Bridget Jones has been redefining beauty for 11 years






Bridget Jones’s Diary was on the telly recently, to encourage women as much as it did 11 years ago. Renee Zellweger redefined beauty as Bridget was accepted by those around her exactly how she was. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be healthier. But this story was proof that size doesn’t define our identity or self-worth.  

Everyone in the developed world remembers those immense granny pants Bridget squeezed into in the hope of feeling pretty. We could feel her pain as she endured a modern-day version of the corset, called 'shape-wear.' Why did she do this? She had yet to realise she had gained a lot in life regardless of her appearance. Bridget had a decent job and later scored her dream job. Her loyal friends adored her. Bridget was actually doing pretty well. Yet she still felt the most important achievement in life is measured by dress sizes and kilos.   

What an iconic moment it was at the end of the film when Bridget ran out in the snow for Mark Darcy, not caring less about what everyone else thought of her. Chasing a life of peaceful love. She took a break from the glam life and threw on a cardigan and sneakers. It was time to say goodbye to that former self who had felt too embarrassed to wear a costume at a party. There she was at the end of the movie gaining exactly what she wanted in life: acceptance from herself and others. No more hiding away in a shell. Our liberated Bridget was at last a new person. Happy.Confident. Herself.  

Renee’s performance still has an impact for new generations.I was far too young for this message when it was first told. I was probably too young to watch it at all. 11 year old me didn’t care less about how I looked or how I spent my time. But Hollywood said exactly what 23 year old me still wants to hear – surround yourself with good people and don't get your self worth from things that don't matter.

Comments

Post a Comment

You are very welcome to post any friendly comments after blog posts. Both sides of all discussions are welcome. Keep it nice and constructive and join the conversation.

Popular posts from this blog

Subscribing to this blog by email

Image
Tweet This blog, What Mel Wants, has a very easy way for you to subscribe to posts by email. This box below simply requires the email address you want the posts to be sent to. It does not require any "sign up" at all. What Mel Wants will continue to be the most convenient possible format for readers. Here are some images of my demonstration on how to subscribe: Then a verification will appear. This is just to make sure you're not a computerised hacking program. It's very normal these days. The font is odd enough that a computer couldn't understand what the letters and numbers are. Just type the text into the bar. Easy! Then there are some easy instructions to follow. You just go to your email inbox and click on the link it gives you. The reason is simply so we know the email address is correct and we don't accidentally message someone else at the wrong address. After these steps, you're now successfully subscribed to the blog What M
Read more

Craving Community in a Digital World

Craving Community as a Millenial A real sense of community is needed more than ever. The digital world can coexist with face-to-face interactive community experiences. Local group events are needed for true connection with fellow human beings. Digital tech and social media can facilitate in-person communities. Digital and in-person experiences do not have to be an either-or. Social media is not in itself a bad thing. The way we use this technology can be helpful or harmful. The popularity of social media is clearly evident. It can either be seen as a threat or an opportunity. Facebook had " 1.18 billion daily active users on average for September 2016". Twitter claims to have 313 million monthly active users. Instagram recorded 600 million active users in December 2016, with an increase of 100 million in the 6 months prior. Social media is growing. It should be augmented with existing life, not contained as a world of its own. Digital environments and local
Read more

More at the Gold Coast than Theme Parks

Image
There is More to Explore at the Gold Coast than Theme Parks My husband and I booked our honeymoon months in advance. We wanted a nice long stay at the Gold Coast. I wanted more than rides at theme parks. After research and then experience, I can now share some attractions everyone should enjoy. I was never enthusiastic about theme parks, because extreme rides have always frightened me. I typically got through other theme park visits with one favoured activity - minding the bags. As friends whirled around on rides, I enjoyed opportunities to calmly sip a coffee and look at social media on my phone. Perhaps there are other ways to slow down and still have fun. So we chose to experience Queensland beyond what was already known. This was the goal. The result has been exciting experiences at amazing attractions. Here are some key attractions we have experienced so far. Skypoint Observation Deck We took an elevator all the way to the 77th floor. 60 degree windows provided clear
Read more