I may have come across the earliest attempt to beautify someone by gross manipulation. In 1989 the magazine TV Guide was doing a front page article on Oprah, then the possible richest woman on earth, now a demi-God in many people’s eyes. The illustrator based the cartoon on Ann-Margret Ollson’s body from a picture dating 1979. The details included the same dress and jewelery.
Oprah on the TV Guide cover
Ann-Margaret in 1979Like most magazines today, TV Guide didn’t even point out the cut-and-paste job until they were outed by the designer of Ann-Margret’s dress. The illustrator was told firmly not to copy photos so literally. Oprah’s publicist stated ““Oprah would not pose on a pile of money like that nor would she pose in that revealing a dress.” I don’t know what’s more depressing. The fact that they were doing this in 1989, so soon after the feminist movement, or the fact that this is common practice now.
I hate photoshopping out imperfections. It’s what makes us human, tells something of our character. Scars whisper stories of our past, even cellulite has a story. One of my favourite things about my love is the faint lines around his eyes when he smiles. I love finding out the story behind each scar. If I see someone who has frown wrinkles around their mouth or forehead, I stay way away from them cause experience tells me their grumpy motherfuckers.