Why Allure Can't Let Carrie Underwood Be Happy

If there’s one thing that women’s magazines are about—other than, you know, hawking appallingly expensive stuff no one needs—it’s self-improvement. Every month, there are breathless reports on how to drop those extra pounds, science updates on the latest research proven to kick start our sex lives. In every issue, there’s a new technique for getting noticed in the office, another suggestion for dressing to hide figure flaws. (It’s always a v-neck wrap dress. I’ve seen that particular solution so many times I’m nearly convinced the right Diane von Furstenberg frock could settle the conflict in Georgia.) The message? You’re inadequate! But, with practice and some cash, you might one day measure up!

So what are we readers supposed to make of it when an article about someone who’s generally triumphed over such magazine-mandated adversities focuses on her dissatisfaction with her life?

That’s the case of “Country Girl,” the profile of Carrie Underwood in the September issue of Allure. As spelled out in excruciating detail, Underwood’s life veers close to the ideal perpetuated in women’s mags: She’s trumped the sexism of the country music scene to launch a spectacular career; she dates a constant stream of attractive, famous men; she has the money to indulge in luxuries; and her looks (including, yes, her precise weight) are described in rapturous terms. All of which is why I was surprised to discover that the article leans much more heavily on Underwood’s worries than her successes. According to the piece, Underwood is scared. She frets that her earning power may come to a halt, that her few splurges may alienate her fans; she worries about building a lasting relationship. She spends too much on clothes and notes that all her friends are married with children.

Even though these are concerns that resonate with many of us (if not quite on par with Underwood’s distress about a $2,500 Dolce & Gabbana sweater), it seems like Underwood should be celebrating. Actually, it seems like Allure should be recognizing a woman who’s conquered the same foes it counsels the rest of us to vanquish.

That I can’t fully relate to Underwood’s problems doesn’t make them less valid, and I understand the imperative to posit famous people as, well, actual people. I’m not lobbying for celebrity hagiographies in the glossies, but an emphasis on the shortcomings of a woman notable enough to land a magazine cover in the first place, combined with the anti-aging and diet advice in every issue, further reinforces the message that the rest of us are inadequate. There’s nothing wrong with encouraging self-improvement or aspiration or even faking it with that wrap dress. But there is something wrong with a system that doesn’t celebrate those who’ve already achieved the kind of success the rest of us are striving for—especially when it’s the kind of success these same magazines claim to help us attain.

Comments

[MissPinkKate]

I would like to think this is Allure's subtle way of getting back at Carrie Underwood for being a bitch.

[Aquarius]

Great article, completely hit the nail on the head.

Whenever I used to read magazines, I'd start off feeling fine. By the time I'd finished it I either felt like I'd just wasted my time or I'd feel like I don't have anything right in my life.

Thank god I don't waste money on this garbage anymore and thank god I found this website! I used to think no other women saw magazines for what they really are - exploiting the insecurities of women every month in order to make money.

[Glossed Over]

MissPinkKate: Do you think? The excessive self-deprecation seems to be an ongoing theme with her (I wrote about it last fall--http://is.gd/2auq ), so either she really is that worried about things or she's somehow managing to alienate every writer who profiles her. I'm not sure which scenario is preferable.

Aquarius: Thanks! And welcome!

[Shayna]

I think its amazing how people who have NO idea who Carrie Underwod even is, can even remotely begin to try and bash her. I have met Carrie, am in her fan club, and in no way has she ever been anything more than gracious to me and all of her fans. Allure magazine and others always try to take good people and make them seem bad cause thats what SOME people love to feed into and cannot accept that wow, there really are good people in this world..imagine that. I don't even bother reading crap about Carrie that I know is gonna be bad, like in magazines,..its not worth my time or my money. Carrie is a shy girl by nature, and if that comes off as being snotty or whatever, I think thats very wrong, and consider me a snot too!

[Jo]

That's Carrie Underwood? After I saw the cover, I thought it was an overly-Photoshopped Madonna.

[Glossed Over]

Jo: When I first saw it, I thought it was Hilary Duff.

[Anna]

MissPinkKate--Amen!

I stopped caring about Carrie Underwood after I read a different interview last year where she was complaining about people who watch chick flicks because "real life doesn't work like that".

It was just baffling to me that someone whose life IS a chick flick would say that--is it really so bad that girls whose lives aren't exactly a fairy tale watch a movie that inspires them to make their own happy ending?

[Mexi]

I guess people believe EVERYTHING they read...shows what sad lil lives journalists and people that read some of the crap have. I suppose if they said you were a complete moron I should believe that too then right?

Carrie is nothing but a nice gracious young woman. I've met her too! I'm also in her fanclub, and I guess it takes real fans to even begin to understand the crap that goes on and how dumb some people are to believe it...we know the truth....and its sad that people have to add words to people mouths just for a good story. Don't beliebe everything you read.

[Lesli]

This whole thing kind of bothers me....are we to say that people can't sometimes be insecure? and that something is wrong with that? but yet if she was overly secure....oh man, she would be called all sorts of things!

oh and Anna, just for clarification, Carrie NEVER complained about the "people" who watch chick flicks..she said she doesn't watch them...big difference..and I quote..

"I love football and I love guy movies. I hate getting flowers, and I hate chick flicks. That whole romance thing-that doesn't happen. Real guys aren't like that."

Maybe shes a lil self concious,...so what? its her likes and her dislikes.....shes a grown woman..she can watch what she very well wants to...lol. I don't understand the whole attacking a nice girl thing..never have...but that seems to happen a whole lot.

[liz]

wow. this entry is right on. RIGHT ON. my husband blames my insecurities (and I have a lot) on my obsession with women's magazines. the older I get, the more I question what I read in these rags. I'm so glad I found this blog!

[fifi]

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