~* Ash *~
A few months ago, I counted down the best and worst wedding reality shows. However, there is a new winner in the worst category: Bridalplasty.
Remember that show a few years ago, The Swan? They chose women who were physically unattractive and emotionally insecure to get extreme "holistic" makeovers (i.e. total body plastic surgery, cosmetic dentistry, and therapy).
Once the participants felt good about themselves -- often for the first time in their lives, they had to compete in a beauty pageant against other former "ugly ducklings."
Yep, pretty screwed up.
Believe it or not, Bridalplasty was worse than that. It's like The Swan, Bridezillas, Platinum Weddings, Survivor, and The Bachelor all rolled up into one ball of moral bankruptcy. I've watched this show like a train wreck for a few months, and the only good thing about it is that it's finally over.
Bridalplasty, hosted by a former Miss USA, featured 12 women on a quest to become the "perfect" bride. Each week, the women participated in a wedding-related challenge involving their vows, their dress, sex, honesty with their fiancé, compatibility with their mother-in-law, or some other matrimonial issues. At the end of the challenge, three bottom brides would be at risk of leaving the show. The elimination ceremony consisted of the remaining brides RSVPing to the wedding of the bottom bride who they would like to see remain. The bride with the least RSVPs would leave.
Along the way, brides would add items to their bridal closet. The top designers and headliners in the industry would come in and wow the women with cakes, jewelry, flowers, and dresses that would make even the most platinum of brides drool. At the end of the show, the winner would get to keep all of the items in her bridal closet and have her dream wedding.
Not so bad, but there's a twist. The brides were also trying to check items off of their plastic surgery "wish list."
In fact, the winner of each challenge was immediately whisked away to get one item of choice checked off (most women started with nose jobs and breast implants). The winner of the show received all of the plastic surgery procedures on her list before the big day.
I'm not against cosmetic surgery, but the whole perception of needing it to be a "perfect bride" is just disgusting. In fact, the women were all beautiful before the competition started! The sight of these gorgeous women fawning over contestants who came back to the mansion covered in bandages and drugged was sick. More than once, a runner-up cried, "Wow! That should've been me in the recovery room!"
In fact, one contestant got kicked off because the other brides thought that she "just" wanted the wedding and the items on her plastic surgery wish list (nose job, breast implants, teeth whitening, botox, and filler for her upper lip) were too minor. Her back story? She and her fiancé had a quickie wedding so that her mother, who was diagnosed with cancer, could be there.
Another contestant, who ultimately won, was criticized for being negative and bitter. Her back story? She and her fiancé had already planned and canceled two weddings when they successively lost their jobs. They went from a big wedding and a secure future to barely being able to pay their electricity bills. I wouldn't exactly be Suzy Sunshine in that situation either.
The whole show glorified superficiality. Even the line that was said when the brides got kicked off was ridiculous, "Your wedding will still go on. It just won't be perfect."
Let's sum this up. Being the perfect bride means: 1) not being allowed to see my fiancé or my mother in the four months leading up to my wedding, 2) making critical detail decisions not with bridesmaids or friends, but with a planner who I just met, 3) living with and competing against whiny, back-stabbing bridezillas, and 4) going under the knife multiple times.
I spent the last four months before my wedding planning with Lu, having parties with friends and family, and finishing counseling with people who I respected.... I'm so glad I wasn't the perfect bride.
Remember that show a few years ago, The Swan? They chose women who were physically unattractive and emotionally insecure to get extreme "holistic" makeovers (i.e. total body plastic surgery, cosmetic dentistry, and therapy).
Once the participants felt good about themselves -- often for the first time in their lives, they had to compete in a beauty pageant against other former "ugly ducklings."
Yep, pretty screwed up.
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| The Swan Pageant |
Bridalplasty, hosted by a former Miss USA, featured 12 women on a quest to become the "perfect" bride. Each week, the women participated in a wedding-related challenge involving their vows, their dress, sex, honesty with their fiancé, compatibility with their mother-in-law, or some other matrimonial issues. At the end of the challenge, three bottom brides would be at risk of leaving the show. The elimination ceremony consisted of the remaining brides RSVPing to the wedding of the bottom bride who they would like to see remain. The bride with the least RSVPs would leave.
Along the way, brides would add items to their bridal closet. The top designers and headliners in the industry would come in and wow the women with cakes, jewelry, flowers, and dresses that would make even the most platinum of brides drool. At the end of the show, the winner would get to keep all of the items in her bridal closet and have her dream wedding.
Not so bad, but there's a twist. The brides were also trying to check items off of their plastic surgery "wish list."
In fact, the winner of each challenge was immediately whisked away to get one item of choice checked off (most women started with nose jobs and breast implants). The winner of the show received all of the plastic surgery procedures on her list before the big day.
I'm not against cosmetic surgery, but the whole perception of needing it to be a "perfect bride" is just disgusting. In fact, the women were all beautiful before the competition started! The sight of these gorgeous women fawning over contestants who came back to the mansion covered in bandages and drugged was sick. More than once, a runner-up cried, "Wow! That should've been me in the recovery room!"
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| No, this isn't after the surgeries: the "before" picture. |
Another contestant, who ultimately won, was criticized for being negative and bitter. Her back story? She and her fiancé had already planned and canceled two weddings when they successively lost their jobs. They went from a big wedding and a secure future to barely being able to pay their electricity bills. I wouldn't exactly be Suzy Sunshine in that situation either.
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| Perfect bride? |
Let's sum this up. Being the perfect bride means: 1) not being allowed to see my fiancé or my mother in the four months leading up to my wedding, 2) making critical detail decisions not with bridesmaids or friends, but with a planner who I just met, 3) living with and competing against whiny, back-stabbing bridezillas, and 4) going under the knife multiple times.
I spent the last four months before my wedding planning with Lu, having parties with friends and family, and finishing counseling with people who I respected.... I'm so glad I wasn't the perfect bride.
Great post! "Imperfect brides" are the most beautiful brides.
And a great example of the huge disconnect between reality TV and real life. I can just feel myself getting dumber watching shows like this. Whatever happened to classic sitcoms that were actually relatable?
This is hilarious!
LOL. That show was hilarious but you are TOTALLY right! :)
The craziest part is that it's real! Can you believe people are actually that desperate for some fake boobs and a designer gown?!
I know it was crazy! and they were stabbing the other brides in the back just to get to win! The runner-up especially! I believe God gave us the body we are born with, and we shouldn't have surgery to alter it, unless we will benefit from it health-wise (such as nose jobs to help increase breathing through the nose, and snoring).