Hillary Clinton - Putting on the "Slap"

If you know me now it's hard to imagine I know, but I was once quite good looking. Tall, slim, mini skirted with long, wavy, auburn hair. In the 60s we all wore quite a lot of make up. I wouldn't have dreamt of going out in public without the full "Slap" on. Think Twiggy, with huge eyes accentuated by false eyelashes, eyeliner painstakingly applied & smudgy shadow. Pale skin & pale lipstick.

In my professional life too I wouldn't have gone to work without a "face" on. It's all about image. Your image of yourself & the image you present to the world. Clothes, makeup & accessories make women feel confident.

In some ways not a lot has changed, except that it has all become a vast industry & women have become the pawns of image makers, multi national companies & "so called" celebrities. Women are bombarded daily with glossy photos of "perfection" which they are persuaded to aspire to.

According to "The beauty Economy" report in September 2015 - "The beauty industry is worth £17 billion to the UK economy, and consumers are expected to spend an average of £342.90 (each) on beauty and skincare this year".

Body dismorphia is a problem & increasing numbers of women are having plastic surgery. According to the British Association of Aesthetic and Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS)

The top surgical procedures for women in 2015 (46,526 total. A rise of 12.5% from 2014)
Women had 91% of all cosmetic procedures in 2015.
In order of popularity:

• Breast augmentation:                                     9,642 – up 12% from last year
• Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery):                   7,713 – up 12%
• Face/Neck Lift:                                              7,047 – up 16%
• Breast Reduction:                                           5,450 – up 13%
• Liposuction:                                                    4,965 – up 20%
• Rhinoplasty:                                                    3,393 – up 14%
• Fat Transfer:                                                    3,001 – up   3%
• Abdominoplasty:                                             2,816 – up   8%
• Browlift:                                                          1,946 – up   6%
• Otoplasty (ear correction):                              553 – up 15%

How delightful then to see Hillary Clinton bravely going to her first public engagement since the debacle of the US Presidential Elections without make up. She is 2 years younger than me, born in 1947. Needless to say the public reaction has been mixed. Personally I admire her hugely. Any woman in such a public position prepeared to "face down" the judgemental public in this way deserves to be applauded. It's literally a "Slap" in the Face to her detractors.

She's an amazing woman - Sadly their loss.