Are transsexual models just being used?

German designer, Philipp Plein, certainly knows how to draw attention by using controversial models, such as Lindsay Lohan. His latest pick? Transsexual model, Lea T. She is one of the most famous transsexual models in the business and was cast to open and close his show at Milan Fashion Week. A massive honour for a model. I really appreciate this choice. Why not use transsexual models. It’s all about the look, no? And Lea T certainly has the look. I only object to this idea if and when these models are being used for shock value. This is often the case. Trans models, like Andrej Pejic for HEMA or Stav Strashko for Toyota, are often used to give an ad campaign or runway show that something extra. But should that something extra be based on these models’ transsexual status? Aren’t they then just being used?

Lady Gaga hits back at the weight critics

After she came under a lot of scrutiny for her fuller-figure, she decided to fight the weight bullies by posting these pictures on the LittleMonsters.com blog. She admitted to having eating disorders in the past and that she’s still struggling with her eating habits.

I think this is awesomely brave and kudos to her for standing up to people who have no business criticizing her weight.

Too young to love?

24-year-old Chinese pop sensation, Zhang Muyi recently made shockwaves when he openly declared his love for Akama Miki, a 12-year-old Canadian-based model. They have apparently been dating for a while. “Wait until I’m old enough to marry you, and then I’m going to say ‘I do,’” Miki wrote on Muyi’s Weibo page, where she has 500,000 followers, just after her 12th birthday. “I simply can’t wait for these next four birthdays of yours to pass, I’m counting down each one,” he wrote back. What do you think about this? Can a 12-year-old really know what love is? And should a 24-year-old not know better than to play around with a 12-year-old girl who has, well in this case, Muyi-fever?

Twitter Meme defends Kate Middleton

After the topless pics of Kate Middleton were published, her fans took to Twitter and defended her with these memes. I love it!

Designer vagina anyone?

Do you want a designer vagina? Why so? And how far will you go to get one?

Grooming: Pubic Hair Removal 

This is of course the more mainstream form of vaginal modification. This is probably because it deals with the waxing or shaving of pubic hair from the vaginal area, either to sexually entice or for aesthetic or  hygienic purposes. It’s thus not very invasive.

Decorating: Vajazzling

This is a bit more niche, since it involves the process of decorating your vagina by means of sequins and studs. This is not for everyone and it is basically just for aesthetic purposes.

Cutting: Labiaplasty

The most invasive vaginal tool of modification is of course the actual trimming of one’s labia. Vaginal labiaplasty is a growing trend. What is it exactly? The shortening of the labia, via plastic surgery.

Why do more and more women want a designer vagina?

Throughout history women have tried to improve or change their bodies in various ways, whilst experiencing great pain in order to fit into a particular society’s femininity norms, for example Chinese foot binding. Across various cultures and contexts, women spend a lot of money on ‘beautifying practices’, for example hair appointments, gym membership, expensive beauty products and now vaginal modification. According to feminist Davis (1991:25), the body is not inherently feminine; it is trained to become feminine, through various beauty regimes, cosmetic surgery, waxing, etc.

Gender theorist Kathryn Pauly Morgan (1991) argues that the ‘need’ for enhancing your body is a fabrication. Women are pressured to believe that they have ‘problem areas’, which they need to fix – like their pubic hair or their long labia – in order to be socially accepted.

Women feel that they are actively choosing to alter their bodies by means of  labiaplasty or Brazilian waxing. She argues that an ideal is created of what a woman ‘should look’ like when their bodies are moulded, manipulated and cut to appear ‘normal’.

As a result, the real and the fake real become conflated and the ‘fake real’ may even become desired, for example when men prefer fake breasts to ‘real’ ones. The new ‘real’, the cosmetically enhanced body, becomes an unattainable ideal for women who do not use such technologies. These women are consequently viewed as unreal or abnormal, whereas cosmetically enhanced lips, breasts and vaginas signify ‘real beauty’.

So do you want a ‘real’ or a ‘fake real’ vagina?

Is 'Lesbian Chic' now a trend?

I never really thought of one’s sexual orientation as being  trend-worthy- and I don’t think it should be. However, Style.com begs to differ. In a recent article on their site, they revealed this season’s hottest new trend, that is ‘Lesbian chic’.

Yes, because all lesbians dress alike, just like all straight people dress alike, right? Um not.

They are then basically stating that lesbians were recently ‘invented’, THAT’s why they’re now trending. In their article, they explore the growing ‘trend’ of ‘Lesbian chic’, brought on by ‘high-vis lady love’, seen about town. In other worlds more high-profile lesbian couples in the media.

Here’s a snippet from their article:

I think it’s ridiculous to call ‘Lesbian chic’ a trend. There are no such thing as ‘a lesbian way of dressing’. Of course, we have stereotypes, but these are JUST easy ways for us to generalize. There are no ‘straight chic’, or ‘homosexual way of dressing’. People are people, thus they are different and all have their own unique ways of being and dressing. Sure certain sub-groups might, at times, dress similarly; but you simply cannot generalize for an entire sexual orientation.

What do you think?