Kamala Harris’ recent Vogue cover epitomizes the misguided ethos of today’s society, as observed by media commentator Megyn Kelly. This cover serves to perpetuate unrealistic expectations of age among women, sending a discouraging message to the youth. ‘So the path to presidency demands an ageless facade, does it? The necessity of women to embody both beauty and credibility is preposterous,’ commented Kelly, expressing her criticism on her broadcast ‘The Megyn Kelly Show’.
The Vogue cover featuring Harris sparked a wildfire of responses of varying nature on social media platforms previously recognized as Twitter. The admirable procession of the Democratic contender for the presidency into the spotlight of glamour juxtaposed with accusations against Vogue for retouching the image to portray a younger Harris, generated a whirlwind of controversy.
Critics highlighted Vogue’s deficiency in authenticity. ‘It’s outrageous that Vogue had to resort to airbrushing her,’ commented a user on social media. Many are of the belief that the stylistic consultation was on point but the fashion magazine went overboard with the editing, resulting in an altered image that didn’t do justice to the real appearance of Harris.
Kelly further amplified her critique of the magazine’s representation of Harris, labelling it a ‘blunder’. She found striking similarities between Harris’ excessively edited image and that of Joan Rivers’ appearances on magazines and TV, suggesting an unrealistic level of beauty enhancement. ‘Harris is portrayed as a woman nine years shy of 50, rather than her actual age of 59,’ mentioned Kelly.
She further emphasized that the marks of time should not be erased in order to please societal norms, particularly not for women who hold or aspire for positions of significance. ‘Let her embrace her natural lines and age gracefully, Vogue. Erasing signs of age for women who are seeking a serious position is incorrect. She is aiming for the authority to command our Navy SEALs, cease with the unnecessary beauty modifications,’ she scoffed.
Despite Kelly’s critique of the Harris Vogue cover, some users on the social media platform previously recognized as Twitter dubbed her a ‘double-dealer’. An individual pointed out Kelly’s own use of disingenuous beauty hacks, such as camera filters and hair extensions, thereby questioning the validity of her critique against the magazine’s airbrushing.
Vogue’s editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, was also on Kelly’s radar for criticism. Wintour, with her influence spanning beyond just the world of fashion, was accused by Kelly of setting groundless beauty standards. ‘This woman, Anna Wintour, setting fashion standards we are measured against, is absurd,’ says Kelly.
Kelly also showed her disapproval towards Wintour’s project of directing the esteemed Met Gala event. The annual event, orchestrated by Wintour, is to celebrate the style of Black men from the 18th century to the current times, with the theme ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’ for the forthcoming 2025 edition.
In what could be seen as an odd choice, Wintour will co-chair the event alongside an assortment of personalities, including sports figures like LeBron James and Lewis Hamilton, artists such as A$AP Rocky and Pharrell Williams, and actor Colman Domingo.
Kelly lampooned Wintour’s decision by saying, ‘Here we have Anna Wintour, sitting on her high horse of fashion, evaluating us against her ludicrous sartorial standards. And, now, she’s scheming the Met Gala theme. What’s the grand idea? ‘Dandyism in Black men’. Mind explaining what that means?’
An online user echoed this sentiment, suggesting the theme might put celebrities at risk of public disdain. They wrote, ‘Could this be a clever plot to set up out-of-touch celebrities for public embarrassment in one swift move? Very plausible. The whole ordeal is tremendously exasperating.’
Essentially, the function of media within society should be to reflect reality, not distort it. Women in positions of authority should be respected for their accomplishments, not bound by the shackles of impossible beauty standards.
Unfortunately, this distorted depiction of reality seems to be the new normal in our society, where the focus still appears to be more on a woman’s appearance rather than her accomplishments. It’s a wake-up call to media outlets to tread carefully, not to risk falling into the trap of superficiality and forget the essence of empowerment.