We need to C.H.A.T.

There you are, standing at the checkout counter at your local grocery store. You're waiting patiently for the person in front of you to finish their loot while you discretely glance at the cover of this weeks issue of People Magazine. Staring you square in the face, the eye-catching cover looks something like this:

'Wow. 'Is your first thought.

You think to yourself about how you wish you were skinny. I mean, comparatively, you most likely aren't as thin as Kate Bosworth in that picture and there's no way you could ever pull of the ribcage-baring bikini like Nicole. So, You pick it up to read just a little about how they stay so thin. All this attention and hype on how thin they are. You're quickly reading through the pages as you hear the beeps of the scanner and the bagger asking, "Paper or Plastic, Ma'am"
"Paper, please.", you say.

You know your time's running out quickly and not having enough time to read "all the craze about their skinniness" you slap that magazine down on the grocery belt and purchase it. You just have to finish reading about how skinny they are, the who's, the how's, the why's. You see the register screen read $3.99 as the clerk scans the magazine. Sheesh, $3.99?
After unloading your groceries at home, you start reading through the pages while flashed with images of skinny models baring almost everything, yet looking magnificently perfect, flawless skin on both male and female celebrities and, oh yes, the every-other-page ads telling you about how you need to purchase 'this item' or 'that item' to "look like the celebrities". Looking at the cover again you think, "How do they always look so perfect?"

Well, what if I told you I know their secret?

I know you've heard of it before: PHOTOSHOP

SIDE NOTE: Before we continue to view cases in which photoshop has been used, please understand that I believe on the photographer's stance, he/she uses it as a tool to perfect a work of art. It is when it is used irresponsibly (ie: make someone look desperately skinnier than they really are to cause buzz, make them bigger, etc.) that you need to understand that what you see is NOT REAL.

Image #1. : The picture on the right side is the original. The one on the left has been photoshopped.

If you ask me, I personally think she is strikingly beautiful in her original picture. She looks real, fresh and I think her freckles suit her.

Image #2. : The image on the Right is the original. The image on the left has been photoshopped.

This was from a J.Crew ad featuring their bathing suits. No, model's thighs are not as skinny as they appear to be in the catalogs. truly, she looks just perfect in the picture on the right. Do you see anything wrong with it? Nope. Neither do I.

Image #3. : The image on the right is the original photo. The image on the left has been photoshopped.

When a model or actor/actress goes in for a photo shoot, they have their own personal make up artist to accompany them in their preparations. Makeup is a wonderful tool I feel every girl should have a chance to try and experiment with. Tara Starling, the makeup artist for all three High School Musicals, the Fastest Indian, Saints and Soldiers and one of my dearest friends said it perfectly when she said,

"So many women see makeup as something to ‘fix’ what is wrong with them, but this view enslaves us to the false belief that we are somehow defective. We are not. We are each inherently beautiful, and when we see makeup as a tool to celebrate that beauty, it then becomes an empowering form of healthy self-expression...We ARE beauty! The rest is just having fun with great products and exploring all the facets of our individuality.”

Makeup is a wonderful addition to help perfect and hide blemishes, but even on some celebrities and models, the best techniques out there won't hide uneven skin.

Image #4.: The image on the right is the original photo. the image on the left has been photoshopped.

Two different magazines and, surprisingly, two different Beyonce's.

Image #5. : The image on the right is the original photo. The image on the left has been photoshopped.

Really, he is a handsome guy! But, just remember, even your favorite male celebrities can be photoshopped to look perfect.

***Personally, I don't mind when a person has been photoshopped to smooth out skin or to remove a scar, etc. I DO mind when their hips have been distorted to a size that isn't even possible for their own body. ***

Image #6. : The image on the RIGHT has been photoshopped. The image on the LEFT is the original.

Even candid shots from red-carpet events have been tampered with. She's beautiful though.

Image #7. : The image on the right is the original photo. The image on the left has been photoshopped.

I think she's a pretty girl. I like to see a little shine on a models face, don't you? It reminds me she's human!

Image #8. : Well, I'm pretty sure about 99% of all the women in America have looked through a Victoria's Secret catalog envying their ever-so-perfect bodies. Yes, yes, even I have fallen victim to the thoughts of how to get my body to look THAT amazing. But now, my only thought is, " If they could photoshop an actual human out of this picture, cellulite-reduction must be an even easier task!"

If all these images you see are mostly photoshopped, don't you think, for reaction's sake, it's possible the magazines and catalogs could photoshop a model or celebrity to look TOO skinny to where their head is bigger than their hips? :

Or maybe they decide to make someone look TOO fat?

Magazine's and catalogs will continue to make-over models and celebrities to perfection, or, unfortunately, to buzz-worthy imperfection.

Looks like the only model you can compare yourself to is the one you see in the mirror every day.

Caution: Objects in mirror are better than they appear.

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Your new C.H.A.T.-worthy Role Model is...

Aubri Lyn LeBaron

nominated by

her younger sister

Ashley LeBaron

Ashley wrote in enthusiastically(!!) about how C.H.A.T.-worthy her sister is. Here's what she had to say:

" I would like to nominate my big sister Aubri Lyn LeBaron. Aubri is 18 and she is currently a senior at American Fork High School, and she just got accepted to BYU. Something unique about Aubri is that she has a twin sister, Amber. Aubri is one of my heroes because of her goodness, her integrity, and her hard work.

