In my tv surfing last night, I came across the new show on “E!” “Bridal Plasty”, which is hosted by former beauty queen and reality tv star Shanna Moakler. The premise of the show is that the winner will receive all the plastic surgery her heart desires.
Now, I have to admit when I saw the commercials for this show before its debut last night, I was less than impressed. I know when some women are getting ready for their big day, the biggest worry they have is losing those last 10 pounds so that they can get into their dress. The women on this show want to take it to a whole new level. They want nose jobs, liposuction, breast augmentation, tummy tucks, etc. Any plastic surgery procedure you can think of, they want it. According to the plastic surgeon on the show, ALL of the contestants needed liposuction and/or a tummy tuck. And the crazy thing is only one woman, from my observation, was truly overweight. That happens to be Alexandria, a former “Biggest Loser” contestant whose fiancee’ proposed to her during the finale. And like one of the girls in the house, Alexandria was getting on my nerves, too, talking about being on the “Biggest Loser”; it was just too much.
My first thought on this show was, “What are we teaching our girls?” That they have to have the perfect hips, thighs, and butt to get married? That they have to have the perfect figure to marry the man of their dreams? That they have to look like a “supermodel” in order to walk down the aisle? This show is the prime example of what is wrong with America’s concept of beauty. Little girls are taught growing up that in order to be considered attractive you have to be a size 0, have long hair, long legs, and be at least 5’8″. If I believed that, I would think I was the ugliest person in the world. I’m definitely not a size 0, I have short hair, I do have great legs, and I’m only 5’4″. If you do decide to let your daughter/niece/sister/friend/whatever watch this show, keep reiterating to her that she is beautiful just the way she is. She doesn’t need to alter her looks for anything. That’s what we need to be teaching the young women in our lives.
I will say “Shame on you, E!” for this show. Yes, these are grown women who know what they are doing and are old enough to make their own decisions, but if I were a betting woman, I’d wager a small amount that most of these women growing up did not receive the proper reinforcement from their parents and other loved ones that they were beautiful just as God made them. To all of you reading this, be happy with who you are. Love yourself for how you look right this second. That’s the message that we need to be sending. Until next time, I’m just a Southern girl…in the city.
P.S. To add insult to injury, when the first contestant, Ashley, was voted off last night, Shanna’s response was akin to (I’m paraphrasing), “Your wedding will still go on; it just may not be perfect.” WHAT?!?!?!
Southern Girl in the City 
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