"I'm A Barbie Girl..." 3/1/2014

While looking up the latest topics in the news, I seen an article dedicated to a "life-size Barbie" who is (according to the article) using her image to "promote spiritual ideas" (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/28/breatharian-barbie-valeria-lukyanova_n_4873706.html). Her goal, as addressed in the article, is to live solely off of air and water. After reading (let alone seeing) this article and knowing that it was considered relevant enough to receive global attention, I sat at my laptop and just stared at the screen. Her image and the title she'd given herself and had been given to her by society, didn't shock me; the idea that it is apart of the news did. I tried to figure out why it made the news: because of the practice the woman is partaking in? Because it's bizarre? To demonstrate how the ideal image continues to affect people-mainly women in places all over the world? After deciphering if I even believed this young lady existed, I clicked on her pictures in the article and reread the article again.

One of the major things that stood out that'd I'd overlooked the first time I read the article was that she is a model (where weight and image are a pretty big deal). The information I retrieved from the Internet about the young woman pertained to her modeling and, of course, being acknowledged as the "life-size Barbie". One of my initial ideas for the media covering this woman was to inform readers that something like "breatharianism" was practiced, but the idea that something about her image was the reason for coverage towered over information on breatharians. The awe of her image sparks interest but the idea that becoming or transforming into the well-known and (still) admired plastic Barbie doll could be the main reason for granting this woman a spot in the news. We "ooh" and "ahh" and "ewww" at her appearance, but it IS an eye-catcher. The article and this woman attracts viewers because of what she looks like. Because of possibility.

BUT, really, did you even consider the reason for coverage? Could the coverage over this woman exist to symbolize that the ability to be like Barbie is possible? Is it a form of advertisement screaming "Would you kill for Barbie? Want her perfect figure, hair, bust, and (slightly) less than completely flat rear with a slim waist? Wait no more! You, too, can be like Barbie!" Could breatharianism and this woman's "special diet" become more popular in other locations because of the possibility of the "Barbie figure" rather than its relation to religious or cultural practices? It's possible...because we are all still battling with the ideal image for women in certain regions where the "thinner" woman is accepted...but I haven't heard too much about Barbie since other figures are receiving admiration now. Ideas? Opinions? Reactions? Just random thought sharing...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/28/breatharian-barbie-valeria-lukyanova_n_4873706.html

http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/breatharian.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTyw8nJWNjQ

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/life-size-barbies-shocking-dimensions-photo-would-she-be-anorexic/

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With Realness,

Bee Elae
3/1/2014