Olympic star revealed as fake

[universALLove]

The little girl who starred at the Olympic opening ceremony was miming and only put on stage because the real singer was not considered attractive enough, the show's musical director has revealed.

Pigtailed Lin Miaoke was selected to appear because of her cute appearance and did not sing a note, Chen Qigang, the general music designer of the ceremony, said in an interview with a state broadcaster aired Tuesday.

Photographs of Lin in a bright red party dress were published in newspapers and websites all over the world and the official China Daily hailed her as a rising star on Tuesday.

But Chen said the girl whose voice was actually heard by the 91,000 capacity crowd at the Olympic stadium during the spectacular ceremony was in fact seven-year-old Yang Peiyi, who has a chubby face and uneven teeth.

"The reason why little Yang was not chosen to appear was because we wanted to project the right image, we were thinking about what was best for the nation," Chen said in an interview that appeared briefly on the news website Sina.com before it was apparently wiped from the Internet in China.

Lin was seen to perform the patriotic song "Ode to the Motherland" as China's national flag was carried into the stadium, a key moment in the three hour ceremony.

"The reason was for the national interest. The child on camera should be flawless in image, internal feelings, and expression," said Chen, a renowned contemporary composer and French citizen.

"Lin Miaoke is excellent in those aspects. But in terms of voice, Yang Peiyi is perfect, each member of our team agreed," he said.

He said the final decision to stage the event with Lin lip-synching to another girl's voice was taken after a senior member of China's ruling Communist Party politburo attended a rehearsal.

"He told us there was a problem that we needed to fix it, so we did," he said, without disclosing further details of the order.

The Beijing Olympic organising committee confirmed the episode with spokesman Sun Weide saying the decision was taken in the interests of providing the best possible show.

"A number of girls were on the short list for the show and Lin was the best actress while Yang had the best voice," he said. "So at the end of the day they decided to have both."

The ceremony directed by China's Oscar-nominated filmmaker Zhang Yimou and featuring more than 15,000 performers won high praise in China and overseas for its breadth, scope and flawless execution.

However criticism began to build after it emerged that another part of the opening ceremony had been faked.

Supposedly live pictures of fireworks depicting footprints moving from central Beijing's Tiananmen Square to the Olympic stadium in the north of the capital were actually partly computer-generated or pre-recorded for TV, organisers have admitted.

Wang Wei, vice president of the organising committee, Tuesday insisted the fireworks had actually exploded on the night and that most of the television images used were genuine.

"However, because of the poor visibility of the night some previously recorded foots may have been used," he said.

Xiao Qiang, the director of the China Internet project at the University of California at Berkeley and former dissident, said the two incidents illustrated the political nature of the Games for China.

"I do not think the Chinese state realises how unethical this is, they don't understand what kind of values they are reflecting," he said.

Earlier this year Olympic organisers preoccupied with the right image for the country were criticised for insisting that only tall, slim, young and attractive women could serve as medal award ceremony hostesses.

Source: AFP

[Harbinger]

but what bugs me is the lipsynching scandal. that little girl isnt the first girl to lipsynch at the opening ceremony with last time the excuse being the girl's voice wasn't big enough to span the giant stadium. but at least that girl was lipsyncing to her own voice! i didn't care that the chinese girl lipsynched (which was also obvious) but the fact that it wasn't her voice bugged me.

[universALLove]

I was quite appalled when I heard about this, I can get my head around the lip-synching but for it to not even be the singer's own voice. I mean, what sort of message are they sending out to young girls when they're shafting the true singer off for not being pretty enough. This could potentially be shattering to her self-esteem.

[Disney Duster]

I'm not worried about the fact that they lip-synched, I mean, why does lip-synching in general matter?

What's TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, WRONG, is to say they needed a more attractive girl for a better show, to represent a whole country, it was "best for the nation (?!)", and what was that about "internal feeling"? What, the girl actually singing the song couldn't convey feelings from inside her in her voice? Bullsh*t, many people say your voice is your soul, why use her voice if it didn't have enough feeling, hm?!

The only thing I could understand is wanting someone who could better "act" the song, but why not just teach the singer, though I'm sure if you loved her voice, her acting would match the beauty and feeling of her singing.

So guess what, China, you know what's not attractive, not cute, not pretty? You know what's ugly? What you did, China. Not that little singing girl, Yang Peiyi.

[Escapay]

This so reminds me of both Singin' in the Rain and an episode of AMC's "Remember WENN".

