These photos of Susan Boyle rocking a cute little dress and a hip leather jacket will no doubt have some folks crying "blashphemy!" Ever since the Britain’s Got Talent video of the frumpy, bushy-eyebrowed, never-been-kissed Boyle singing angelically first hit the Web a week and a half ago, many among the sobbing masses have lamented an inevitable post-stardom makeover. Few will blame the sweet Scottish songbird herself but will instead blame a ruthless, unfair entertainment industry that forced a woman with a hidden inner beauty to succumb to a plastic, cookie-cutter standard of external beauty.
That’s bull. Who among us wouldn’t take advantage of first-rate stylists and wardrobe options if given the chance? If she goes crazy with it, as some rumors say she might, and winds up leaving a plastic surgeon’s office looking like Joan Rivers, that would be a shame. And frankly, this photo does have me concerned she will try to shoehorn herself into a "hip and young" look that doesn’t suit her. But overall, it’s the most logical thing in the world for Boyle to decide to spruce herself up a bit now that her image is constantly being shown on TV — not to mention every computer on the planet earth. Does it have to be "pressure from media" that makes a person want to wear fashionable clothes, or even (God forbid) choose to groom their eyebrows or whatever else this woman will decide she wants to do? We should give Boyle — and frankly, show biz — a break. The desire to make changes to one’s appearance, even if dictated by society’s standard of beauty, and feel like you look your best is the most natural thing in the world. We all live in that society, after all, and it’s unfair to expect someone to be so secure that they don’t derive some sense of self-esteem from how they see themselves in it. If our interest is in Boyle’s inner beauty, then it shouldn’t matter what she does to her appearance anyway.
So, PopWatchers, are you disappointed to see the makeover beginning, or are you happy to see her taking advantage of the help now available to her? If she does decide to make herself over, is it because of an unfair pressure from show biz? Should any of it matter, seeing as we’re talking, first and foremost, about a singer?
More on Susan Boyle:
Susan Boyle: 14 Candid Photos
Why can’t America have ‘Britain’s Got Talent’?
Music Mix: Susan Boyle: America, what’s your problem?
Ken Tucker: Here’s Susan Boyle’s competition… and he’s 12 year-old Shaheen Jafargholi
Piers Morgan on Susan Boyle: ‘She can do whatever she wants now’
‘Britain’s Got Talent’ breakout Susan Boyle: Why we watch…and weep
Susan Boyle: What’s the big deal?
Susan Boyle on CBS ‘Early Show’: Watch talent triumph over show-biz again this morning
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Susan Boyle’s ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ audition gives Simon his second spontaneous ‘O’ of the week
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The Frump is dead.
Long live the Frump!
Makeover is not a flattering word; it implies you aren’t good enough as you are. Any ideas or suggestions presented to Ms. Boyle should be aimed at enhancing her existing features, not to try to make her into someone else; and the decision as to whether or not to take them should be entirely her own. I wish her every happiness.
It’s just a jacket!! GEEZ!
If she didn’t get “made over” somewhat, since she does have access to stylists, etc., she would start getting criticized for staying frumpy. It’s a no-win situation for her.
Maybe she saw the choir singing in All The Small Things on BBC TV last night and thought, ooh, they look good in leather jackets, or maybe she already had a leather jacket she could put on? If she wants to spruce herself up for the cameras, there’s nothing wrong with that. And how do you know she hasn’t worn the jacket before? Has she said it’s new?
There’s a reason she’s never been kissed. Now she has the chance to change her appearance and can, hopefully, change that fact.
Susan is beautiful! If I were her, I would go for the beauty makeover, just for fun! I’m a girl and I think it is a lot of fun to do girly things…. If Susan feels like doing a make-over or update, or whatever she would like to see it as, that’s her perogitive. She will still have an amazing voice. It’s what she wants. I think she is prepared to follow her heart on this. The inner beauty will always remain. I believe it is a part of who she is and will stay that way, with modern looks or basic everyday attire….
Bring it on!
There is nothing wrong with trying to look better. She doesn’t have to look like Joan Rivers. I’m talking about looking better for camera angles & etc.. It’s all good http://www.SusanBoyleFanClub.com
More power to her….people who say they would not avail themselves of FREE help are not telling the truth. I would be first in line…
We’re all laboring over the false assumption that we actually “know” Susan Boyle, and how she looks on a day-to-day basis. Who’s to say that this photo isn’t really how she does look every day, and that she’s been dressing down for dramatic effect? We don’t really know, we just presume to know, which is unfair to Ms. Boyle.
