Recently, in an interview with Vanity Fair, Ariana Grande addressed plastic surgery rumors. In the classic “Lie Detector Test” interview, Grande definitively answered questions about the work she had done on her face. The answers may have shocked viewers, especially those who have spent a lot of time on the pop culture side of social media. She claims to have only had Botox and fillers, but no major surgery.
Plastic surgery rumors are as old as Hollywood itself. Early film stars, like Marilyn Monroe, had plastic surgery rumors swirling around them. For the most part, this gossip was either in the tabloids or word-of-mouth. Nowadays, all you have to do is log online to TikTok or YouTube to find those plastic surgery rumors, and there is no shortage of them.
Rhyme Without Reason
As girls, it’s almost second nature to compare yourself to famous women. Glamorous supermodels and movie stars are everywhere in our culture. They are who we look to for guidance in terms of fashion, aesthetics, lifestyle and love. It’s common for us to want what we have, and unfortunately, that includes appearances. Not only are these people rich and famous, but they also appear flawless in every photo. It’s hard not to go to that place in our brains that makes comparisons. But how is this ever going to serve us?
Bella Hadid admitted in an interview with Vogue that she regrets having cosmetic surgery and wishes she hadn’t given in to the pressure. The reason these famous women feel compelled enough to get plastic surgery is usually because they want to avoid being ridiculed. In the case of supermodels, the way they look has a direct effect on their yearly income. Truly, it makes the most sense to get plastic surgery if somebody in the industry thinks you aren’t up to the standards. Then, and only then, do all the women of America want to follow suit. But is this really the cycle we want to be living in?
There is always going to be somebody more beautiful or talented. The comparisons we make are the reason that plastic surgery continues to be a staple in celebrity culture. Like it or not, we fall for that trap every time. The upward comparisons, envy and hatred are often what keeps the careers of these women going, such as the Kardashian family.
Comparison is the thief of joy. It is what drives us to hate ourselves. It drives us to want to do everything in our power to change what we don’t like. But if you really think about it, weren’t we all much happier as kids, when we didn’t care what we looked like and just had fun? Things might be easier for all of us if we return to that.
A Healthy Level of Vanity
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to feel beautiful. Everybody deserves that. In fact, there’s nothing inherently wrong with plastic surgery. It’s the toxic cycle of fixations on other people’s appearances that leads us not to feel beautiful at all. Maybe we should keep things simple instead.
Put on that cute outfit, apply your makeup, do that mirror check and then don’t think about it for the rest of the night. Leave your self-conscious thoughts behind and spend the night living in the moment with your friends.
Tweet us, @VALLEYmag, with your thoughts on plastic surgery!
