Gorgeous Girl Syndrome

Phantom Pain

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20080701_Jenice_Armstrong__Gorgeous_girl_syndrome_.html



Jenice Armstrong: Gorgeous girl syndrome?
By Jenice Armstrong
Philadelphia Daily News

Daily News Columnist

WAS THE 20-year-old Russian model's apparent suicide Saturday a case of yet another beautiful woman having achieved too much career success too soon?
Did Ruslana Korshunova fall victim to what I call the gorgeous girl syndrome in which high-profile models or actresses are so worshipped for their external attributes that no one, including themselves, tends to what's going on inside?

At this point, we can only speculate. Korshunova, the rising supermodel nicknamed the "Russian Rapunzel," is gone now, our last fleeting glimpse of her provided courtesy of Fox News, which tastelessly aired footage of her partially uncovered body lying on a New York City street. Her delicate, possibly blood-stained profile was visible in the clip. Even in death, this young woman's beauty was exploited.

It was a disturbing end to what could have been a career with much promise. Korshunova had gotten the kind of opportunities most wannabe models only dream of. She'd been featured on European magazine covers and strutted down catwalks for Nina Ricci, DKNY, Christian Dior and Marc Jacobs.

Even the story of how she was discovered is pure Hollywood: A native of the Soviet republic of Kazakhstan, Korshunova was plucked from obscurity by a modeling booker who saw her picture in an airline magazine.

After arriving in the United States while still a teenager, Korshunova managed to make inroads in a high-stakes industry known for chewing up girls faster than you can say America's next top model. But she was one of the so-called lucky ones; she was able to help financially support her family back home.

Still, it had to have been difficult for Korshunova, living so far from her family and having to compete in a high-stakes game in which participants are essentially professional clothes hangers. Gain weight, or do something else to fall out of favor with the designers and editors who do the hiring, and a model's career can just vanish.

Friends told the New York Post that the svelte 5-foot-8-inch model - a size 4 - had lost a significant amount of weight in recent weeks and had complained of a stomach ailment. On Saturday afternoon, Korshunova apparently jumped from the ninth-floor balcony of her New York City apartment. As other women her same age were going about their own lives, perhaps readying themselves for a night out with friends, Korshunova was ending hers, days before her 21st birthday.

A social networking site, on which she posted earlier this year, offered a few clues. One posting read, "I am so lost. Will I ever find myself?"

It's too late for Korshunova. But maybe her experience will serve as a warning for the next starry-eyed girl who dreams of making it big as a model. *

polaris

our lives are built on the superficial - sadly, this is a battle each of us must face not only within ourselves but to those around us ... not many win

Phantom Pain

polaris wrote:

our lives are built on the superficial - sadly, this is a battle each of us must face not only within ourselves but to those around us ... not many win

Unfortunately you're right

You usually hear about the depressed fat girl not the pretty model

NY PJ1

she landed right across the st. from where im typing this

libragirl

I think their is way too much pressure in that business. It's not very nice. It's a shame. Im glad Im average looking.

halszka123

I think it might be true.
That's happen when we try to satisfy others and forget about ourselves.
It's hard because we are society species.

No, it's stupid what I wrote. I don't know why we all don't have time for each other, and we don't care about each others. Maybe this is the point - this is the different between Earth and Heaven?
And we still pay not enough attention for poeple

polaris

libragirl wrote:

I think their is way too much pressure in that business. It's not very nice. It's a shame. Im glad Im average looking.

but can you say that you don't deep down wish you were prettier, taller, thinner, smarter, etc.??

Rhinocerous Surprise

That's pretty sad... but I can't help but feel that calling it "Gorgeous Girl Syndrome" just kind keeps the whole thing going. Even in protesting the exploitation of the girl's beauty, the writer exploited her beauty to make her the focal point for GGS. What's next, Pasty Nerd Syndrome? It's depression.

I'm taking it far too seriously, but I think I have something resembling a point.

libragirl

polaris wrote:

but can you say that you don't deep down wish you were prettier, taller, thinner, smarter, etc.??

