Let me state up front that I love Bethenny Frankel. I find her hilarious and neurotic and adorable and snarky all at the same time. I admire her work ethic and am impressed by the success she’s single-handedly amassed. She’s pretty much the cat’s meow in my opinion.
So you could say I was a little more than disturbed about how contradictory hercover story in Us Weeklyis compared to her “healthy lifestyle” SkinnyGirl line of beverages and books.
In the article she confesses to being obsessed with dieting and admitted to a past exercise addiction. Now I don’t think there’s anything wrong with her admitting these things; she’s human after all! And I can empathize with her quest for thinness … she’s an American woman and it’s ingrained in our psyches to look a certain way (however wrong that is).
It just seems hypocritical to me that, after all her struggles, she could then go and title her line “Skinny Girl.” I mean, really! I understand the marketing and advertising business; I work within it. But as a brand, it just rubs me the wrong way now that I know how struggles and how she still chose to name it “Skinny Girl” — claiming (in interviews) that it’s really about unleashing the skinny girl within. OK … but what’s wrong with NOT being a “skinny girl” and just being, well, a girl?
That adjective — “skinny” — is a loaded one. To the pro-ana sector, it’s the be-all, end-all … To the dieting sector, it’s a sought-after goal. To little girls everywhere … it’s the way they “should” be. (Not really, but that’s the message they get in the media and possibly from women in their lives.)
I’m sure Bethenny is smart enough to realize the backlash these revelations might cause; maybe she knows it won’t matter — sales will still be strong either way. But for people like me, who hear the word “skinny” and cringe … well, I guess I don’t have to tell you that her books don’t –and won’t–adorn my bookshelves.
I might love Bethenny the person … but it’s hard to stomach her product line … especially now.
How about you? Was anyone else surprised by her admissions, or think it’s a bit hypocritical to name her product line “Skinny Girl”?
Let me state up front that I love Bethenny Frankel. I find her hilarious and neurotic and adorable and snarky all at the same time. I admire her work ethic and am impressed by the success she’s single-handedly amassed. She’s pretty much the cat’s meow in my opinion.
So you could say I was a little more than disturbed about how contradictory her cover story in Us Weekly is compared to her “healthy lifestyle” SkinnyGirl line of beverages and books.
In the article she confesses to being obsessed with dieting and admitted to a past exercise addiction. Now I don’t think there’s anything wrong with her admitting these things; she’s human after all! And I can empathize with her quest for thinness … she’s an American woman and it’s ingrained in our psyches to look a certain way (however wrong that is).
It just seems hypocritical to me that, after all her struggles, she could then go and title her line “Skinny Girl.” I mean, really! I understand the marketing and advertising business; I work within it. But as a brand, it just rubs me the wrong way now that I know how struggles and how she still chose to name it “Skinny Girl” — claiming (in interviews) that it’s really about unleashing the skinny girl within. OK … but what’s wrong with NOT being a “skinny girl” and just being, well, a girl?
That adjective — “skinny” — is a loaded one. To the pro-ana sector, it’s the be-all, end-all … To the dieting sector, it’s a sought-after goal. To little girls everywhere … it’s the way they “should” be. (Not really, but that’s the message they get in the media and possibly from women in their lives.)
I’m sure Bethenny is smart enough to realize the backlash these revelations might cause; maybe she knows it won’t matter — sales will still be strong either way. But for people like me, who hear the word “skinny” and cringe … well, I guess I don’t have to tell you that her books don’t –and won’t–adorn my bookshelves.
I might love Bethenny the person … but it’s hard to stomach her product line … especially now.
How about you? Was anyone else surprised by her admissions, or think it’s a bit hypocritical to name her product line “Skinny Girl”?