Are Bond Girls More Than Just Beautiful Babes?

 

The latest James Bond movie titled Skyfall was released in theaters this past weekend. The movie topped the weekend box office charts. Skyfall is the twenty-third film in the James Bond film series. The espionage action flick had the biggest debut compared to any other Bond film in the past. The star of this Bond installment is Daniel Craig. This was Craig's third time portraying James Bond. In this latest movie Bond is sticking to his heartthrob butt kicking image while juggling a martini in one hand and a sexy vixen in the other.  Which brings me to the purpose of this post "Bond girls." Since the beginning of the James Bond series there has been a dastardly dangerous dame that has caught the eye of agent 007. The coveted role of a Bond girl is one that can launch a female actress's career in Hollywood.  The names of some of these female characters have stirred a lot of talk with names such as Pussy Galore, Holly Goodhead and Plenty O'Toole. The double entendres have fueled the allure of being a Bond girl. Some of the most notable actresses to portray Bond girls include Halle Berry, Terri Hatcher, Eva Green, and Jane Seymour. In Skyfall actress Naomie Harris plays Bond's leading lady. Harris is a rather unknown actress from the UK. Harris plays Eve a M16 agent that is cunning and chic. Although she is the Bond girl in this film Eve is not just toting a gun around as an accessory, she is actually putting it to use as an agent. This makes Eve a powerful woman in the film. Unlike Bond girls in the past the character of Eve is curvaceous and cutthroat.  I think this portrayal is one that will attract many men and women to see the film. The idea that the lead female role can be more than eye candy is appealing and something to admire. Unlike Bond girls in the past the character name Eve does not stand for some dirty deed. The idea of naughty names seems to be one that has subsided in modern Bond films. Replaced with women who do more than roll around in the sheets with 007. I think James Bond films are forever going to be synonymous with the Bond girl, a premier role that is growing into more of a well rounded character(and I don't mean a well rounded backside)!

 

Polished to Politics

   The 19th amendment gave women the right to vote and we ladies haven't stopped there. We continue to climb the ladder trying more and more to reach new heights. With women like Sarah Palin, Hilary Clinton, Barbara Boxer and Dianna Feinstein working within our government we are making more moves to be stronger women. More independent from that of our gentlemen counterparts that have ran most of the government for the time being now. Working with the government and trying to better the US for all of us is not all these ladies of power are looked at for. Not only do these ladies have to have the brains they also have to have the looks. Without the look they are put under the harsh spotlight of the media monster.
   Hilary Clinton was once scrutinized for not having any makeup on. A reporter stated that she looked like a haggard old lady. Not once did the reporter mention anything about what she had taken part in the day before or if she had had some type of meeting. Just the simple fact that she hadn't done her hair and or makeup for the day. But the media has not only attacked Hilary it has questioned Sarah Palins smarts. Although she may come off as a ditz she has to have some kind of smarts since she did become the Mayor of Alaska.These are not the only questions that many women are asked just for being in politics many are asked about their body image as a whole. Its hard to find light at the end of the tunnel since we are so harsh on ourselves and others.
  Not only does this impact the idea of our women but it also makes it much harder for some girls to get into politics. The need to look well represented 24/7 is constant, there is no down time and the media has no mercy on those involved. I found this video that also goes into more detail about how the beauty industry impacts politics. Miss Representation is a film and a organization that speaks up on women and how directly the media looks at girls just for being a girl. This is something that we need to look into in more detail as it will and can harm the future of our women politicians.

From Plastic to Skin

Barbie has been a women's icon since 1959 when she was first introduced by Ruth Handler. Barbie Millicent Roberts job was that of a teen model, she had the classic hour glass figure and was either blonde or brunette. For a long time Barbie had no gray area and was known for this classic look. Now a days she's much more diverse but is her classic look what a perfect women should look like?

Some women have taken Barbie's look to a much bigger extreme. Valeria Lukyanova a Ukrainian internet star has really taken this look to the extreme. Throughout youtube there have been girls who want to be the "living doll" doing what they can in their powers to look just like the iconic Barbie. Valeria has been know as the "human Barbie", she had posed for V Magazine recently and her photo shoot is breathe taking. The photos are shocking to look through since she has everything down to almost a T.

There are others who have even taken to looking like Barbie like Sarah Burge who spent $500,000 just to get this look. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and this is a new extreme. Taking the look of a girls play doll into reality is outrageous and harming the idea of a natural beauty.

Skincare! The base of beauty!

