching up in order to be accepted in our society. One step forward, two steps back.

**You can see more of the before and after photos from her shoot here.
 
The controversy surrounding models, photoshop, unrealistic ideals, and body image is not new. And unfortunately it doesn't seem to be going away any time soon. There are plenty of instances far worse than Dunham's, and I understand that. I just find it to be incredibly important for women AND men to know the difference between realism and idealism.

At this point in my life, I can't do much to make a difference one way or another, but I hope by educating myself (and hopefully others) and speaking out about it, changes will be made.

//Images courtesy of Google//

The Law of the Lady

After a good 22 years of life as a lady, I've compiled a list of "must-dos" and "must-haves" for any 21st century lady looking to make the best out of the life she's been given.

1. A good Little Black Dress never goes out of style. Always classy, always fashionable. We can thank Audrey for that.

2. Bring your biggest purse to the movies. You can fit more candy, chips, and soda in a bigger purse. It's not rocket science.

3. Sometimes less is more. For example, make up and accessories. Please do us all a favor and refrain from going over board with eccentric colors and bedazzling.

4. When in doubt, always buy the second bottle of wine. Girls nights with wine and magazines are the best nights.

5. It is well worth your money to buy salon brand hair care products. Our hair is our pride and joy, why not treat it right?

6. Always carry a nail file. You never know when a nail is going to break and ruin your day.

7. Always keep a super secret, yet easily accessible, stash of chocolate for some serious stress relief. The little Dove chocolates are pretty neat; they just might cheer you up for 2.5 seconds.

What did I miss? What are your lady "musts"?

The Fault In Our Stars - Book Review

There's not a whole lot of things I enjoy more than a great read. Whenever I get a break from classes, one of the first things I do is ditch my awful textbooks, cuddle up by the fire, and lose myself in the pages of a New York Times Best Seller. Whether it be an autobiography or memoir, murder mystery, chick lit, crime fiction, or even romance novel, chances are, I'll give the book a go.

The most recent NY Times Best Seller I read was "The Fault In Our Stars," by John Green. To my knowledge, the author doesn't include a synopsis on the back cover (at least for the hardcover edition), so I'll do my best to give you an idea of what the book is about...

[[The story is told by Hazel Lancaster, a young cancer patient that is simply going through the motions of life; a life only those who've experienced cancer can truly relate. Hazel is forced by her parents to attend a local support group for kids with cancer. It is their hope that this support group will not only help get Hazel out of the house, but that it will also help her to make friends. Hazel isn't exactly keen on the idea of sitting through support group, but she goes anyways. It is at one of the dreaded support group meetings that Hazel meets Augustus Waters, a handsome young man in remission. Hazel and Augustus find themselves falling deeper and deeper in love with each other, all the while keeping in mind that their chances of living a long and bountiful life with one another are very slim.]]

"The Fault In Our Stars" was quite a bit different than most of the books I've read. I was totally taken aback by the ending - it wasn't quite what I had been expecting. But, then again, I suppose "the unexpected" is what makes a book great, and what makes a great book a New York Times Best Seller. I loved John Green's style of writing. It's almost as if he wrote the way he might have spoken as a young adult, which made it an easy and enjoyable read. I think my favorite aspect of the book was the way in which Green was able to incorporate a touch of humor within an honest tale of young love and death. I would strongly suggest this book to any one of my friends or family members.

However, if you're the kind of person that would rather watch a movie than read a book, then you're in luck. "The Fault In Our Stars" comes to theaters this summer!