Jessica Simpson explores beauty ideals on new show

3/18/10 - You may remember singer and TV personality Jessica Simpson from the MTV reality-show, "Newlyweds." However, Simpson has now adopted a persona that's a far cry from the scatterbrained ditz she appeared as on the show. She is now taking on a more serious demeanor. The media has had a horrible impact on the singer, constantly criticizing her weight, appearance and overall beauty. This appearance-related appraisal of worth led Simpson to a dangerous place, leading to failed relationships and low self-confidence.

Determined to change her perception of beauty and to better understand standards of aesthetic appeal in other countries, Simpson is traveling the world with her two best friends, CaCee and Ken.

The show opens with a song written and sung by Simpson entitled, "Who We Are," which sets the tone for the show.

"We're beautiful," Simpson sings, "our flaws and all, they're beautiful to me, it's who we are, who we are." This catchy song describes her mission and purpose for her global adventures - to accept her flaws.

In the first episode, Jessica and her friends travel to Bangkok, Thailand. As a viewer at home, even I can see the beauty and tradition that the country exudes. While there, they have access to a beauty ambassador who teaches them all about how beauty is perceived.

In Thailand, Simpson witnesses the markets that sell beauty and fashion products to all women. A lot of the designs incorporate a Buddhist influence, which is a major religion in the country. Women are told that meditation will create a beautiful glow, because inner peace is the most important part of beauty.

However, a tan glow is the farthest thing from a Thai woman's mind. Women strive for pale skin in Thailand, because a tan is a low class symbol that one works long hours in the sun- a far cry from the sun kissed glow that everyone in the United States wants.

The group also tries fried bugs-worms, crickets and cockroaches-which are said to speed up the metabolism.

Simpson also visits the Koren tribe, who believe that long necks symbolize a woman's beauty. Members wear metal rings designed to stretch and elongate necks from the age of 6.

Thinking back on what I viewed made me realize how insane our country's mindset is! There are so many ways to be beautiful, yet women like Simpson went through stages of low self-confidence, striving to lose weight and be as skinny as possible, all because that is what American society treasures.

Our society is attracted to the newest fads, bought yesterday only to be exchanged for something entirely different today.

Standards of beauty and weight need to be reevaluated and Simpson is shedding light on this important issue.