The Singin' in the Rain is obvious, by having a pretty girl lip-synch to someone else's voice, with the audience none the wiser (until the curtain gets pulled up).

The "Remember WENN" might be a bit more obscure (as AMC hasn't rerun the series at all since they canned it 10 years ago and it's not on DVD). It was about a radio station (WENN), and in one episode, there was a talented female singer who looked rather...plain. So when they arranged interviews for the singer, they sent in a "visual double", so to speak, who'd appear on behalf of the real singer, pretending to be the real singer. The ruse was eventually found out, but I forget what happened in the fallout of the story. It's been years since I've seen the show (goddammit, somebody put "Remember WENN" and "The Lot" on DVD!)

Either way, what they did was wrong, and if they wanted a girl who looked good AND sang well, they should have found one instead of taking a "best of both worlds" approach (and before anyone says anything, no, I'm not referencing Hannah Montana's cheap song!).

Albert

[2099net]

How can anyone be upset at this, when most of the population watch "reality" tv shows, which have no bearing on reality at all (simply put someone on camera and they won't act normal), listen to singers who have their pitch electronically adjusted (or worse), or even watch "news" reports which taint actual reporting with layers and layers of speculations, opinion and suppositions without complaint?

The Chinese put on an opening ceremony to entertain the viewers, and the ceremony entertained. End of. (And that goes for the fireworks too - and anything else which may or may not be outed in the future)

[DarthPrime]

How can anyone be upset at this, when most of the population watch "reality" tv shows, which have no bearing on reality at all (simply put someone on camera and they won't act normal), listen to singers who have their pitch electronically adjusted (or worse), or even watch "news" reports which taint actual reporting with layers and layers of speculations, opinion and suppositions without complaint?

The Chinese put on an opening ceremony to entertain the viewers, and the ceremony entertained. End of. (And that goes for the fireworks too - and anything else which may or may not be outed in the future)

I have to agree with this. I thought the opening ceremony was very entertaining.

[dvdjunkie]

ENTERTAINMENT!!!! That is the key word here. The opening ceremonies are done for entertainment and sometimes you just have tweak everything a little to make it work. I have no problem with this in any way shape or form. I wanted an entertaining opening to the Olympics and I got that ten times over.

Hey, wrestling is totally fake and rehearsed, and scripted even, and I don't hear anyone complaining about that. Or how about 'Big Brother', that show is so totally scripted and planned out, but it is entertaining.

[universALLove]

ENTERTAINMENT!!!! That is the key word here. The opening ceremonies are done for entertainment and sometimes you just have tweak everything a little to make it work. I have no problem with this in any way shape or form. I wanted an entertaining opening to the Olympics and I got that ten times over.

Hey, wrestling is totally fake and rehearsed, and scripted even, and I don't hear anyone complaining about that. Or how about 'Big Brother', that show is so totally scripted and planned out, but it is entertaining.

How is swapping an "ugly" girl for a "pretty" girl tweaking entertainment? It doesn't tweak it in any way, shape or form! In fact, it has nothing to do with it! I'm not denying the fact that the show wasn't entertaining but that's not what this thread is about. I've already said that the lip-syncing isn't an issue 'cause stars do it all the time and it doesn't bother me. What does however, is the fact that they didn't give credit where it was due and allow the true singer to perform to her own vocal and the worst part of it all is because they were shallow enough to label her not "pretty" enough to participate in the opening ceremony!

[2099net]

You know, given the situation in China and Tibet, there's literally a thousand more things to get worked up about over something that, let's face it, happens in all entertainment genres, in all countries at some time or other.

Do you think most singers/actresses etc get parts/success based on their talent only, their looks only, or combinations of the two perhaps? Do you really think when we do our opening ceremony in the UK for 2012, the looks of the key participants won't be a factor at all?

[universALLove]

You know, given the situation in China and Tibet, there's literally a thousand more things to get worked up about over something that, let's face it, happens in all entertainment genres, in all countries at some time or other.

Do you think most singers/actresses etc get parts/success based on their talent only, their looks only, or combinations of the two perhaps? Do you really think when we do our opening ceremony in the UK for 2012, the looks of the key participants won't be a factor at all?

