A Pretty Woman
The definition of a pretty woman changes through the years. The perfect idea of the female form goes through phases, as reflected in art and the mass media. Leonardo da Vinci's portrait of the Mona Lisa personified what a chaste, pretty woman should look like. Other artists such as Titian and Rubens delighted in painting voluptuous ladies with cherubic faces and full bodies. Today, a woman would not be considered a pretty woman suitable for the catwalk, if she had the shape of one of Ruben's muses. It was different in the 1940's and 1950's. Film stars promoted a pretty woman who had the full, curvy figure. Men adored Marilyn Monroe and Ava Gardner. The fashionable clothes of the time were designed to show off such a figure.
The 1960's changed the scene completely, with the coming of Twiggy. She was undoubtedly an extremely pretty woman, and her photogenic qualities and bubbly personality made her a top international model. She was slim, and suited the clothes of the time. The legacy of Twiggy is still with us today, with the leading models becoming increasingly thinner.
A pretty woman is, of course, in the eye of the beholder. Models come with perfect skin, high cheekbones and the figure right for the times. Whether the voluptuous look or the stick insect look is in vogue, the ordinary pretty woman in the street finds it difficult to aspire to the perfect image sold to them in the magazines.
A pretty woman is so much more than her figure. What makes a pretty woman? Glossy hair, bright eyes, and a nice nose? All these things combine to form an attractive image. Personality comes into it too. Men often fall for the larger dress size woman who has a knockout personality and self-confidence.
We can't all be Kate Moss, ladies, especially as the years advance and the body's fight with gravity begins. It's a myth anyway, that all men want a Kate Moss look-alike. At the other end of the spectrum, they don't all want a Jordan either. The best thing is for a woman to be happy in her own skin. Let that personality shine through and everyone will see a pretty woman.
There is a lot of pressure brought to bear on young teenage girls, to grow into a pretty woman and have the perfect lifestyle and the perfect boyfriend. Every teenage magazine gives advice on make up, fashion and hair. The most desired career for teenagers now, is to be a celebrity. They see the movie stars on the red carpet, and they want that life too.
What ingredients make a pretty woman will probably always go in and out of style. The important thing is to teach our young people the fundamentals. Young men also need the right values. Beauty is inside and out, and most people don't get to make a living on a pretty face alone. We all need a good education and a supportive society. A pretty woman is the woman who feels pretty inside, and that will show.
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