THE ELEMENTS OF BEAUTY: THE 2009 VERSION
In 2008, not long after I created this site, I published an article commenting on PEOPLE’S annual list of the 100 MOST BEAUTIFUL.
For the inevitable contrast, you can find that article here: THE ELEMENTS OF BEAUTY
This whole idea of beauty – and how it fuels and reflects our society – has always intrigued me greatly. Our own biases and preconceptions come into play to a great extent. What thrills us and makes us want to take a second look may completely repel someone else. Many people also have an ideal type that gets them going.
But, of course, looks are rarely the only consideration. You may know realistically that someone is very attractive but may be hard pressed to describe them as beautiful if you can’t stand them. Their character flaws diminish them…and will probably continue to chip away at their lovely facades for as long as you know them.
On the other hand, a nice looking individual that you took little initial notice of may strike you as utterly compelling once you establish a rapport with him/her.
Some beauties are ice cold without an ounce of warmth to redeem them. You may ultimately find that the person that doesn’t even fit the mold of regular attractiveness – but who happens to possess a mesmerizing, powerful sensuality – much more of a headturner.
It’s not always about the gifts that someone was born with.
As for PEOPLE’S compilation…
Well, everyone knows that this list is largely a PR exercise. Always has been. Always will be.
There are individuals that should be nowhere near this list. (This year is no exception.) There are also plenty of cute, pleasantly attractive, good looking or extremely sexy people that make the cut. Some have more than once.
Of course it’s madly subjective…and we all have our biases.
But, to me, being beautiful signifies a loveliness that is absolutely outstanding – someone that is so impossibly gorgeous that they could take your breath away.
PEOPLE does not reveal the entire list. You have to buy the issue (released today) to find out. But I am aware of the majority of their selections.
Let me say – as a woman who loves men – that the lack of spellbinding male presence was staggeringly disappointing. But if this is all I have to work with, I’ll live.
Check out PEOPLE for a page full of related articles. Go here
Regarding PEOPLE’S 2009 MOST BEAUTIFUL, here are the individuals I concur with in alphabetical order:
CHRISTINA APPLEGATE
LORRAINE BRACCO
CHRISTIE BRINKLEY
GEORGE CLOONEY
DAKOTA FANNING
IMAN
ANGELINA JOLIE
NORAH JONES
EVA MENDES
TAYLOR MOMSEN
DEMI MOORE
THANDIE NEWTON
MICHELLE PFEIFFER
BRAD PITT
JANE SEYMOUR
MERYL STREEP
LYNN WHITFIELD
To add to the fun, PEOPLE also has a separate list devoted to 20 CLASSIC BEAUTIES. They had incredible taste when they made these choices…
BRIGITTE BARDOT
CATHERINE DENEUVE
AVA GARDNER
AUDREY HEPBURN
LENA HORNE
GRACE KELLY
VIVIEN LEIGH
SOPHIA LOREN
ALI MacGRAW
DIANA ROSS
ELIZABETH TAYLOR
GENE TIERNEY
RAQUEL WELCH
So feel free to comment on this subject. I definitely welcome it.
I think I’ll make this an annual thing. It’s just too much fun to lay down.
