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Bar Biaggio
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Mirror Mirror
How far would you go for beauty?
Helen of Troy had a face, they said, that launched a thousand ships. OK, so she was hot, but would two countries really go to war over one woman's exquisite beauty? We realise it's a fictional tale, but it begs the question - how far would we go for beauty?
Some believe being "beautiful" will make them happier, help snag them a partner, climb the career ladder, higher their social standing etc, etc. And there could be some truth to this theory. Psychological theorists call it "the halo effect" because of the perfection associated with angels. They found that attractive people really do have more success in the career stakes and relationship department than their less genetically blessed counterparts.
But what is considered beautiful? The Ancient Greeks were obsessed with symmetry. Plato wrote of so-called "golden proportions". And it turns out they were onto something. A symmetrical face has been proven by modern science to be inherently attractive to the human eye.
Aside from symmetry, in Mauritania, in northwest Africa, women who are, for want of a better word, fat, are desired more. The more stretch marks, the fatter the butts and kankles, the better. Instead of buying diet pills they buy pills that are used to fatten up camels and livestock.
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Whereas Brazil has the highest usage of diet pills in the world. Some women spend up to 50 per cent of their income on them and plastic surgery, even women who live in slum areas.
It seems you can't win. Every country and culture has their own ideal of beauty.
The Italians are renowned for thinking their women get better with age - just like a good wine. But our western culture is obsessed with youth and terrified of the ageing process and wrinkles.
Anti-wrinkle injections are rife in Hollywood, even if most stars won't admit to having them.
Actress, model and mum Jenny McCarthy, who has been dating Jim Carey since 2005, has admitted she uses the anti-wrinkle injections every two months along with routine microdermabrasion facials and detox cleanses.
"My tricks are I get [the injection] in my forehead - I just have my doctor do a little shot there. If you overdo, it looks bad", the 36-year-old said.
Pop goddess Kylie Minogue, Ugly Betty star Vanessa Williams and Friends actress Courtney Cox have all admitted to dabbling in it as well.
next page »
Helen of Troy had a face, they said, that launched a thousand ships. OK, so she was hot, but would two countries really go to war over one woman's exquisite beauty? We realise it's a fictional tale, but it begs the question - how far would we go for beauty?
Some believe being "beautiful" will make them happier, help snag them a partner, climb the career ladder, higher their social standing etc, etc. And there could be some truth to this theory. Psychological theorists call it "the halo effect" because of the perfection associated with angels. They found that attractive people really do have more success in the career stakes and relationship department than their less genetically blessed counterparts.
But what is considered beautiful? The Ancient Greeks were obsessed with symmetry. Plato wrote of so-called "golden proportions". And it turns out they were onto something. A symmetrical face has been proven by modern science to be inherently attractive to the human eye.
Aside from symmetry, in Mauritania, in northwest Africa, women who are, for want of a better word, fat, are desired more. The more stretch marks, the fatter the butts and kankles, the better. Instead of buying diet pills they buy pills that are used to fatten up camels and livestock.
read on below advertisement
Whereas Brazil has the highest usage of diet pills in the world. Some women spend up to 50 per cent of their income on them and plastic surgery, even women who live in slum areas.
It seems you can't win. Every country and culture has their own ideal of beauty.
The Italians are renowned for thinking their women get better with age - just like a good wine. But our western culture is obsessed with youth and terrified of the ageing process and wrinkles.
Anti-wrinkle injections are rife in Hollywood, even if most stars won't admit to having them.
Actress, model and mum Jenny McCarthy, who has been dating Jim Carey since 2005, has admitted she uses the anti-wrinkle injections every two months along with routine microdermabrasion facials and detox cleanses.
"My tricks are I get [the injection] in my forehead - I just have my doctor do a little shot there. If you overdo, it looks bad", the 36-year-old said.
Pop goddess Kylie Minogue, Ugly Betty star Vanessa Williams and Friends actress Courtney Cox have all admitted to dabbling in it as well.
next page »
