When Mad Men premiered in 2007, the world was introduced to Joan Holloway. Who is she? Let's just say that at Sterling Cooper there are the businessmen, the secretaries, and then there is Joan. As office manager of an ad agency, her responsibilities are the administer the secretaries and ensure all the boys are happy. And as head of the secretarial department, she makes sure no other girl can top her. With her curvaceousness, men can only want and girls can only envy. Mattel hadn't made Barbie Dolls yet in 1959, but Hollywood did make Marilyn Monroe, who only came second.
So why are we infatuated with such a "dated" character?
It's an uproar trying to understand what beauty is today. We are surrounded by advertisements defining beauty materialistically. Girls are often misguided to what sells and what doesn't. Problems with body image can be extremely toxic especially with the way we perceive life. It can damage our health, self-esteem, and relationships. Sometimes the mirror becomes our worst enemy.
As a girl who inherited my mother's boobs and butt, I know how it feels being stuck. My weight seesaws all ranges of a medium frame. But fortunately I never experienced a serious weight issue. Sure, I make resolutions but you know how that goes. During high school, I began to really indulge myself in art and music. I fell in love with artists of all sorts. I found beauty in the works produced and the energies possessed. Looks became transparent because it's really a person's spirit that fascinates me. Somewhere between Billy Holiday and Selma Hayak, I just began embracing my curves and the rest of what I am. I stopped caring what others thought of me. The ones that judge me by my looks are mostly strangers anyway; they'll come and go.
In a way, it affected how others view me. I've learned that vanity's distance is at my command. If I'm not self-conscious about my appearance, others won't be around me either. I have found myself on the other side, too. My enthusiasm level elevates when I'm with friends who consider themselves "big and beautiful". It brings me to appreciate who I am, inside and out... which leads me to Joan.
The creator of Mad Men, Matthew Weiner, did not intend Joan's character to turn out who she is today. He had imagined her as a sweet lady with a light sense of humor ("...Eve Arden, Helen Gurley Brown kind of comic-relief" character." ). However, Christina Hendricks auditioned for the role with a devilish charm. Her twist in the character proved irresistible and added a new spectrum to the show. And in a way, it became about her. Through Hendricks, Joan is portrayed effortlessly with attitude and agenda. Her red hair adds icing to the cake, as if her presence wasn't demanding enough.
Joan Holloway brings an entire fresh sense to our adulterated eyes. Why? Because we think she has an ordinary body but she doesn't know it. We think she needs to lose a few pounds but she finds her curves sexy. It's almost dangerous looking at her because she is way too comfortable in her own skin. Joan's air of confidence peaks with delicate strength. Like an epidemic, we begin envying her curves, her hips and her bold, red hair. Over more, we fall in love with her self-esteem, confidence, energy and confidence. And that's really girls really want.
Joan celebrates her own individualism and doesn't care what others think. However, I know there are a handful of girls who are getting their hair colored red like Christina Hendricks (who plays Joan magnificently). They are only celebrating beauty by emulating others physically, instead of treasuring themselves as individuals. It defeats the purpose of why we love Joan Holloway in the first place. But on the other hand, a countless amount of women gained a new-found boost of energy in themselves. Once you find the mindset of truly loving yourself, it brings a fresh element of taste.
We only have one body to live in, so why not get comfortable? After all, we are all already beautiful.
jeanie