Aubri is suCh an amazing person and a great example to others. She is the student body vice-president at AF High, and sHe uses that leadership opportunity to help those Around her.
She is great at Reaching out to the kids that maybe don't get a lot of attention and love, and she makes them feel Important and included. One of Aubri's greatest characteristics is her funny personality. It's very hard to be in a bad mood when Aubri is around because she radiaTes self-confidence, happiness, and a love of life. If I am feeling down or doubting mYself, Aubri will crack a joke that makes me smile, cheering me up and helping me feel better.

When Aubri was 5, she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Although this has been a Huge trial in her life, she has seen it as a growing Experience and even an opportunity to better herself. It is not easy to stay physically fit with Diabetes, but Aubri is one of the healthiest people I know. Her determination to eat heaLthy and exercise has always made me want to be healthy too. Aubri is involved in many sports, including being on the high school swim Team and previously being a star basketball and soccer player. Aubri also suffered from shin splints for over a year, making it so she couldn't run (one of her main sources of exercise) and most of the time it Hurt her just to walk. Amazingly, Aubri kept optimistic and determined the whole way, even though she was often in pain.

As for appearance, Aubri is one of the cutest girls I know. Her smile is one of the best things about her appearance! She is naturally beautiful. She has an excellent sense of style, and she knows how to enhance her beautiful features. Aubri is a model for Diviine ModesTee and Kim Boldt Photography. Aubri was a member of PROM Royalty 2009, her junior year.

Aubri has many talents. I would say that her biggest Talent is making others feel good about themselves and making them feel special. Aubri is also a 4.0 student and isn't afraid to challenge herself by taking hard classes like AP Latin, AP College Writing, and BC Calculus. Aubri went on an internship this summer with her twin, Amber, to GenEva, Switzerland to work with the Worldwide Organization for Women (WOW), affiliated with the United Nations. Some of her work as an intern included interviewing refugee womeN and women leaders. Aubri does well at anything that she wants to do and sets her mind to. Her talents include: modeling, singing, drawing, phoTography, tutoring, sports, writing, and being a leader. People look up to Aubri as a leader and her excellent example is followed by those around her. "

________________________________________________________

I am VERY impressed with our first C.H.A.T.-worthy nominee. She clearly exemplifies the characteristics of a beautiful, confident, loving and successfull individual. I was so touched by Ashley's e-mail!

Aubri, I hope you get a chance to read this and see that you are definitely C.H.A.T-worthy!

Continue sending your nominations to: mrs.tighgunderson@gmail.com

with the subject line as: C.H.A.T. Nomination



Have a great day everyone!

Love,

Jacqueline



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Nominations for C.H.A.T.-worthy Role Models!

I have an amazing older sister. She's quite genius, actually. She gave me a wonderful idea. I want to spotlight a person that is C.H.A.T.-worthy.

This person will be nominated by YOU!

Think back to a time when you were struggling with something. Did someone pop into your mind that made you think, "How would he/she handle this situation?" Do they possess the C.H.A.T. characteristics worthy of praise?
Send me your nominations!

I will feature these nominations one at a time. We'll C.H.A.T. about their individuality, C.H.A.T. characteristics, etc.

HOW TO NOMINATE SOMEONE:

1.E-mail subject line should read: C.H.A.T. Nomination
2.Include a brief description about that person, your relation to them, etc.
3.Describe how that person incorporates the characteristics of C.H.A.T. (Charity, Health, Appearance, Talent)
5.A picture if you are able to do so! Please do your best to send a pic!
6.E-mail your nomination to me by Sunday evenings to mrs.tighgunderson@gmail.com and every Monday morning, we will feature our C.H.A.T.-worthy role model!

Please do not feel you are only allowed to e-mail one nomination. There are so many people worthy of praise! Just be sure that each nomination is in it's own e-mail!

Boys, don't be shy! I know you have some wonderful men and women in your life as well. Let me do the talkin' for ya :)

So, get started! Look through your facebook friends, co-workers, family members, etc. and find a C.H.A.T.-worthy role model!

Please share this with your family and friends and help us SMASH the media's perception of beauty.

It's time to put the real beauties in the spotlight!

I've decided

I've decided this will be my platform for Mrs. Utah United States 2010.
C.H.A.T. is an acronym for Charity, Health, Appearance and Talents. The goal is to unmask the media's bag of tricks. Women and girls of all ages are constantly bombarded with images of a false product, ads featuring "Lose 20 lbs FAST", or "be wrinkle-free in a week". They see something that just simply ISN'T. This misunderstanding of media "tricks" leads to depression, feelings of inadequacy, eating disorders, etc. We as women can realize that what we see in catalogs and magazine's is simply a photoshopped product, not a person. But then what? Where do we go from there? How DO we become beautiful and confident? That is what this campaign is about.

I'm a firm believer in true beauty. Please understand that just because someone might have plastic surgery, false eyelashes, bleached hair, a tan ,etc. does not exclude them from the true beauty category. On the flip side, just because one chooses to not be the trendiest or most outgoing does not exclude them from the true beauty category either.

This is dedicated to 4 important factors that each person, male or female, highlights or no highlights, acne or tan can incorporate to reach their own, individual, beautiful potential.


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