Over the past year, we at That Grape Juice have turned to the readers for their thoughts on the roles age, race, and even sexuality play in one’s success in the music industry. Now, let’s weigh in on a heavier topic – weight.
Our culture is collectively becoming more stylized, making substance a thing of the past. As image drives the culture, often filling media with airbrushed or digitally altered representations of “beautiful”, the standard of beauty has never been more sought. An anomaly indeed given that statistics have proven most of the people subscribing to those very standards oft do not meet them.
So, what’s the big deal?
Despite acts like Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, and other women of color learning to and/or encouraging their impressionable partisans to embrace their curves (even popularizing the “rotunde bun”), their achievements have not been enough to prevent even some of Hollywood’s most beautiful from combatting namecalls about weight (Mariah Carey, Tyra Banks, Lady Gaga, etc.).
And, while acts like Kelly Price, Jill Scott, Raven Symone, Queen Latifah, Mo’Nique, and Jennifer Hudson all at one time professed “love of self” during the height of their heaviness(es), all of them have lost weight (some by questionable means) and succumbed to the pressures of the beauty standard.
Then, as history has shown Janet Jackson to be the posterchild for “yo-yoing”, now there’s Christina Aguilera. Indeed, after a year of seeing Adele have the biggest year of any solo artist since most can remember, it’s Xtina who has come under fire for trading her once envied thin figure for a fuller physique. Such has been greeted with ridicule by some and even cries from fans for change given the ‘Dirrty’ diva’s decision to oft-don outfits that some argue are not befitting of a plus sized pop princess. Some even blame the weight gain as cause of failure of her latest album ‘Lotus’.
Again, what’s the big deal? For, many cited Adele’s massive success as a sign of change, but she is indeed only one. So, we want to know:
Does weight play a role in one’s success (or lack thereof)?
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Are men held to that same standard?
Your thoughts?