Well sure sometimes, I think everyone does that. But I'm not going to jump out a window over it anytime soon..well not over that at least

polaris

libragirl wrote:

Well sure sometimes, I think everyone does that. But I'm not going to jump out a window over it anytime soon..well not over that at least

well ... you got firestarter power - so, that really isn't fair ...

stickfig13

I find it terribly hyprocritical of this author to say she was exploited when he himself has coined a "syndrome" after her. Not only did she kill herself, but this guy is making assumptions about someone he never met. Plus he is putting a label out there that people can use in the future.

Pretty or Ugly...People have to be pretty disturbed to kill themselves.

Swan

stickfig13 wrote:

I find it terribly hyprocritical of this author to say she was exploited when he himself has coined a "syndrome" after her. Not only did she kill herself, but this guy is making assumptions about someone he never met. Plus he is putting a label out there that people can use in the future.

Pretty or Ugly...People have to be pretty disturbed to kill themselves.

SHE the author is a she.

libragirl

polaris wrote:

well ... you got firestarter power - so, that really isn't fair ...

....That's why I have to be thankful for what I do have. Not everyone can make objects and people spontaneously combust.

libragirl

Swan wrote:

SHE the author is a she.

I thought so too..

stickfig13

Swan wrote:

SHE the author is a she.

whatever...my opinion remains the same.


Every pretty girl that does something irrational or harmful to themselves is going to have this new "syndrome". Pretty soon we'll have a syndrom for every type of person.

It's like ADD or OCD....Everyone seems to have it now

Swan

stickfig13 wrote:

whatever...my opinion remains the same.


Every pretty girl that does something irrational or harmful to themselves is going to have this new "syndrome". Pretty soon we'll have a syndrom for every type of person.

It's like ADD or OCD....Everyone seems to have it now

i don't have either of those, i might have pretty girl syndrome though.

eyedclaar

Swan wrote:

i don't have either of those, i might have pretty girl syndrome though.

C'mon, apparantly inventing syndromes is easy breezy Japaneezy... Why not go with "radiantly drop dead gorgeous surrounded by lepers" syndrome?

I need to think of a couple for myself...

Rhinocerous Surprise

eyedclaar wrote:

C'mon, apparantly inventing syndromes is easy breezy Japaneezy... Why not go with "radiantly drop dead gorgeous surrounded by lepers" syndrome?

I need to think of a couple for myself...

I'm a self-admitted victim of Generously Endowed (Both Physically and Mentally) Syndrome, or GE(BPAM)S.

Phantom Pain

stickfig13 wrote:

whatever...my opinion remains the same.


Every pretty girl that does something irrational or harmful to themselves is going to have this new "syndrome". Pretty soon we'll have a syndrom for every type of person.

It's like ADD or OCD....Everyone seems to have it now

I don't think every time something happens with a pretty model or actress they'll be labeled

Most times its drugs involved

I do agree with you that "syndrome" and "disease" gets thrown around a helluva lot these days !

given2fly78

Terribly, terribly tragic.

But unfortunately, looks play such a huge part in our society. Last weekend I went out shopping and I was wearing a ratty Pearl Jam t-shirt and shorts. No makeup, hair in a ponytail. Seriously, I was treated like crap. And I only noticed it because normally when I go shopping I'll go after work or if I can scoot out for a bit during work where I'm all decked out. And when I'm dressed up, I get the "Can I help you", "Look at this bag", "Where did you get those shoes?" crap. People fall over themselves to help when you LOOK the part.

It was the first time I'd really noticed how you dress affects how people treat you. It kind of made me nauseous.

Now, keep in mind, when I get dressed for work it's like I'm playing "dress up". The MOMENT I get home, I'm out of my heels and suit and into shorts or jammies. It's not natural for me, but it's part of the game.

But it's so sad how much pressure we have to look good, smell good, perfect makeup and hair. And I have to admit, I've fallen into the trap...even if it's only during working hours. But trust me, I'm no model. :-)

Heineken Helen

Rhinocerous Surprise wrote:

That's pretty sad... but I can't help but feel that calling it "Gorgeous Girl Syndrome" just kind keeps the whole thing going. Even in protesting the exploitation of the girl's beauty, the writer exploited her beauty to make her the focal point for GGS. What's next, Pasty Nerd Syndrome? It's depression.

I'm taking it far too seriously, but I think I have something resembling a point.

I think you have too ugly people kill themselves all the time... average looking people kill themselves... so... good looking people kill themselves too. I don't think it's a looks issue... I think it's more likely a mental health issue.