Ok, so if you have been keeping up with social media, been in Central, seen advertisements of half naked men, been recruited around town, or heard obnoxious testosterone noise pollution in Hong Kong- you probably know Abercrombie & Fitch is opening on August 11th in Central, right by the MTR station.
I’m just going to be honest and put it out there that I really don’t care for the giant flagship store that caused Shanghai Tang and other store owners to close down and lose their job. More over, I don’t care about the 100+ male models that were flown in for promotion. Don’t get me wrong, they are hot and really good looking, I also definitely understand all the infatuation with them but is all the hype really necessary?
I don’t blame all the girls and picture snapping woo-ing these guys boosting their ego, but I do blame the way they are advertised. It’s one thing to have a few guys outside the store, but its another to have a parade of “play-boys” riding around town half naked screaming and clapping. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, just click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3RVfb4EkOY&feature=youtu.be&hd=1
The image of a “perfect” guy or girl is already skewed in our world. To be hot and popular, girls have to be almost anorexic and guys have to have 8 packs and every muscle defined. To be totally transparent, I love working out and I want to look like those female olympic athletes but I’m willing to eat nutritious and work for it- while not comprising my health to fit into the “worlds norm”.
With all these guys walking around town, and the way they are promoted (aka, the YouTube video focused on their defined 8 packs), we are adding to this unrealistic image and unrealistic expectations for both females and males. The following quote is an example, taken from a random tumblr page (sorry!):
“But yeah got some photos with some of the dudes but OMG I can’t believe it happened and OMG I’m going Mad, Whole new standards for the men now for me… Seriously I died inside…”
With that being said…
- DEAR MALES: it’s absolutely ok to NOT look like Abercrombie & Fitch models, if you do… great! We are impressed but don’t be a jerk just because you are hot. Keep your ego in tact. If you want to look like them, do your research and do it the right way. It’s not as easy as it looks.
- DEAR FEMALES: Stop telling your boyfriend to look like that. Stop judging guys by the amount of muscles and six packs they have. Yeah, they look amazing. but you know what? if they treat you like a princess, give you comfort and security- that’s even more amazing!
I am absolutely not judging models, especially because I have some good friends who are but all I’m saying is, think twice next time before you drool over these men or put yourself down because you don’t look like that.
You are beautiful just as you are.
You are handsome just as you are.
Don’t let the world’s expectations get in the way of being YOURSELF.
Joanne Lam 