These girls are all so skinny!

From Lexi on myspace:

I recently read an article about the “thin” trend in Hollywood. It made me fall on the floor laughing. I have never come across something so hypocritical in my life. It has come to my attention that we as actresses are not judged by our talent, but by our dress size. I find it sad that so many wonderful actresses who study and put every ounce of themselves into a part are first looked at for body type instead of their ability. Now on some level I do agree that in this industry you must stay healthy for you are a public figure. But that means not going to either extreme. I was at an audition a while ago, and I ran into a girl who was about five three and one hundred and twenty pounds; she looked amazing. But I noticed that she was extremely nervous, so, I asked what was wrong. She looked up at me almost on the brink of tears, her eyes filled with a sad sense of amusement and she said, “its just everyone in this room is so skinny, I’ll never even be considered” I was appalled at this statement; but partly because I knew she had a point. Both her and I were going to walk in and be looked at and discarded for the one sheer fact that we look like normal healthy girls, still thin, but not “Hollywood” thin. I hope that one-day Hollywood opens its eyes and realizes the harm it is causing and the talent it is losing to the monster it has created, I recently saw the same girl a few days ago at an audition, she was still five three but she could not have been more than ninety pounds. She looked tired, sickly and all the amusement that was once in her eyes had been replaced by sheer desperation and sadness. But the worst part was when I began to speak to her, asking her if she was prepared for the audition she said “yes, but it doesn’t matter, I mean look at these girls they’re all so skinny… and I’m well not” I smiled not knowing what to say and also not wanting to embarrass her. This industry has the power to change lives; I just wish they would take that into consideration and use their influence to teach young hopefuls to be the best actress they can be and not the thinnest actress they can be. Help girls to understand that not everyone is built the same and you’re most beautiful when you are the healthiest for your own body type, not everyone is built like Kate Moss nor should we try to be. I just find it sad that every year so many girls come to Hollywood with a dream and leave with an eating disorder.
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Noe said...
As a theatre major at CSUF.... and previously studying in NY at Fordham University and LIU... I can't begin to tell you the atrocities and adversary I have met in regards to the differences between physical attitudes involved with women in the media and stage.

Recently I dropped out of CSUF acting program- mostly because I felt that they put far too much emphasis on "type casting" and physical attributes. Sure, it's good to know what kind of roles you might be strong at playing, but to be told you would never play this or that part because physically you don't look that part so don't bother trying was annoying to say the least.

I felt that the attitude surrounding this was extremely different in my pursuit of education on the east coast (non-Hollywood) where the emphasis was on acting training and knowing the tools to play any part regardless of looks.

I look around my department now (I've switched emphasis to sound design) and am bewildered at the amount of young women striving to dreams which in the end are leaving the school with no preparation other than instructions on how they much look rather than perform.

I agree whole heartedly on the Hollywood scene that there is driving need to be thin, to be what they want you to be and I've been there, done that.. and it's not pretty- and it's dangerous as hell. It's disgusting... and the fact that CSUF and the business out here perpetuates such a bullshit philosophy angers me.

They have a chance to change this.. at any moment. Writers and casting directors have a chance to do this.

And we at home or struggling to make our marks in the business have a chance to do it too... So educate yourselves, voice your opinions... write letters.

There is a whole ton of research and organizations out there that feel the same way and are trying to change this. If you need help finding them or want to know me, send me an e-mail... I've got tons of links.

TELL YOUR MEDIA THAT YOU WANT TO SEE NORMAL PEOPLE WITH AMAZING TALENT... NOT SKELETONS WHO HOLLYWOOD PROGRAMS US TO THINK ARE THE EPITOME OF BEAUTY.

October 7, 2007 7:03 AM


Michelle said...
As a young girl i know what its like to be pressured into being skinny (people calling me names and all) but its not just that.

I run a website, well its not really a website its a my space but im hoping to branch out to the World wide web with my own actual website on the matter.

anyway, the site deals with just this.. eating disorders. because not a lot of people know of the harm and damage it can and has done to people before.

I can relate to when lexi was talking to that girl and the 90 something pound girl said "Im not skinny enough"

because no matter how skinny, how on the verge of death they are.. they cant see it and thats why they cant stop.

And most of the time they're reluctant to get help cause they dont think theres anything wrong with them.

Its a horrible disorder and its even worse that its actually turning into a trend, I've heard of people that WANT to be anorexic/bullimic, and that go to these pro-eating disorder sites to get tips on how to stay anorexic.

Its sick. and it's everywhere