Self Love and Samantha Brick
There has been a recent outcry over a woman called Samantha Brick. For those of you either not living in the UK or with your head buried deep within the proverbial sand, she is a woman who, in a recent article, claimed that women hate her because she’s beautiful. Fair point, and indeed not the first time I’ve heard this said. Every so often we stumble across a poor helpless stunner who can’t form friendships with people because they’re so good-looking. Our hearts bleed.
However, what makes this case slightly more unique is that the woman in question isn’t particularly good looking. She’s far from ugly but I would rate her as no more than reasonably attractive, in a Surrey mum on the school run kind of way. So, article written and backlash begun. Within 24 hours the ‘stunning’ Brick was met with an unprecedented torrent of abuse. She’s been bullied, threatened and tormented. I’ve been shocked at the amount of intelligent, educated people who have joined the flogging and come out about how much they ‘hate’ her. Hate? Now, I love a good bitch fest as much as the next person, but to hate someone because they have a slightly high opinion of themselves physically? It all seems a bit strong to me.
Here’s the thing, and by all means shoot me down if you disagree; I say good luck to the woman. As a woman in my 30’s myself, I spend my life around articles, images, programmes and indeed conversations, reminding women that they aren’t good enough. I’ll be the first to admit I’m always on a diet, as are most of my friends. I’ve had botox, breast implants and teeth veneers in a bid to be ‘more’ attractive, and, God knows, I’m not the only one – over 47,000 procedures carried out in the UK last year alone. Body dysmorphia, anorexia and bulimia are rife. No one feels pretty enough, thin enough, clever enough or successful enough.
And then comes Samantha Brick saying, you know what, I’m attractive and I know it. Great; how refreshing. So she’s slightly deluded – so what? I wish I had such a distorted high opinion of myself! I’m sure life would be far more fun and relaxing, not to mention cheaper (have you seen what a cup size costs these days). People scoffed when she elaborated on what her ‘attractiveness’ had got her; opened doors, for example, upgraded flights, men, by all accounts, bending over backwards to assist her in life. ‘How could this be?’ we questioned, ‘She’s not even that pretty!’ Laugh, laugh, bully, bully.
I’ll tell you how this can be; she’s attractive because she believes in herself. When most of us are looking in the mirror and seeing cellulite, stretch marks and mum tums, she sees her glossy hair, her nice eyes and long legs (insert/delete as appropriate) and it is this confidence and self belief which makes a person attractive, not high cheekbones and full lips (although that always helps).
So here it is, I’m going to say it … leave the woman alone.
Ok, she might be slightly deluded and a little egotistical, but she’s not moaning and winging and bitching for a change; she hasn’t been brain-washed with the belief that she’s not good enough or pretty enough. She loves herself and doesn’t care who knows it.
All hail that sexy woman.
Written by Katy Horwood, from her blog, here
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