You make it sound like we should all turn a blind eye to it all! So just because these things go on, we should accept it and just learn to live with it shall we, is that what your saying? I for one am sick to death of it! I'm tired of the media portraying unrealistic images of unattainable perfection, it plants nothing but false hope into people's minds. To me it is an issue and a serious one for that matter, even if it might not seem to you! Why do you think surgery is on the increase? Why do you think girls (in particular) starve themselves to the verge of death? I'm constantly seeing individuals who've resorted to tampering with themselves, augmentating their breasts, nipping and tucking this and that and wearing fake hair extensions and things of that nature because they're constantly being bombarded by all these images that are (to a degree) pressuring them to live up to these expectations, which the media display as if it is perfectly acceptable! Well let me tell you, it's not!

That little girl from China who was rejected for not being "pretty" enough is no different from this and will most likely believe she's not even worthy enough to showcase her talents and will probably suffer from low self-esteem because she was rejected based upon her looks. Nobody should be made to feel like this especially someone of her age. It sets a bad example to young girls who look up to role-models, especially in the media; who I think are directly to blame and should take some kind of responsibility for their actions. Would it really be so bad to see someone with the odd imperfection or two? I think not! It's what makes us human!

I hope you don't think this is a personal attack upon yourself and am sorry if you have perceived it this way as it's not intended. It's just that it really saddens me when I see girls who are putting themselves down or are made to feel this way by the way in which the media portrays personal appearances.

[blackcauldron85]

You said that really well, Nick- I started typing my feelings on the subject earlier but stopped, because I couldn't articulate my feelings. You said pretty much what I feel on the subject, but in a way that I couldn't say it.

[Siren]

It reminds me of the BBW being replaced by a skinny woman in the C&C Music Factory video.

I DO have a problem with this. Now if they said they had another girl lip sync it because, there was a contractual problem, the singer got cold feet, the singer got sick, etc. Not "you're just not pretty enough". I hate it when they tell a 20 year old that, let alone a little girl. That would be like me telling my daughter to step out of a picture because she isn't pretty.

Bottom line....if the singer wasn't pretty enough, they should have hired another girl that had the voice AND looks they wanted.

[2099net]

So just because these things go on, we should accept it and just learn to live with it shall we, is that what your saying? I for one am sick to death of it! I'm tired of the media portraying unrealistic images of unattainable perfection, it plants nothing but false hope into people's minds. To me it is an issue and a serious one for that matter, even if it might not seem to you! Why do you think surgery is on the increase? Why do you think girls (in particular) starve themselves to the verge of death? I'm constantly seeing individuals who've resorted to tampering with themselves, augmentating their breasts, nipping and tucking this and that and wearing fake hair extensions and things of that nature because they're constantly being bombarded by all these images that are (to a degree) pressuring them to live up to these expectations, which the media display as if it is perfectly acceptable! Well let me tell you, it's not!

And yet, nobody here seems to object to Hannah Montana (and the message her fictional lifestyle sends to children - "Best of both worlds" my ass) or the High School Musical films (in which every main character is "beautiful", even those who are supposed to start out as somewhat outcast – the scene where Kelsey let's her hair down in HSM1 being a particularly outstanding example. She sacrifices her own "style" that she's had throughout the film until that point simply to conform to the expectations and standards of both the others and the viewing audience and what they consider attractive).

Likewise most people here seem to think that Britney's "better" now that she's going to the gym and working out and "looking like she used to before her breakdown" (despite the fact it was undoubtably having to live up to the expectations of the media regarding her weight, looks and fashion that triggered - or partly triggered - her breakdown in the first place).

Let me state right away, Britney is not better, she's just getting back on the horse ready to be thrown off again, and perhaps next time the fall will be even harder.

Elsewhere lots of people are praising Angalina Jolie on taking a role in an action movie "so soon after giving birth" and how she's "working hard to regain her figure" etc. Just as various celebs release diet books and videos or workout/keep fit videos/method plans. Magazines and gossip TV shows are full of thin, almost anorexic woman, and the message being given out is that "we" should all aim to copy them.

We have shitty obnoxious shows on UK TV like "Ten Years Younger" (which delights in humiliating the poor saps who volunteer) and so called "celebrities" like Trinny and Suzanna who do nothing but sneer at people in each of their "shows". In short, we have body bullying shown prime time on major TV channels, and nobody complains.

I don't necessarily agree with it (in fact I don't), but I do accept it as being part of modern life, but railing out at the Olympic opening ceremony strikes me as being a bit hypocritical for two reasons:

1) There's literally hundreds of examples you could have picked from the UK or the US. Of course, to some extent its easier to single out the Olympics because of the high-profile, but its also easier to single it out because it’s a foreign culture committing the "crime" (but ironically, if you examine the stated reasons for doing it – China is in-fact aping the West and Western culture as their motivation. Basically, they thought it would appeal to Western audiences more. So the fault is partly the screwed up Western audience and their expectations.)

