Age: Beauty’s Shifting Demands
In the journey from infancy to adulthood, there exists a phase where nobody appears attractive. One moment, people coo over your adorable lisp and the next, they suggest a visit to the orthodontist. Thus, once you reach a state of being “passable,” you hold onto it desperately. Throughout history, the definition of “desirable” has been pushed back, with terms like “dad bods” and acronyms like “Milf” joining the list of lust-worthy attributes. The phrase “die young, leave a good-looking corpse” could have been avoided had the speaker met a plastic surgeon. Today, it is our duty to look youthful even in death, even if we surpass the age of ninety.
Pictures of Martha Stewart in a swimsuit or Padma Lakshmi in a bikini become viral sensations simply because of their age. At 81 and 52, respectively, their flaunting is medicinal, even for non-swimmers. The modern mantra is clear: work out or get work done. There are no longer excuses for double chins, turkey necks, bat-wing arms, love handles, muffin tops, or thunder thighs. Gossip used to surround a neighbor’s liposuction-induced demise, but now the focus is on avoiding such clinics. With celebrities and ordinary individuals openly discussing procedures, the pressure to justify one’s plainness is more prevalent. However, the irony lies in the fact that children often resemble their parents’ pre-surgery selves, forcing us to pretend they’re adorable.
Actors like Ashley Tisdale, Jennifer Grey, and Priyanka Chopra have faced scrutiny for their appearances. In the past, a slightly upturned nose was simply described as a “tip-tilted retrousse,” and life moved on. Nowadays, you can select a nose from a catalog, leaving others bewildered as to why you still have your original one. Vanity knows no bounds, particularly regarding hair and height. Hair transplants and extensions have replaced onion juice, sparing us from the scent of seasoning. False eyelashes offer a permanent solution, even if blinking becomes a challenge. Height operations involve breaking the tibia and inserting a rod—an excruciating process. A sinus issue can be blamed for a nose job, but suddenly towering over everyone requires a more elaborate explanation.
People on the latest weight loss drugs either shrink or develop larger heads—distinctions that are increasingly difficult to discern. While facelifts are taking a more organic route, with extra payment for the appearance of never having gone under the knife, everyone still desires to resemble their favorite celebrities. A befuddled God in heaven is now greeted with a perplexed “Hello, Kim” by numerous women.
Re-Reported from the source originally published in Times Of India.
