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Reality check.

One sees a lot of hoolaa over celebrities; commentaries on how they look on various websites, tabloids and fashion magazines and even, unfortunately, on your Facebook home page when your contacts comment on how 'ugly' celebrities look without makeup. The fashion and film industry runs on such interest and their trade demands such a fixation on physical appearances. But if we were to start believing that that is how one should normally look then that would truly be sad. Lets face it, faces aren't supposed to shine, as in, glitter and shine. It is achieved by products and by the sweep of a magical wand called Photoshop.

I am prompted to write today because I saw this very pretty natural picture of Meera, our very own homegrown Pakistani film actress, known more for her off screen adventures than her onscreen performances, sans the make up, but looking pretty, nonetheless. There were two kinds of comments under her picture, one, bashing her for not looking simply perfect and how she had been caught red handed looking 'ugly'. There was shock that she looked the way she did! The other set of comments criticized the photographer for putting up a picture of her in her less than perfect state and for breaching some kind of confidentiality pact (Who has ever heard of that?!)!  But there was no one who noticed that she looked real. If I were to hazard a guess, she would be in her mid forties and for her to look so good is a miracle especially with the harsh, strong lighting, daily use of strong products and busy lifestyle that actresses have to lead.

Where are we going with this is the bigger question? We might not realize this but the ever expanding cosmetic counters on the ground floor of departmental stores are a red flag. We might be sitting in our homes fooling ourselves that it doesn't concern us but if they are putting money into making those products, they are also putting their money into finding ways to make us buy that stuff. It starts with making us hate our pigmentation, our wrinkles, fine lines and open pores (I have even started using their language). These are not wrinkles and fine lines, are they, they are our experiences, our wisdom marks. They tell a story about the kind of life we have led. They are markers of our experiences. The pigmentation shows our commitment to making a life, of our travels and our adventures. Do we hate this? Are we supposed to hide it or change it? I think we need to protest against such definitions and try to be more real!

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