When I was in Dubai for training not long
ago, I was seated next to a guy that seemed like he ran out of smiles. I tried,
in every unobtrusive way, to strike the slightest conversation with him. But
then, I figured it was easier to talk to a cow. After three days displaying my
affability, I gave up and decided to pretend that I was sitting next to Nobody till
the course ended. So I relentlessly kept my sangfroid until the last week of
the course. That one morning, he handed me the attendance list as his lips
formed the perfect crescent revealing his orderly ivories. “Good morning! There
you go,” he said as I drowned in his baby-blue eyes. By the way, the fellow I
was sitting next to was also the cutest guy in class. And suddenly, Mr
Blue-Eyes was vindicated of all the hostility and the package of things that he
appeared to be. What happened to my immunity towards good-looks and staunch
belief of inner beauty? That moment, I was slapped with the cruel fact that I
have denied for so long. Good looks do matter.
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| A comely face is always inviting |
More than half of the managers surveyed in
the United States believed that unattractive candidates will have a harder time
getting hired compared to their beautiful counterparts of the same
qualification. [1] Well, good luck to those frumps, unless you run
into an employer like Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada. Even so, you
have to at least look like Anne Hathaway. When it comes to character
attributes, looks scored 7.1 on the scale of 10 compared to education which
only contributes 6.8 to a person’s character. [1] This could
seriously translate to splurging on facials instead of tuition fees. A survey
also said that 60% of men believed that women would benefit from wearing
clothes that shows off figure. [1] This I reckon as an
understatement. If only so many of them think so, why are motor show girls who
bare their legs paid twice as much as those who wear pants and those who bare
their shoulders, thrice? There is a wee part of us that despises fat people as
well. [1] Oh yes, even you with the BMI of 24. No matter how much
effort to promote oversized models, our predilection will spring right back to
models who feed on leaves. Fat is not fabulous. If it was, Miss Malaysia Andrea
Fonseka would not have changed the figure that already won her the title. Let
us not even go to wrinkles and dewlaps. Why are we not surprised when a lady
won’t tell her age?
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| Leg lengthening in China |
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| A display of vanity |
The importance of physical appearance has
escalated through times. Fifty years ago, women in China did not embrace what
seem to be the rudiments of womanhood today. Under the ruling of Mao Ze Dong,
Chinese women wore pants and were not allowed to wear makeup. [2] But
now, aesthetics is deemed divine because it brought them to new heights. Even
men are not spared. 43% of Americans from 6-9 years of age are already living
in the lipstick jungle. [2] People know that looks can make a
difference in their lives.
 |
| Why do cheerleaders appear more glamorous? |
It was difficult to admit that I succumbed
to a comely face, especially if I was the one calling people who judge on looks
shallow. But it is the truth that we find people with good physique inviting,
whether we like it or not. Ever wondered why your handsome colleague could make
more sales? Or why do frivolous cheerleaders appear to be more glamourous than
the noble librarians? They appear to have it all and we have no idea why! It is
also the reason to why some ridiculously debauched figures like Kim Kardashian
and Paris Hilton are still worshiped. All of us are innately fascinated with
the handsome and beautiful.
 |
| Beauty has been vital since the time of Nerfertiti |
To be vain is humane. It has been vital
since the time of Nefertiti. Appearance is the first resume submitted in a job
interview, the first etiquette on a date or the first cup of coffee in the
morning. It surely took more than elocution and aspiration for Obama to win the
election. Looking good, in whichever definition, impinges on our lives- not
that we need a Citibank employee to show us what that means. It is very unfortunate
to see so many people turning into slaves of obsession. It is not wrong to
expect more of what we see in the mirror every day but there is a fine line
that we should not cross. So prettify yourselves ladies and gentlemen, whether by
having a new facial ritual, a pair of Jimmy Choos or simply by a dash of
confidence. Look your best all the time because your inner beauty will be easier
to discover if outer beauty paved the way.
Beautifully yours,
Hooi E-Wen
23rd July 2010 for Javier Suarez
on Searex-9
*Muax*
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