Allure: No, We Still Don't Feel Sorry for You

We were paralyzed by indecision when faced with the March issue of Allure.  Which pressing problem deserved our attention first?  Should we brace ourselves for the no-doubt serious investigation into the mysterious disappearance of “Hollywood’s underpants,” or should we skip to the sure-to-be-obnoxious
Michelle Pfeiffer story?

No contest, really.

We know we come off a bit shrill every time we complain about this, but what is up with the recent spate of beautiful women lamenting how difficult it is to be gorgeous?  Sure, it may be rough to be so good-looking that no one takes you seriously, but it’s totally disingenuous to complain about that and then turn around and make your living off your looks.  (Small but important distinction: We’re not saying that maybe these women aren’t treated unfairly.  We’re saying we don’t want to hear about it while they’re posing for magazines.)  Sorry, but we just can’t bring ourselves to get worked up over stuff like the cover line:

“Beautiful Women Tend to Get Used”

As if being used only happens to beautiful women.

In fact, Pfeiffer explains in considerable detail, beauty was, at times, the very element that thwarted both her career and her personal life.  “When I was coming up in the business, beautiful actresses weren’t really ‘in,’” Pfeiffer recalls…“So I felt then like a lot of women these days feel in a man’s business world: I felt I had to be better than the competition,” Pfeiffer explains.

So let’s get this straight.  She doesn’t want to be evaluated solely on the basis of her looks, but then complains when she can’t use her appearance to land roles?

“When I was doing Frankie and Johnny, that was one of the biggest criticisms: that you couldn’t believe me in the part,” she says resignedly.  “And my argument is always, ‘You know everyone can be damaged.  And pretty people can be just as damaged as ugly people or fat people.’”

We love that she lumps “fat people” in a whole separate category, because apparently someone can’t be both overweight and pretty.  She continues:

“And in some ways, more,” she adds, her face earnest.  “Because beautiful women tend to get used.  And sometimes, their self-esteem is so wrapped up in the way they look that they allow themselves to be victimized much more than somebody whose self-worth isn’t all wrapped up in the face or their body.”

Well, there’s something we agree with.  Life probably is easier for women who bother to develop a personality.

Now that three different celebrities have complained about this in print, we wonder if there may be some validity to their gripes.  But we also wonder how Hollywood’s underwear is faring, because we wish we’d read that story instead.

Previously: Marie Claire: A Model Carps, We Cringe; Vogue's Sob Story: It's Not Easy Being Pretty

Comments

[Katie]

I haven't read this article, but I wonder how the writer reacted to Michelle Pfeiffer's quotes. Considering Pfeiffer is on the cover, and this is Allure magazine, I have a feeling there were no challenging response questions (or even the slightest hint of criticism). This is a major problem with women's magazines. The celebrity profiles (and even the basically-anonymous-person profiles) are pure fluff. They take no risks with tone, and they certainly don't bother to ask provocative or thoughtful questions in response to ridiculous statements the ones Pfeiffer made. I'm not saying the writer should slam Pfeiffer for her obnoxiousness, but these profiles would be a hell of a lot more interesting and relevant if the writers (and editors) would actually think just an inch outside the box.

[babs]

She's not only ridiculous, but she's a liar. When chosen as one of People's 50 most beautiful she said she thought she looked like a duck and that she wasn't the only one who thought that. Here all along she was a stuck-up a*shole.

[JJ]

I love how you put into words exactly what I'm feeling when I take WD40 and a Bic to such an article.

And you got Gawked! Cool. :)

[DA.Darling]

Does living in LA give you some kind of distorted view of reality? Because it's not very hard for beautiful women in Northern California or Nevada or anywhere else I've lived.

"You're too pretty!" - you know she says that to herself in the mirror every morning.

[mm]

Love this post!