Even if you do consider the pressure on young girls to be to much (which I do by the way), target crap like Bratz dolls, stupid tweeny tv shows and films and even stuff like the OC before you look to the Olympics.

2) Again, if you want to protest anything about China, look to Tibet, human rights, freedom of the press… I'm sorry, but there are issues much more serious than this, which, yes, I do consider this all to be a bit of a non-event. Mainly because as I said, its one incident in thousands…

[ichabod]

Two points to make and I'll make them succint.

1) I love how the general view is "Bad bad evil China for getting someone to lip synch to someone else's voice becasue they're prettier". Yet there wasnt much of a fuss when Disney did it with Efron in High School Musical was there?

2) For God's sake this is China we're talking about. Of all the things that you could get outraged about, this is so pathetically trivial. If you want to rant about China there are dozens of things actually worth ranting about.

[blackcauldron85]

And yet, nobody here seems to object to Hannah Montana (and the message her fictional lifestyle sends to children - "Best of both worlds" my ass)

But that's a fictional comedy show- and it's a Disney show- so if the plot seems silly, it's allowed to. And comparing the Olympics lip-synch thing to the show doesn't make much sense (except for illustrating what does and doesn't make us upset). Hannah is more glitzy than Miley, sure, but it's not like Miley was replaced by a real (on the show) girl named Hannah who lipsynchs to Miley's voice because Miley isn't pretty enough.

or the High School Musical films (in which every main character is "beautiful", even those who are supposed to start out as somewhat outcast – the scene where Kelsey let's her hair down in HSM1 being a particularly outstanding example. She sacrifices her own "style" that she's had throughout the film until that point simply to conform to the expectations and standards of both the others and the viewing audience and what they consider attractive).

Kelsi was just figuratively and literally "letting down her hair"- she was becoming more comfortable in her skin and with her new friends. And she wore what she wore because it was the pep rally...she didn't change who she is (just watch HSM2), but she has become more comfortable all around.

Likewise most people here seem to think that Britney's "better" now that she's going to the gym and working out and "looking like she used to before her breakdown" (despite the fact it was undoubtably having to live up to the expectations of the media regarding her weight, looks and fashion that triggered - or partly triggered - her breakdown in the first place).

Let me state right away, Britney is not better, she's just getting back on the horse ready to be thrown off again, and perhaps next time the fall will be even harder.

I know that for me, as a long-time Britney fan, I am so glad to see that she's not showing her panties and hitting people with umbrellas and not shaving her hair off again. She's more "normal"...she's able to see her boys, and she seems (and has said that she is) happy and healthy. And she's back on track as far as her career goes- she's working on a new album, and she's at least doing commercials for the VMAs, if not performing or presenting. She does look fabulous now, which is a plus- not the main reason the fans are happy, but she looks great because her life has gotten better (being happy & healthy). And you don't know about whether or not she will "be thrown from the horse again"- that's not nice.

One thing that I've been trying to articulate but haven't been able to is the fact that people expect the Olympics to be "real"- are the athletes chosen because they are good-looking? Granted, they all are probably in great shape, due to being athletes. The fact that the girl with the voice was not allowed to be seen because she wasn't "pretty enough"- and I read that she just has crooked teeth, that's all- to represent her nation, is so flawed. Not pretty enough to represent a nation? WTF!?!?!?! That sends the wrong message- not only does Hollywood dictate what is and isn't "pretty", now normal girls with talent are supposed to hide and make way for pretty girl.

1) I love how the general view is "Bad bad evil China for getting someone to lip synch to someone else's voice becasue they're prettier". Yet there wasnt much of a fuss when Disney did it with Efron in High School Musical was there?

HSM is a movie, and the Olympics are expected to be "real". And Drew Seeley and Zac Efron are both good-looking, so it's not quite like this case. And Zac eventually got to sing in the 2nd (and 3rd) films, not to mention Hairspray.

2) For God's sake this is China we're talking about. Of all the things that you could get outraged about, this is so pathetically trivial. If you want to rant about China there are dozens of things actually worth ranting about.

Well, UD ultimately is a forum about entertainment. For a bunch of us here, entertainment is our favorite thing to talk about, hence us getting all worked up about this. I know for me, I'm much more educated in entertainment news than what's going on in the world. I know that I'm ignorant and that I'm more interested in the entertainment world...the "real" news is just so sad, though...I might be flawed in my thinking, but that's the truth, and I'm fine with who I am.

