also notice that the list contains a handful of white, perhaps russian, and european looking latinas. that's one of the things that always stands out to me in these lists - they think it's okay to call it the "world" list as long as it includes giselle.

now i have heard indian actress aishwariya rai being proclaimed "the most beautiful woman" in the world, which in addition to not making any sense like the rest of these contests, is also racist because she looks european.

i think these lists are just another way for guys to ogle over women and sell magazines with no real stories.

How many men do you think are checking out People and E! ?

I think in part people buy these issues, especially women, because they are taught that beauty is of very high value and something that they need to strive for. Not just beauty, actually, but perfection of a level that they can never achieve. However, they are also taught that if they workout hard enough, diet enough, read enough beauty tips and buy the right products they can come close. Therefore, with that message ingrained in them, they purchase these magazines to look at "the best of the best" in hopes that they can learn something to make themselves more beautiful (in the very least to get an even clearer idea of what they should be striving for). In a way it is like the little girls who buy the prettiest Barbie, and now, the sexiest Bratt doll. It is not just a desire to own something they see as having value because it is pretty, but an effort to somehow incorporate it into who they are and pretend to be it. I also believe another part of the appeal is due to curiosity that many have about people whom are deemed in some way "superior". Americans watch a ton of shows about celebrities due to this and a desire to live vicariously. Personally, these magazines really annoy the crap out of me because true "sexy" is something so diverse and individualistic and even if it wasn't I hardly see who made People and E the arbitrators of what is sexy. Also, I wanted to point out that the actresses on the list have all modeled with the possible exception of Arcuri (whom I am not familiar with). I only mention this because I would love to see more "regular" looking actresses and actors. For me, it adds to the believability of the story. One other point, straight men may not be purchasing E! or People, but these stories get enough television and internet news coverage that men get the message of who is "sexy" this year which in turn gains positive publicity for the women on the list which adds to their popularity and helps to sell both their persona and whatever products and companies they represent.

I was talking about photoshop at work with one of the guys I work with. We agreed that using photoshop to get rid of "imperfections" models have is one of the dumbest ideas the industry ever had. I agree that it's stupid to think that it's only possible for famous people to be the sexiest out of everyone in the world. Also, sexiest according to who? I was never asked who I think is sexy. I personally think Angelina Jolie's lips are huge and her face is weird looking.

However, as someone who was born with a model figure, I must say that I'm tired of the term "real women." I am tall, thin, and have average sized breasts for my weight. And despite the fact that models with this body are seen as perfect, I feel horrible about my body. Why? Because of people who claim that a body like mine is "unnatural," "gross," and "like a holocaust victim." I understand that bigger women are underrepresented, but I am so tired of this backlash against skinny. Skinny is a body type, believe it or not, and as feminists, we should be accepting of ALL body types, not just ones that don't conform to the model stereotype.

I think the key is where you said that articles like these don't do anybody any good. You are wrong. They do good for the people who sell the magazines, and all the people they employ. And since people continue buying them, that's all that matters. When society as a whole starts thinking the way you do, then these articles will disappear. Things like this are just a reflection of consumers. If there wasn't a market, they wouldn't be out there.

Oh I know, I was just being a little glib. I agree that everything about the whole culture that promotes single standards of beauty is confusing to me. I think it's another thing that is at its core the fault of men and their insecurity.

A quick glance at the internet is proof that there for any type of person at all, there are people who find that highly attractive. But even if a guy prefers a full figured woman, he's not going to admit it in front of his friends because of some fear of being judged. Same for anything that isn't just mainstream attractive. So even though everyone would be happier, insecurity drives men to overcompensate by deriding any appearance that doesn't conform to the mainstream standards. That just convinces women in general that men only find one thing attractive, and that creates a whole market that just perpetuates that standard among men and continues to convince women that they have to conform in order to be attractive at all.

I think a lot of problems would be solved if men were just willing to accept other men being attracted to whatever they want. I guess it's the same story for homophobia.