With Darling Daughter sick with a nasty virus this week, it's been hard to get my early morning indulgences in - one of which is my regimen of reading the gossipy London Daily Mail online. Sure, on Tuesday I took a cursory glance at the stories, but in my sleep-deprived state, I glossed over Samantha Brick's ode to herself and the downside of possessing her self-proclaimed beauty. I gave her picture a quick glance, and thought perhaps she had penned something tongue-in-cheek. After all, it's not like I was seeing a face to rival Elizabeth Taylor in her young, ravishing heyday. So, I promised myself I'd get back to the site when DD's fever abated, and indulge in a much-needed chuckle.
Two days later, DD's fever is gone, so I settled down to read Samantha's tale of how hard it is to walk the primrose path of life when cursed with such a beautiful face. For Ms. Brick would have us believe that her beauty is such that she's revered by men and vilified by women. Gosh, it's just so hard being sent unsolicited bottles of wine by male admirers, and all the womenfolk hastily whisking their men out of Samantha's path, because they are threatened at their mate's inability to resist Sammy's beautiful mug.
As if her first article wasn't tedious enough, filled with one example after another of how women hate her for simply being beautiful and an irresistable man-magnet, Sam, in a second article, now proclaims that the worldwide backlash aimed at her merely proves her point.
"While I've been shocked and hurt by the global condemnation, I have just this to say: my detractors have simply proved my point. Their level of anger only underlines that no one in this world is more reviled then a pretty woman."
She goes on to say that no one would condemn Brad Pitt, were he to announce he's good-looking, but if Angelina Jolie were to do the same, then Angie would be subjected to the same backlash that Ms. Brick has had to endure for touting her own beauty.
Samantha also feels that the reaction to her article would not be so vitriolic, were she a resident of Los Angeles. Brick's hackneyed logic? "For, in the U.S., you're expected to look good, and you're rightly applauded for it."
Hey, I don't begrudge Ms. Brick at all for having a healthy self-esteem. If she thinks she's beautiful, well, good for her. Personally, I admit to being mystified at the havoc her so-called "beauty" wreaks on the lesser mortals that cross her path, but I'll take her word for it.
I think Ms. Brick's piece was an example of masterful collusion. Certainly, the Daily Mail knew that featuring such an audacious article would give their readership a hefty boost. And I strongly suspect that Ms. Brick, despite the crocodile tears she's professed to shed since its publication, is greatly relishing her newfound fame.
If not, she can always console herself by looking in the mirror.
