What Would You Do If You Woke Up Tomorrow and You Were Beautiful?
“What would you do if you woke up tomorrow and you were beautiful?” That question was asked of comedy star and actress Margaret Cho when she was a guest on a radio show. The person posing the question was a male disc jockey. Totally taken aback by the effrontery of the query, Cho responded, “What do you mean?”
Her interviewer continued, “What if you woke up tomorrow and you were blonde, and you had blue eyes, and you were 5’11”, and you weighed 100 pounds, and you were beautiful? What would you do?” Cho, with rapier wit replied, “I probably wouldn’t get up because I’d be too weak to stand.” (Note: The Metropolitan Life weight tables for women put a small framed woman of that height at the starting weight of 138; a large framed woman is within the healthy range at up to 170 pounds.)
Everyday young girls and women are being bombarded with images that set the standards for what constitutes visual attractiveness in our culture. Cho knows about these strictures first hand, and addresses them in her standup comedy special on Showtime entitled “Beautiful.” Filmed nine days before the presidential election, Cho’s act is political, provocative, and at times raunchy. Taking on issues of race, sexuality, and identity, Cho – in her fifth stand-up comedy film – recounts her experience and reaction to the radio personality who felt that she was missing the “beauty boat.”
“I felt sorry for him,” Cho tells the audience, “because if that’s the only kind of person you think is beautiful, you must not see very much beauty at all in the world.”
With her deadpan delivery she told the crowd, “I’m into complimenting myself, and I think you should do the same.” Rhetorically asking, “What is beautiful?” she informed her listeners, “I’m coming out of the beautiful closet.”
Add A New CommentWe value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
Add A New Comment1 Comments
What Would You Do If You Woke Up Tomorrow and You Were Beautiful?
Answer: Anything I like.
Tomorrow would look like today and yesterday and every day since I was born. I am beautiful.