anti-barbie

The last post I did on TV recommendations went down well so I have to share a new programme on BBC3 called Snog Marry Avoid? Some of the ideas such as using a sad 'computer' with some bad CGI to talk to the people and the weird title are really cheesy. But the concept is quite funny, they take people who totally embrace barbie/plastic culture or major makeup to the extreme and show them they don't need all the slap to look beautiful; they call it a 'make-under show'.

You can watch last weeks episode on the IPlayer or catch tonight's at 8.30. Last week the first girl was typical fake tan, 50 extension layers and a dress that was totally backless and gaped open like crazy. The last girl  got some duct tape and wrapped one strip round her boobs and went out just like that! They looked better in the end, if less fun and adventurous, and they did have a sort of goth boy who spiked up his hair into a 'crown' on who they said he shouldn't change his personal style.

But while watching these extremes, it moved away from horror to almost admiration. Some commenters may be ready to say I'm contradicting myself again (so shoot me!) but I truly admire people who are fierce enough to commit to their style no matter what people think. I was the first to highlight my annoyance of clone girls with bleached extensions and fake tan, but the first girl was saying 'well I like the trashy look, it makes me feel confident.' I like extreme and rather than sheeping the style, she'd taken it to her own level and just went for it. I'm not saying it was nice and that if I saw her in the street, I wouldn't be shocked, but she knew what she was doing and didn't care.

The second girl said as she took her five hours to get ready to go out, "Alot of girls these days backcomb their hair because it's fashionable, but people say that I go extreme. I keep going until it's completely knotted... and there we go, it's all done, a big, crazy birds nest!" See they obviously know their style doesn't appeal to everyone (although she did have a boyfriend) but they like it and that's all that matters. Surely you could compare ganguro girls to lolita girls in the way that they both embrace their style to the max?

The lengths they go to is funny to watch though so I recommend taking a look as it's only half an hour and is one step towards fake tan going out of fashion!

P.S. If you were interested in the post about commenting, check out this great post, and here's the link to my ebay auctions.

Comments

[Frankie Ward]

Yeah that program was funny. I thought the 2nd girl looked beautiful after her makeover, she had a good looking boyfriend too!

[Martha]

The show was fab, the 1st girl didn't really change much after the first 3 months she still looked a bit trashy the second girl looked stunning afterwards. Wow her look before with the tape and the little tut was just plain scary!

[Victoria]

Oooh i watched that last week, the 1st one looked like she had dirt over her face because her make up was so dark for her skin. The whole computer bit is quite annoying though.

[Amber]

yeah! very excited about your ebay auctions I'm afraid I won't be able to afford any of it though.

[Rosie]

I agree with you that parts of this programme are cheesy, but otherwise agree that it's a great concept for a programme! I cannot believe the extremes that people go to!
I agree with you that it's easy to admire people who completely immerse themselves in such extreme styles, but I think the big difference is taste! The girls didn't look good, no matter how fearless they were being, but afterwards, despite being a little bland, they look far nicer! A definite improvement.

[foxtrash]

haha i watched last weeks episode. i agree with you on admiring people whore confident about how they want to dress no matter what. however that aside both looked better after the transformation. i love how the computer told the first girl 'now only 10% of men would avoid you', she seemed so put out!

[Penny]

The whole fake tan thing has always baffled me.. especially when it's taken to such extremes that the person in question almost looks as though they have changed ethnicities!!!
However, the scariest thing truly has to be the duct tape. Mostly because of the pain factor when taking it off. Ouch!!

[FashionFake]

I've never once had a good fake tan experience. ever.

I think its great that they are all so confident though, usually when I see someone dressed over the top with their hair all backcombed with bits of pink in it, I think to myself "they must have pretty low self-esteem". Kind of like they're looking for some kind of reaction to affirm that they actually matter, whether its positive or negative, they just want the attention..
maybe I'm wrong though.

I've tagged you to do a 7 songs of summer/winter, and a 6 unimportant things tag.. have fun =]

[Nice and Shiny]

Oooh, I can't watch it the player only works for UK :( I tottaly agree with you how you admire people who stick with what they like. I think that even if not everybody likes a certain look, that person should get props for just being themselves and doing what they love.
ps- I kinda like that second girl BEFORE better. Everyone's got a different opinion!

[Fashion Hayley Tokyo]

The sound like the Ganguro girls of Japan, only slightly less extreme. You should google Ganguro, it may be a bit of a surprise if you haven't seen them before. They are so crazy, but I love them.

[Lucy-Jane]

man they look soooo bad.
But I sort of agree with you.
I really admire excentric dressers even when I don't think they look very good because atleast they are expressing themselves freely and openly

[The Clothes Horse]

This show looks fun. I think many of those people aren't embracing a different style so much as "hiding" behind certain looks. It's great too when show can boost your confidence without making you buy tons of crap!

[Rosa]

yeah i watched this, it was really good! and i completely agree with what you said :]

[Anna Pope]

Such an interesting concept for a show and really unique too in a world of dull-to-fab reality tv.

And Ido get when you're saying. While I have such a huge gag reflex when I see some of the extreme looks on these girls, I still have this weird respect when they do it out of confidence and out of their belief in said look and not just because it's so in (I really do hope that makes some sense!)

[Drusilla]

It's interesting to see how the way these girls dress isn't just 'the way they dress', it's this huge part of their identity and changing it would mean changing that too. Always something to think about...(kind of reminds me of Kamikaze Girls)

I must say, Snog Marry Avoid sounds like this game I used to play on a Harry Potter forum (I know, how mature of me) called Marry, Kiss, Throw Off A Cliff (though I suspect that'd have caused a riot if they called the programme that).