                             

You can try to pack on all the foundation and concealer you want to cover up a break out or facial blemishes. However, rule number is always skincare, skincare, and more skincare!!! I've been known to commit major crimes in skincare by constantly falling asleep with makeup on or rubbing my under eyes a little too harshly because I didn't get enough sleep the night before. Although I have been blessed with basically clear skin, I know that my skin might not stay this way forever. So I have to strike while my skin is right and tight! In order to do this I went to WebMD's beauty site and took their Personal Skin Evaluator. The skin evaluator gives you a skin regimen for day and night. Now I know that I need to get more sleep and use toner. I never really had a particular skincare regimen expect using "Dove's Exfoliating Beauty Bar" on a daily basis. I know my friends definitely have their own beauty dos and don'ts. Glamour Magazine posted a insightful article that showcases the regimen of  Petra Guglielmetti  Glamour's beauty editor and encourages readers to post their own routines. Looking over the different routines can help you figure out your own, especially paired with the information you get from the WebMD skin evaluator. Figuring out your beauty routine is something that might take trial and error but once you find what works for your skin hold on to that for dear life. Your skin is your biggest organ and it's a temperamental one.  Don't forget that skincare does not have to be tedious it can also be fun! Mud masks are not just for the spa!

Hair Who Cares?

   In recent media the ever so popular Miley Cyrus under went a dramatic change from the popular Hannah Montana to a newer her. TMZ reported that she straight up CHOPPED THE WHOLE THING OFF. But why is this getting so much attention? Its only hair it does grow back. Many fans were fluster and upset with the actor for taking scissor to her locks up who's final decision is it? In the online article Miley's rite of passage the author talks about how this is a way for Miley to grow up and many teens do so. The author also compares it to that of Britney Spears even though its a much less dramatic transformation than that of which we received from Britney.

   From this video Miley on her new haircut we get to see her point of view. In which Miley herself is very happy with her new do. There has been nothing that has stopped her even living in the limelight of Hollywood. And I say do you Miley.

The Looking Glass

   Age is a bigger factor than any of us would ever believe. Dove the women's deodorant has created a video that draws attention to what the media is placing inside of our young girls minds. This video is so powerful as it shows nothing but women dancing provoculativly, underwear ads, face products and even weight loss pills through the eyes of a child who is probably no more than seven years of age. Throughout the video it even shows us exactly how fast pace the media is throwing the images at girls. Ever corner that girl turn there's some other kind of magic potion there to help get rid of those stubborn wrinkles or even the dark circles below your eyes. Or even a magic pill that is going to take away that stubborn weight around her waist. How does this help us in any way? It doesn't it harms as more and more girls believe that they should be just like the model in the ad of a magazine or on the runway. What's even worse is at the end of the video the solutions that are viewed are plastic surgery. The video shows women going to get pieces of them taken out, lifted and no where does it say that its ok to be just the way you are. The phrase at the end of the video "talk to your daughter before the beauty industry does" is so powerful. It creates a huge negative view of a women as she grows up into this world.
   A new book that I have come across is Cinderella Ate My Daughter which speaks about the "princess" era that many girls now a days grow into. The fact that they need to be pretty, have a prince sweep them off their feet and how much of an impact this can have on girls. The thing I like about this book is that the author doesn't show a negative light on princesses but wants us all to pay attention to how it makes a mark on girls. How it can make a positive influence on them, the certain ideas that come along with being a princess. The book goes into the Disney princesses in much more detail and how they all do certain things for a girl of this age. But bigger than that the image of a "princess" that is brought into their minds. With the combination of princesses and the beauty industry where do we draw a line. What is good and what should we place a negative light on? The beauty industry has no age limit and is attacking girls at a much younger age by placing images as soon as they can to get them to feed into THEIR idea of beauty.

The Gaga Craze:

Is Weight Really an Issue?

All throughout the media there has been Lady Gaga. In the past she was praised for her thin "in shape" body; Now she is being criticized for being "over-weight". Lady Gaga has only gained 25 pounds and as she is making a stance, you can be beautiful in any shape. In her website Little Monsters she talks about how she had been anorexic and bulimic for years, and is finally being real with herself, as all other women should. This is further explained in the video that just aired only a few days ago on GMA.  

So why is the media and websites such as Heat World giving Gaga a difficult time, and focusing more on her than the singer Adele which is on the heaver side as well. The answer as some would say is change. People are not used to change, according to the media the norm is thin, therefore thick should be bashed. Well I say, you go Gaga and stay true to yourself.