[2099net]

And yet, nobody here seems to object to Hannah Montana (and the message her fictional lifestyle sends to children - "Best of both worlds" my ass)

But that's a fictional comedy show- and it's a Disney show- so if the plot seems silly, it's allowed to. And comparing the Olympics lip-synch thing to the show doesn't make much sense (except for illustrating what does and doesn't make us upset). Hannah is more glitzy than Miley, sure, but it's not like Miley was replaced by a real (on the show) girl named Hannah who lipsynchs to Miley's voice because Miley isn't pretty enough.

I'm not on about lip-syncing. Nick was specifically on about how the "scandal" would affect young girls who may already have issues with their body, or are impressionable because of their young age.

And yet Hannah Montana is a show that is specifically about creating a false identity so that the character can have all the "benefits" of being famous, prettier, glamourous, popular, etc. Yet she can withdraw to her normal persona when desired. Its about having your cake and eating it too. However, glamour is important, and shown as something to aspire to, and the look of Hannah, not Miley is to be aspired to too. I don't care if its clearly fiction, the message is you have to be attractive to get on.

Admittedly I've seen about 2 Hannah Montanas, but if being able to live a normal life is so important and desirable for Miley, has the concept of giving up being Hannah Montana ever been addressed? Or is it just accepted that every girl wants to be a pop-star?

Hannah Montana is just as much about glamour, looks and other superficial attributes as the lip-syncing at the Olympics was. I don't care if its fiction, its still potentially harming impressionable young viewers and giving them unrealistic expectations.

Kelsi was just figuratively and literally "letting down her hair"- she was becoming more comfortable in her skin and with her new friends. And she wore what she wore because it was the pep rally...she didn't change who she is (just watch HSM2), but she has become more comfortable all around.

But it doesn't explain the main point – all of the main characters are "beautiful", even the one portrayed throughout the bulk of the film as being more socially awkward and more of an outsider. It’s the typical Hollywood solution to casting a female geek or nerd character in films – take a conventionally beautiful actress and give her glasses and perhaps an unflattering hair do and hey presto - she's plain/ugly/a trainwreck (take your pick) when she's clearly not.

I know that for me, as a long-time Britney fan, I am so glad to see that she's not showing her panties and hitting people with umbrellas and not shaving her hair off again. She's more "normal"...she's able to see her boys, and she seems (and has said that she is) happy and healthy. And she's back on track as far as her career goes- she's working on a new album, and she's at least doing commercials for the VMAs, if not performing or presenting. She does look fabulous now, which is a plus- not the main reason the fans are happy, but she looks great because her life has gotten better (being happy & healthy). And you don't know about whether or not she will "be thrown from the horse again"- that's not nice.

The partying, hitting people and hair shaving weren't the problem. They were the symptoms of the problem, which was most likely a lot of things, but all of the things were no doubt connected to her being in the public eye 24/7.

Again going back to the point about how important "looks" are in today's media, how many times pre-breakdown did you see stories about Britney's spots? Or comments about her maybe putting weight on? Or criticising her clothing? Of course she had spots, she was a teenager/young adult. And of course, look at all the fuss about her marriage.

We all get spots! So what if her weight fluctuated a little bit, and you know, camera and camera angles aren't always flattering. And she can wear what she wants, especially when she's just messing about in her garden, neighbourhood or doing a little shopping. And as for her marriage, I'm not sure if it was a good idea or not, but how on earth could it have survived such vicious and spiteful sniping from the global media?

I fail to see how going back to Singing, and being back the public eye is going to be any different this time. In fact, it will be worse, because the breakdown will always be in people's minds or on their lips when commenting on Britney today – it will be like a sword of Damocles over her head at all times.

(Oh and again, it's portraying the notion that Britney only has true-worth when she's fitter, made-up and dressed in designer clothes or singing)

One thing that I've been trying to articulate but haven't been able to is the fact that people expect the Olympics to be "real"- are the athletes chosen because they are good-looking? Granted, they all are probably in great shape, due to being athletes. The fact that the girl with the voice was not allowed to be seen because she wasn't "pretty enough"- and I read that she just has crooked teeth, that's all- to represent her nation, is so flawed. Not pretty enough to represent a nation? WTF!?!?!?! That sends the wrong message- not only does Hollywood dictate what is and isn't "pretty", now normal girls with talent are supposed to hide and make way for pretty girl.

