“There is
more to sex appeal than just measurements. I don't need a bedroom to prove my
womanliness. I can convey just as much sex appeal, picking apples off a tree or
standing in the rain.” - Audrey
Hepburn
The eyes are
sexy...and welcoming. The poses are sexier – the toned bodies laid bare with scanty
clothing draped artistically over the delicate parts. They are now the goddesses
of the modern world, kicking Aphrodite from her throne.
Out of the foam,
a new sport is born, and every year, the men and women of the land flock to
vote who among these goddesses deserve a seat in the man-made Olympus of Top
100 Sexiest in the World.
I assume, that
for many women, there is a time in at least once in our lives when we have
dreamed (or somewhat imagined) ourselves to be in the cover of these men’s magazines.
Just look over our photos in Facebook and I bet there will be some attempts (albeit
with more clothes on) to channel a bit of sexiness.
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| My friends and I are not aiming for a men's mag pose - more actually of Tyra's ANTM. Results = scary. |
We all have the
right and freedom to pose with a bit of sass, much as these models have the right and freedom
to pose sexy too. Personally, I see nothing wrong in posing, photographing,
drawing or showing sexy (or sometimes even nude) for the sake of art. If
sexiness or nudeness is itself a sin, then many masterpieces from the classical
period until now would be fit to be consumed in flames.
Art is art and
it is more beautiful when it is free and unrestricted, especially from the
constrictions of narrow and dirty minds. In that aspect, I am the first one to
say that we need to give artists and their muses their due respect.
But, what makes
me sad and uncomfortable is when that same art – which is supposed to liberate
men and women’s ideas and imaginations, is subconsciously used to put shackles
to women.
This happens
when young actresses, in the hope of salvaging their careers, make a last ditch
attempt to pose sexy for a men’s magazine, or even tabloids. Never mind that
they will mostly be remembered for their bodies, the noise they make and the chance for name recall are incentives enough to take the plunge – or rather, to wear
that plunging neckline or none at all.
Some may have
succeeded that way, and would have credited that to their ability to reinvent
themselves. I am not in any position to judge to them; just that it is a blow to
women’s right when some of our kind are forced to use their bodies in lieu of their
talents just to land a break, even if done with their consents.
Looking from the
outside, the power to turn heads and raise temperatures is very seductive
indeed. But looking closely, all the glitz and glamour will fade when you
realize that your self-worth relies on horny young teens and lusty old men who
are merely using your pictures to satisfy their pleasures. When the next
edition featuring a new hot cover arrives, you and your self-worth will just be
thrown into a corner together with all the other used “has-beens.”
At the bottom of
my heart, I believe that all women are sexy – not in the superficial way the world defines it. Sexy for me is more than a fabulous body – but it is about
having a beautiful mind and soul. Sexy for me is being smart, kind, loving, passionate
about life, and making use of our talents to bless the world.
We spread that sexiness
when we help other women realize that true freedom comes from being ourselves
and not in becoming someone we are not.
Instead of
pretending to cover my breasts in a men’s magazine, I would rather extend that
hand, with all my clothes on, to support another woman to dream bigger dreams and
achieve those aspirations.
That, for me, is
real sexiness bared naked.
Labels: Musings and Opinions
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