Can I just share something that's been on my mind? . . .
This is Cher - she is 61 years old.
This is Cher - she is 61 years old.
This is Cher & Tina Turner - they are 61 & 68, respectively.
It just doesn't seem right that someone in her 60's should look younger than me - at least in some fabricated, Barbie-dollish sort of way. Last week I had a few minutes to myself and decided to watch a DVR'd Oprah episode and happened upon this one, which piqued my curiosity. Cher has been out of the spotlight for years, and I was curious; but when I saw her, I was disturbed.
Cher is my dad's age. My dad looks great! He looks like this -
I will tell you that I am definitely not "anti-cosmetic surgery" and I don't see anything wrong with trying to maintain a bit of youth. I can think of a couple of procedures that I wouldn't mind getting at some point in my life. However, I think there ought to be a little moderation. As my mom always says, "moderation in all things." I will also tell you that I am absolutely for women staying active and relishing every waking minute of their lives. But to me, when Cher was out dancing on that stage, it seemed awkward. I can't pinpoint the reason why because I did enjoy watching Tina Turner, at 68, perform on stage. For some reason, on that Oprah episode, Tina Turner seemed more "real" to me than Cher, although I have no doubt she's had her share of "procedures" as well. On that show, Tina announced that she is going to go out on one more tour. I am sure, in part, that is what keeps her young. I hope that I can be so active at 68. Both my parents and Brad's are very active in their 60's. But - they are not trying to look 30 years younger either. The fact that so many people who are in the spotlight in our society feel the need to look 30 years younger makes me feel really uncomfortable. It perpetuates such an unhealthy attitude about aging.
Take a minute and look at this picture of Lesli's mom. Isn't she beautiful? Beautiful & 63. Lesli titled this photo "perhaps my favorite picture yet of my mom". If Lesli's mom changed her appearance to look the way Cher looks, something very personal about Lesli's mom would be seriously lost. I love Lesli's mom, & to me, she looks just as beautiful as she did when I was a teenager. I love Lesli's mom for who she is inside & out!
I am struggling with the exact reasons this all disturbs me the way it does - so I am just wondering - did anyone else see this Oprah? Does anyone else want to shudder when they look at 61-year-old Cher trying to be 30? Why does it make me feel so strange?
And just a final thought along similar lines - I really don't want to offend any Mariah Carey fans out there, but here she is, Ms. E=MC2 - at 38 years old. There is not one line on her face.
Mariah has apparently launched quite a media campaign for herself, so she is always in the spotlight as of late. When Madi saw Mariah on American Idol, she kept asking me how old she was because to quote Madi, "she looks sooooo young". I certainly don't think 38 is old by any means, but most of the 38-year-olds I know have a few little laugh lines here & there. But then you can't really look at Mariah and think reality - after all, she has a lingerie closet bigger than a lot of houses (again, a small detail I learned from watching a DVR'd Oprah episode).
15 comments:
must you talk about the DVR? The pain is just too fresh still... On a lighter note, those women defy the laws of aging(and cosmetic surgery.
I'm with you, LaRae. I finally watched "Must Love Dogs" and paid attention to it, having only "listened" to it at Pine Valley. All the way through I kept being bothered by Stockard Channing's stretched tight face!! What's wrong with a few "character lines??"
PS-Your dad and Lesli's mom are WAY more "beautiful" than any of the celebrities you posted, in my opinion!
I am afraid this is the way society is heading. Every decade worse and worse. I did not see this episode. It must have deleted before I got the chance. I just think it is important that we try to be healthy examples for our children when it comes to looks and being proud of what becomes of our looks:)
I think it's the lips. Cher's collagen (apparently) enhanced lips and those of others similarly enhanced always seem far more distracting to me than any other surgical enhancements. Although the smooth-as-my-baby's-skin on a 60+ is awful and really unattractive. There's nothing more beautiful than someone wrinkled up and worn out in the service of their family, their God and their fellowmen. Maybe that's the biggest difference with all these women is that they and their industry focus(es) on appearance over substance and entertainment over service. Just a thought.
I agree with your friend, Angie - it's the lips, creepy. As one who's nipped and tucked herself, I feel a little hypocritical making comments on this subject, but what is happening to our maturing female celebrities? Gigantic lips. Did anyone see Laura Flynn Boyle on Law & Order? This once beautiful actress was hardly recognizable - way too many procedures, and what about Priscilla Presley? Shocking. I don't mind a little "freshening up," but like you said, trying to look decades younger, they just start to look scary.