The purpose of the sporting events in the Olympics is to reward sporting achievements. Obviously it would be a mockery if appearance stopped the best athletes from going.

However, the purpose of the opening ceremony is two-fold. It is nominally to entertain but also to act as a major publicity boost for the host nation, it is if you want simply propaganda. And propaganda rarely deals in the truth. Do you get annoyed when you see a McDonald's burger photo in an advert where it looks all plump and large, and then when you actually buy the burger for real, it's somewhat damp and deflated?

The publicity is why so many nations compete to hold the games every four years. It's expensive, but it's also an ideal advertisement for your country watched by billions of people worldwide. China's spent about $45bn hosting the Olympics. No country is going to spend that amount of money just for the honour of hosting the games.

China (or the UK in 2012, or whoever after that) will be expecting a major tourisms boost that will last for years after the games have ended. I don't expect the opening ceremony to be "real" (but I expect the athletes to be real).

Admittedly, this decision will no doubt result in bad PR for them (they would have been better off choosing another girl who could be seen and heard), but really, I find it incredibly hypocritical that the biggest objectors to this are the Western audiences, where such deception is common (body doubles for films, photoshopping/airbrushing on photographs, umpteen TV shows where all the stars are only slim and beautiful, actresses with facelifts/botox/other cosmetic surgery).

And then to claim it will have scarred this Chinese girl for life (which it may have done) when thousands, perhaps millions of other impressionable children are having their lives ruined in the US and Europe already, when the same complainers do nothing about the female image/ideal in their own countries, staggers me. If it is down to network news "exposing" the Olympic scam, then the very same networks actively support promoting an unrealistic female body shape as the ideal.

Now if you ask me, the fact that China has already regained on some of its human rights and freedom of press promises that were instrumental in them being given the games in the first place, is a lot more "untrue" than a young singing girl mouthing to some other girls singing.

[Wonderlicious]

Two points to make and I'll make them succint.
<snip>

2) For God's sake this is China we're talking about. Of all the things that you could get outraged about, this is so pathetically trivial. If you want to rant about China there are dozens of things actually worth ranting about.

I kinda agree. Whilst I think that the whole scenario is quite depressing and a reflection on the whole secretive nature of China, it's not much compared to the censorship of Google, Tienanmen Square, Tibet etc.

And dubbing sadly (or in some cases fortunately ) has happened for years in the music and film industries. Marni Nixon, anyone?

[candydog]

1) I love how the general view is "Bad bad evil China for getting someone to lip synch to someone else's voice becasue they're prettier". Yet there wasnt much of a fuss when Disney did it with Efron in High School Musical was there?

I have to agree with this - I mean OK, Drew Seeley isn't ugly - but Zac Efron had the look that they wanted for Troy Bolton - It's called showbusiness, and looks are and will always be a major part.

All Directors casting a show will have certain "looks" in mind for each character - now I know that the olympics aren't supposed to be featuring "characters" and are meant to be realistic, but the same principle applies - the Director would have had a "vision" of the overall ceremony and they chose a girl whose looks suited the vision.

I know it's terrible, but it's part of the business.

[universALLove]

I've never watched "Hannah Montana" or "High School Musical" but if what you say is the case, then I'm just as appalled. Don't think for one second that I'm out to attack just China for setting such a bad example because that's not the case. It would be extremely hypocritical of me coming from a western country where these issues are very common. To be honest, I was using the incident in China as more of an example of how "looks" are portrayed in the media as great significance but it would still apply had this have happened in a European country. My attack is directed towards the media and even though I understand that this issue isn't going to stop completely (as that is the reality), I feel strongly that responsibility should be taken to reduce this "perfection is everything" attitude. Hollywood and the entertainment industry are culprits in this and should use their status to set positive examples. I mean is it really necessary to retouch every single magazine cover for instance? Most of the time, they look perfectly lovely before it. It's not like they haven't been glamorised enough. Even though when I look at magazines and things of that nature I can see straight through it and can clearly tell that it's just computer trickery, young girls are (on the whole) blissfully unaware of this and grow up believing that one, it's the way they should look and two, that it's actually achievable which isn't the reality and is what makes it so wrong! I saw a programme fairly recently on appearances and body issues and when I saw these little girls refer to themselves as ugly and were saying all of the things they'd like to change about themselves was very upsetting. It was as if they were lead to believe unless they didn't look a certain way, there was something wrong with them. They shouldn't be feeling this way as they're fine the way they are and in fact, a lot of them were very pretty yet they didn't believe it