This is taken from a blog post I did for my WW blog. Yes I may be recycling but it still unnerves me.
I was originally looking for some comical picture for my main blog photo when I came across some articles regarding a new and improved version of Minnie Mouse.
5ft 11 and size 0. Minnie Mouse 2.0.
Or so they assumed to be new and improved.
Last year, the famous Department Store in New York, Barneys, collaborated with Disney for their Holiday Window Display 2012.
Minnie Mouse, along with Daisy and Goofy were all dolled up, put on strict diets, and given a heavy dose of what was perceived to be 'fashion forward sex appeal'. Does this look appealing to you??
Silly question I know considering it is a cartoon character. But a cartooon character loved by millions worldwide, from all ages and genders. To some this may be seen as a 'cute' idea to have a childhood icon combine with designer coutoure but all I can see (and the pages of reviews/blogs/comments left by others throughout Google) is the fun and sweet nature of our beloved Disney characters destroyed by a fashion world deeming them too short or too fat.
Barney's creative director stated that:
"The standard Minnie Mouse will not look so good in a Lanvin dress.... If we're going to make this work, we have to have a 5 foot 11 Minnie."
Firstly, and I think most importantly, she is a MOUSE! She has been a long term relationship, with the same partner for what, 100 years? I don't think Mickey will disprove if she 'lets it go abit'. Secondly, she is a fictional children's character who brings happiness and joy to millions around the globe, more so of which probably can't and would never want to afford a 'Lanvin' dress.
Why did noone think that this tight fitting, way overpriced, profit guzzeling dress was what needed altering? Why it did have to decided that Minnie was the one needing this 'makeover' therefore modifying her world famous figure?
In my opinion, as with most designer produce, it isn't the model (in this instance a fictional mouse) that is the problem; it is in fact the item in question that would only look remotely decent on a 5ft 11, size 0 woman.
Of course, this may be a concern to some that I am being slightly biased (considering my Blog Title & any future posts regarding all things Disney) and it may be that I have taken this way out of context. But I am not the only one.
Considering the fact I have been a larger lady in the more recent past, and spending many years envious of anyone who could walk into a shop and wear any belt, sorry, dress, that they desire does not mean I have a biased opinion. Just check out all the links on Google for yourself.
There is nothing wrong with very, very thin bodies. I personally do not see the attraction with skin and bone, and seeing girls walk down the street with legs that could snap at the drop of a hat, is not attractive in the slightest. However each to their own.
What I do think is incredibly wrong, is when someone feels that they need to change a beloved children's character for it to look good in coutoure, especially in a dress that quite frankly wouldn't look good on the majority of society!
Growing up with
my own body problems, my own issues, dealing with it in ways I would never wish
upon anybody, and finally succumbing and trying to do something about it (for
myself, not because Minnie has) at the age of 22 was one thing. But now,
surrounded by celebrities, media, body ‘right’ images, is hard enough for young
children, especially girls. It causes enough pressure on young minds alone but
now that the Disney mouse everyone loves has been added, the message is ever
more present: I will never be thin enough.
Girls and boys
together do not need yet another ‘pop culture’ figure that is tall and
ridiculously thin as a target, they have enough.
Actually WE
have enough.
I may not be a
13 year old girl anymore but I still have enough insecurities and doubts about
my own body and how others perceive me. And I am 24.
I still have my
full on hate for my own reflection, mirrors and cameras.
I too have
enough everytime I open the page to the latest celeb filled magazine.
I am 24.
Give children
(and adults alike) a chance to celebrate their own bodies, allow them to grow
up and love themselves for who they are, that they don’t need to change for
anybody else, they don’t need to hate their bodies to fit into the media’s
perception of the ‘norm’.
Dove did it,
with ‘normal’ models, Weight Watchers & Slimming World use normal people (Gregg
Wallace & Patsky Kensit included) and all the other weight loss programmes
are using REAL people to advertise with, so why do Designers/Media now feel
they need to move onto destroying beloved childhood characters?
Surely the message
should read: nobody should ever make you feel like you have to change. Ever.