I think after what these 3 beautiful women have lived through (emotionally and physically abusive husbands)I think they can spend as much as they want on themselves and look however they want to look. I was in the Coliseum for the Oprah taping and let me tell you - ELECTRIC is the word for these women. And Oprah...Oh my heroine! I may never be the same.
Also, I do love some mariah carey ... her E=MC2 CD is amazing -especially Side Effects - which talks about her abuse. She is a brave woman.
However, I will agree with Judy that Priscilla Presley can not move her face anymore.
it is hard as a 60yr old myself and i am not anti cosmetic per se either. we all like to look our best p ersonally i feel we see light and beauty more thru the spirit than anything we could do by man. it is good to take care of our bodies and do the very best we can if we do something here and there that is ok. i think the thing is these actresses/entertainers think they have to do this to compete adn they are a slave to it and it is sad and they do look very unatural.mom
I had another thought after I posted my ga-ga comment about Oprah..... these women, or many of the celebrities we love to read about, look at etc would need to do any work - they could age gracefully - if our society wasn't so dang hungry for the gossip, the 'what are they wearing' and the 'who are the sleeping with' stories. WE as a society fuel the fire of their need to look so dang great.
I think it goes both ways, Janet, between female celebs and society. If the stand is taken that female celebs undergo surgery because society demands it, then that is making these women victims of society, and that is a position of weakness and not of strength because society is controlling them. There are women in the entertainment industry who have and are aging gracefully because they've made that choice. Whether they've had surgery or not, I don't know - but they don't put themselves in the line of gossip - Meryl Streep, Michelle Pfieffer ...
I don't think women have to change themselves as much as some celebrity women have done to get a job. Maybe to be famous, but not to work, and the distinction is important. The need for love and adoration by fans (which is different than the desire to act or to sing for which fame is not a requirement) is problematic and shows a psychology that allows for continued personal abuse - a heightened need for the acceptance of others. If a woman changes herself because she wants to, that's one thing, but to undergo surgery again and again so she can stay famous to continue to receive the approval of strangers, then she's still a victim.
Judy - you could add Glenn Close, Diane Keaton & Susan Sarandon to that list of celebrities aging w/ grace as well. Angie & Judy - you're right, those collagen lips are very disturbing. Don't you think they could make the lips just a little less full? You can really see the collagen lips on Priscilla Presley - I had to go look at some pictures after you and Janet commented about her. And Judy, I don't think you're being hypocritical. The point of my post was that I was disturbed by the "excess". To me, Cher looked manufactured, and that really made me uncomforable. Like I said, I am not against women doing things to preserve a youthful appearance in any way. But again, I would just like to point out the word m-o-d-e-r-a-t-i-o-n! There is so much "excess" all around us in every area of society. I find myself battling this challenge of "excess" constantly as I try to help my children understand what is most important in life. As a mother of daughters, in particular, I find it vital for them to understand that they are who they are because of what is on the inside & not what is on the outside!
Anyway - I didn't anticipate quite so much discussion from this post - but thank you all for your comments. I do love blogging!
Well said, LaRae. I think you touched on a nerve with this post. There's been such advances in cosmetic surgery and it's become very affordable, so it's exploding. Another woman we can add to the list is Diane Lane.
In ancient times, they made their idols out of gold and in the image of cows. Nowadays, the idols are soft and fleshy, and made in the image of their youthful selves.
We know that our bodies will be resurrected in such a state as when we were "in our prime" in our youth. This knowledge makes it easier to age. It affords the opportunity to look forward to being young for eternity.
With that being said, lipo and an abdominoplasty wouldn't be so bad... :)
Cosmetic surgery addiction can be caused by a medical condition called body dismorphic disorder - it can manifest itself in women (and men) who have endured abuse, or abusive and degrading comments in childhood, and young adulthood. It is both medical and psychological. I have no idea if Cher or any of the 'extreme' surgery celebs fit into this condition, but it could be likely. Cher has always been extreme if not 'over the top,' so who knows....just a guess.
I agree with the women that were listed as aging gracefully and if you think of the women listed, they are also strong advocates for what is positive in our society. i.e. - no war, not hurting children, raising money for cancer aids etc.... maybe reaching out and giving has a lot to do with how you feel about yourself. (hmmm, I think we already all know this) I also think that the beauty in Tina Turner comes from her deep commitment to Buddhism as she truly glows.
Anyway - YEA FOR DAVID COOK!!
Hope all is well with Madi's heart tonight.....=)
Good discussion.
Janet - thanks for the thoughts about Madi's heart - it is broken tonight, but I am sure it will heal! She and Katie have both cried real tears at the loss of David A. - which for some reason, I didn't expect. They are so sad. Katie is mostly sad because Madi is sad - she has a tender heart.
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