Supermodel Giselle Bundchen made headlines recently not because she was named spokesperson for a new clothing line, or because of her husband Tom Brady's recent football cheating scandal, but because she had a little work done! Numerous reports indicate that she got breast implants, and eyelid surgery. Big deal, cosmetic surgery in her native Brazil is more common than getting a manicure.
The rub came from her previous comments expressing the fact that she would never undergo cosmetic surgery, because she prefers to be natural, relying on yoga, diet and a healthy lifestyle.
Not only did she have the surgery in Paris, she chose a Burqa as a disguise, not exactly politically correct! I understand why she had the operation, because in my plastic surgery practice, I see moms every day who want to regain their pre-pregnancy figures. It is understandable, and accepted in our youth oriented society. What bothers me is that Giselle tried to blatantly hide it.
I have been preaching in this venue for years that our society wrongly puts too much pressure on women to look younger and prettier, placing emphasis on looks, rather than intelligence and substance!
The media reinforces this notion, regularly trotting out young, beautiful fashion models and movie stars for us all to gawk, admire and even post as role models! The problem is, for the most part, they have had a lot of help! Besides Photoshop, they are primped and preened by the most talented makeup and hair stylists around. Then, bring on the plastic surgeons and cosmetic dermatologists, to tweak their "perfection" further with Botox, fillers and plastic surgery. Again, I have no problem with that, remember what I do for a living! Just be honest with us and admit that you have had some help! Otherwise, how do the women in our society compete, or God forbid, try to emulate these "beauties"? They don't have a chance to keep up, as most don't have access to the same beauty arsenal as these "role models"! Most women have a job, family and important daily responsibilities, there is no contest.
I admire actress Patricia Heaton, well known as the adorable, dynamic wife Debra Barone from the TV show Everybody Loves Raymond. After giving birth to four kids, she bravely admitted that she had a "Mommy Makeover," a tummy tuck and breast lift. No big deal!
Giselle, what a heroine you could have been? Arguably, the most successful and admired Supermodel ever, coming out of her Burqa, and screaming to the world, "I am not perfect and even my body changed after having two babies and I am getting older, and that's OK!" How refreshing and honest it could have been, as opposed to what it became!
I am the biggest proponent of diet and exercise, and regularly extol their virtues, but please Giselle, don't give false hopes to us all by having a little nip and tuck, and then give the credit to genetics, yoga and your skin care line for your lasting beauty at the ripe old age of 35!
Why can't we choose better role models? Why not admire and emulate people like your kid's school teacher, or your brilliant neighbor who runs her family and has a great job? Can't we select role models that matter and are worth respecting? Move over Giselle, make way for people we should admire!
Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others; it is the only means.
--Albert Einstein