Well, she was unemployed, and before that took care of her mother. She probably simply couldn’t afford colourful and flattering clothes. I can understand people wanting her to be able to hold onto her identity, but I hope that stops at people dictating how she is allowed to feel good about herself. It’s not like she’s transformed herself here – she’s wearing a flattering, comfortable looking dress and jacket. Surely they should be the fundamentals of dressing choice for anyone?
If her eyebrows are thinned a bit, it will allow more of her cute little face to show. She’s adorable, with or without that astonishing vocal instrument.
After Susan Boyle discover now The Crisp bread dancing boys at the Sweden’s Got Talent : http://www.newslicious.net/2009/04/susan-boyle-en-passe-de-ceder-sa-place.html
Oh, forgot the link -
Good for her! She deserved to be pampered
http://tvdonewright.com/2009/04/22/tv-tonight-wednesday-april-22nd-2009/
I think Susan Boyle is awesome but seriously I am pretty sure she put that look together herself. If she didn’t… well she needs better stylists ASAP!
Well, with her notoriety, and the potential to make more money than her years…she will need to do something with her looks. She will probably play across England (Like Il Divo and Paul Potts)…I doubt there’s much audience for her here.
And she looks better, way better. Now all she needs is a little botox and face lift.
hell, if she dresses up like she going to wedding or something, there is nothing wrong with that, I am sure she has had ‘a day out’ and got dressed up for one before, so if she goes that far thats great and fine with me
She forgot to shave her mustache.
Susan Boyle and her reaction to the question of “change” is the most refreshing thing ever to come along! She is confident with who she is and she wholly accepts herself. I am so proud of her for not allowing the world to squeeze her into its mold!!
Ahh… the fashion police has jumped on the bandwagon too….
Any woman these days who is termed ‘frumpy’ / ‘mousy’… will get caught by the fashion police for a makeover.. (‘it will change your life’, ‘oh honey.. u have so much potential’). [[All the while, most of these fashion police people are neurotic messes in their own lives- even a little wrinkle or weight gain sends them into a tizzy]]. These fashion police are ALL OVER THE PLACE (neighbors, office-mates, heck.. even strangers), thinking they have the magic potion in the forms of cosmetics & hip outfits to change one’s life.
While kindly-motivated, what of values: Makeovers are fine… but the connotation that “how u look = happiness” is not.
If she wants her own makeover.. fine. It’s her life and her wishes. Hopefully, she will put strong boundaries around her now as the media hounds start. Hate that fact that every person who does not fit a ‘pleasing-look-media-ideal’ has something wrong with them.
I would take the nice clothes, too. I woudln’t mind the great grooming celebs get as well. I love the idea of perfect highlights, whiter teeth and well-tailored clothes. (As a part time teacher and full time mom, I go the jeans-frump route myself–the better to be spit up on.) Susan probably has her own list. Maybe she’s always wanted cute shoes or colorful dresses. I think if most people stick to nice clothes and good grooming, it’s great. It does make me sad when you see people going plastic-surgery nuts. I hope she doesn’t go that route. But this society makes it hard for women to like themselves as they are, and even harder under the harsh glare of the TV lights.
Susan has a beautiful spirit, a smile that shines and a personality that gleams. She should do whatever makes her feel comfortable and happy.
God gave her a gorgeous voice to share with the world. We should all be so lucky.
In a recent interview with CNN, Boyle said, “I wouldn’t want to change myself too much because that would really make things a bit false. I want to receive people as the real me, a real person.”
I don’t care if she gets a makeover to refine her looks but I would be upset if they forced her to go on diets and all that junk cuz she’s “frumpy”. An eyebrow trimming would be nice but don’t lose the bushy-ness of it because it’s probably her most prominent trademark! LOL!
Susan Boyle is very confident with herself…that was evident in the way she walked on and off stage for her performance. You go girl…
What ever you do, please don’t change your trademark eyebrows, Susan.
What ever you do, please don’t change your trademark eyebrows, Susan.
What ever you do, please don’t change your trademark eyebrows, Susan.
Respecting boundaries is important too. How a person looks BELONGS to them. It’s their life.
Often in society, the fashion police are very well-motivated people – yet they think a person who is frumpy is ‘their object’ to mould into a clay. They don’t even see these people as human sometimes. It’s just amazing how ppl just talk to Susan and about Susan (ie. judges say: based on your looks, we assumed…). They will even walk upto perfect strangers to ‘give advice’.
Well.. that’s all fine and good– but honestly– what about the fact the person may find themselves beautiful and/or don’t want to change? If done with boundary respect, it’s all fine. But keep the respect that people have different motivations, wishes and views. And above all, our outer is an instrument for the inner.