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Mariah Carey didn't just Photoshop herself, she put on armour Mariah Carey didn't just Photoshop herself, she put on armour
(3 months later)
Mariah Carey’s first studio album since 2009, Me. I Am Mariah Carey’s first studio album since 2009, Me. I Am Mariah … the Elusive Chanteuse, has become more of a talking point than anything she’s done in years. Not that anyone is discussing the music (which has been adjudged not bad at all). The conversation has focused on the title – which, understandably, has generated at least one blogpost on the worst LP titles of all time – and the sleeve picture.
Mariah … the Elusive Chanteuse, has The photo has a perfume-ad dreaminess: wearing a gold swimsuit, head flung back, Carey poses against the sunset, flanked by the words “Me. I am Mariah”. It would be standard-issue diva-glamour, but for the extent of the Photoshopping: Carey has had about 20 pounds airbrushed away, turning a woman known for her “curves” into a size-eight fantasy figure. When she appeared on American TV last week, the contrast between the picture and the reality inspired the Daily Mail to ask: “Do you wake up like that, Mariah? Carey is a far cry from heavily airbrushed image”, which was far politer than some below-the-line comments.
become more of a talking point than anything she’s done in years. Not that Admittedly, my first thought was: why did she do that? The unembellished Carey is so sumptuous that it’s hard to understand her rationale. Yes, a patriarchal society demands that even 44-year-old women who’ve sold 220 million records disport themselves like teenagers; yes, Carey’s last album was one of her least successful, so there is much riding on the new one. And, yes, she’s entering the no-woman’s-land of middle age, and there are young competitors in her rear-view mirror. Despite this, I thought she was too powerful, and seemingly too self-aware, to have done something so counter-productive.
anyone is discussing the music (which has been adjudged not bad at all). The Then it dawned – this is a strong woman doing what she has to do. In a climate where even the looks of opera singers are scrutinised, Carey has been proactive. Though she could have gone natural – and waited for the inevitable fat-shaming comments – she’s taken control. By slimming down on the album cover, she’s wearing her assets exactly as male musicians do when they flash their jewellery. She knows that women’s vulnerability is constantly exploited in the music business – that photo is her with her armour on.
conversation has focused on the title – which, understandably, has generated at And it’s far better to change her figure digitally than through cosmetic surgery. The latter has become a way for female pop stars to satisfy fans’ expectations of how they should look; stories abound of women getting tummy tucks immediately after giving birth, and more. Carey, who has three-year-old twins, hasn’t done that. But, clearly, she’s aware that when she releases a record, the public want artifice – the Wizard of Oz, not the reality behind the curtain.
least one blogpost on the worst LP titles of all time – and the sleeve picture. Some members of her fanbase, the “Lambily” (could she not have called them something sensible, like Mariahnettes?), are dismayed at the airbrushing. That in itself is tantamount to shaming her. Decrying her decision to do what she had to do isn’t all that different from celeb mags that point fingers at cellulite while feigning concern about how a woman has let herself go.
In the way that counts most, though, Carey is no fake. Her voice, still one of pop’s wonders, is the real deal. Beyond that, who cares?
The photo has a perfume-ad dreaminess: wearing a gold swimsuit,
head flung back, Carey poses against the sunset, flanked by the words “Me. I am
Mariah”. It would be standard-issue diva-glamour, but for the extent of the Photoshopping:
Carey has had about 20 pounds airbrushed away, turning a woman known for her “curves”
into a size-eight fantasy figure. When she appeared on American TV last week,
the contrast between the picture and
the reality inspired the Daily Mail to ask: “Do you wake up like that, Mariah?
Carey is a far cry from heavily airbrushed image”, which was far politer than some below-the-line comments.
Admittedly, my first thought was:
why did she do that? The unembellished Carey is so sumptuous that it’s hard to
understand her rationale. Yes, a patriarchal society demands that even 44-year-old
women who’ve sold 220 million records disport themselves like teenagers; yes, Carey’s
last album was one of her least successful, so
there is much riding on the new one. And, yes, she’s entering the no-woman’s-land
of middle age, and there are young competitors in her rear-view mirror. Despite
this, I thought she was too powerful, and seemingly too self-aware, to have done something so counter-productive.
Then it dawned – this is a
strong woman doing what she has to do. In a climate where even the looks of opera
singers are scrutinised, Carey has been proactive. Though she could
have gone natural – and waited for the inevitable fat-shaming comments – she’s taken
control. By slimming down on the album cover, she’s wearing her assets exactly
as male musicians do when they flash their jewellery. She knows that women’s vulnerability
is constantly exploited in the music business – that photo is her with her
armour on.
And it’s far better to change her figure
digitally than through cosmetic surgery. The latter has become a way for female
pop stars to satisfy fans’ expectations of how they should look; stories abound of women
getting tummy tucks immediately after giving birth, and more. Carey, who has
three-year-old twins, hasn’t done that. But, clearly, she’s aware that when she
releases a record, the public want artifice – the Wizard of Oz, not the reality behind the curtain.
Some members of her fanbase, the “Lambily”
(could she not have called them something sensible, like Mariahnettes?), are
dismayed at the airbrushing. That in itself is tantamount to shaming her. Decrying
her decision to do what she had to do isn’t all that different from celeb mags
that point fingers at cellulite while feigning concern about how a woman has
let herself go.
In the way that counts most,
though, Carey is no fake. Her voice, still one of pop’s wonders, is the real
deal. Beyond that, who cares?