Does a Woman Have to Be Pretty to Be Famous?

     Short answer, no. Long answer, yes.

     Name a famous who is not conventionally attractive in that Eurocentric way that everyone quietly deemed the “ideal standard.” Don’t include men or comedians in your answer. Hard right? Especially if you try to think of an A or even B-list celebrity. There’s no doubt that there are probably a handful, but there are not many that people will think of off the top of their heads. It’s a shame really, because conventional beauty is so overrated and a construct that men created to objectify people. There are so many people who are unconventionally beautiful, stunning, and one of a kind, but if they do not fit into the Eurocentric beauty standards then it’s harder for them to gain the recognition they deserve. I honestly think that everyone is beautiful because beauty is subjective, it’s not something to be gatekept. Society has turned it objective though, and it’s sad.

     Fun fact, even Asian beauty standards are very Eurocentric. The pale skin, big eyes, small face, and long legs that everyone strives for are all centered on colonialism and Eurocentricism. You can find this in all races too, not just Asian. For example, Black and Brown people sometimes feel pressured to straighten their beautifully curled hair because, whether they know it or not, that is the beauty standard based on European ideals. Are there people who have become famous and do not have these characteristics? Of course there are, but you can’t deny that there is a pretty privilege given to people who have these “ideal” characteristics. 

     I consume a lot of Asian media. I listen to K-pop, J-pop, C-pop, and V-pop. I watch a lot of K-dramas, C-dramas, J-dramas, V-dramas over my parents’ shoulder, and anime. There is not one woman I can think of in any of these spaces that does not fit into the Asian beauty standard, and if they don’t they are still so stunning that it doesn’t matter. Even the men are all so beautiful it hurts my eyes. Honestly, it feels like looks are more important in Asia.

     While it is nice to watch all these pretty people act or sing, there’s this feeling of disconnect with everyone on your screen. No one looks that good when you wake up from bed. Your hair should be wet after running in the rain. Makeup should be running down your face when you cry, not stay perfect. It’s the manufactured beauty that is really annoying sometimes. This is what sells though. These are the types of things that consumers buy, so that’s what media companies make. Maybe it’s like a chicken and egg type of situation. 

     It’s kind of fun when you think about movies that involve the ugly girl getting a glow-up at the end of a movie. These actresses just take off their glasses, get a haircut, and shower then suddenly they’re a “new person”. They aren’t a new person though. They are the same beautiful person but presented in a different way, and that way is the Eurocentric way. And it’s hard to get a chance if you don’t have these qualities in a fierce industry, where looks are just as important as talent.