The former 1994 Miss Argentina, Solange Magnano, died on Sunday from complications due to elective buttock enhancement surgery. The 38-year-old mother of twin girls, died from a pulmonary embolism from fluid that got into her lungs post-surgery. A close friend is reported as saying, "A woman who had everything lost her life to have a slightly firmer behind.”
And two little girls are now motherless, which begs the question, why? Modern Love supports a woman’s right to put her best face and body forward; real beauty isn’t the culprit here. What is, though, is a standard that keeps stretching further from even the above-average beauty queen. A woman, beautiful by any standard and most certainly in her prime, is dead because she didn’t like the looks of her butt. This is just too sad for a ‘Spanx’ joke.
In yesterday’s column on Tiger Woods, an anonymous reader wrote, “’a size two supermodel’ is not sexy to any normal man. Unfortunately, the "fashion" industry and Hollywood has succeeded in greatly reducing the number of normal men.’” As easy as it may be to blame men for this, Modern Love knows the fairer sex is also at fault. We buy the fashion magazines and the lies that convince us of our own imperfections. Less than 10% of women describe themselves as beautiful. Instead, when we look in the mirror, we imagine our flaws. When our lovers look at us, they imagine us naked. Who's wearing the rose-colored glasses, and who should be?
I’m no stranger to beauty contests. I won my ‘first’ crown at seven, and was Miss San Juan Capistrano Princess for a year back in the day, which meant I learned how to wave like I was screwing (oh, get your minds out of the gutter!) on a light bulb, and clap my hands in feigned support of our local government. Nothing as glamorous as Miss California or Miss USA, but it was a fun year. And I’ll never let my daughter do it.
The world of beauty is full of trick mirrors these days, the kind that’ll kill you. That is why Modern Love supports the efforts of organizations, such as Dove and its 'Real Beauty' campaign, that seeks to redefine and normalize the standards of beauty. As Ms. Magnano’s family mourns her death, I’m sure they’ll agree that our obsession has gone too far. The price of a pretty piece of a** just isn’t worth it.
Related columns:
Darwin's donuts and the survival of the fattest
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All Modern Love Examiner articles ©2009 by Tinamarie Bernard; reposts permitted with link back to original article. All other rights reserved.
Comments
The global and ridiculous fascination with and dedication to fantasy-world perfection is, as you say, very sad. Indeed, that superficial mindset was partially responsible for my recent move to England; while that ridiculous mindset is surely here in the UK, it is far, far less intrusive and ubiquitous than in the United States, and, apparently, in South America. String bikinis anyone? Still, irrational though that overblown search for perfection might be, one can grieve for Ms. Magnano, and for her children, and for a world that can convince someone so beautiful that she is not perfect enough.
I can't help but to think all these cosmetic procedures are all used to mask a secret obssession to have what ethnic women naturally have. All of the body parts that are being enlarged are those found to be fuller on ethnic women like the lips, breasts and hips. The end result is a creation that looks as if Dr.Jekyll was in the operating room.
You only want to read what is politically correct and not the bold truth
Laura - welcome back!
Carmel - you may have a point there, at least with the first comment. I am no longer a fan of political correctedness if it keeps eyes shut, ears closed, and mouths mute. Thanks for sharing your truth.
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