Truly Beautiful People

For some reason, I’ve stumbled across at least three different online articles in the past week or so which all list a number of “Ugly Celebrities.” What a horrible thing to list! Simply because these people don’t conform to classic standards of beauty, some anonymous online list-makers felt the need to hold them up to public scrutiny and mock their physical appearance. Actors and other celebrities certainly open themselves up to some degree of public scrutiny by the nature of their business. But to make a list of ugly celebrities is cruel and unnecessary.

So I’ve decided that it’s time to make a list of celebrities who may not conform to Hollywood’s image of ideal physical beauty, but who are truly beautiful because of their actions. 

Rupert Grint’s childhood ambition was to drive an ice cream truck. So one of the first things he bought with his earnings from the Harry Potter movies was an ice cream truck. Once he realized that children were always chasing him down wanting ice cream, he decided he’d better keep it stocked with ice cream at all times. But since he doesn’t have a vendor license, he can’t sell his ice cream. So instead, he gives it away. He drives around local villages looking for kids who look like they could use some ice cream, parks, and hands it out. He also personally supports multiple charitable organizations. That’s beautiful.

In 1992, Chuck Norris launched an organization in his home state of Texas called KickStart Kids, which uses the study of martial arts to give middle school students the tools and skills to resolve conflicts, avoid gang membership, stay away from drugs, handle peer pressure, and finish school. That’s beautiful.

Elton John hosts an annual fundraising ball in his own home to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which he established in 1992. He also hosts post-Grammy and post-Oscar parties to raise funds for his charity. In addition, he gives generously to many other charitable organizations, including such varied causes as supporting equal rights, diabetes and breast cancer research, food banks and homeless shelters, rainforests, the arts, anti-bullying, and many children’s causes. That’s beautiful.

Gary Sinese is a familiar face in the world of supporting veterans’ causes. The Gary Sinese Foundation, which he began in 2011, supports multiple programs to assist wounded veterans regain their physical independence (including building custom wheelchair-accessible homes and providing specialty vehicles accommodating multiple physical limitations); to assist veterans and their families in dealing with the emotional trauma of returning from combat; to provide scholarships, training, and outreach to first responders and their families; to provide hearty, healthy meals to veterans and current military members; and to establish arts and entertainment outreach programs throughout the country. That’s beautiful.

Kelly Clarkson founded the Fruition Fund, part of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, to direct funds to existing organizations in support of medical research, children’s charities, and food assistance. She recruited more than a dozen fellow celebrities to perform in the Fund’s inaugural fundraising concert in December 2014. In addition, she personally supports dozens of educational, medical, children’s, and veterans’ charities. That’s beautiful.

None of these celebrities regularly hits the "Most Beautiful People" list in any magazine. None of them quite conforms to Hollywood's standards of classic beauty and pristine perfection. And yet, they are among the most truly beautiful celebrities alive today, at least in one sense of the word "beautiful." The most important sense, I'd say. 

So tell me: which list would you rather be on, the “Most Beautiful People” list or the “Most Truly Beautiful People” list?

The 2013 ACM Awards, or, You Won't See THIS at the Oscars

Country music has a fashion sense all its own. Boots, Stetsons, alligator skin, shorts, big hair, denim. It’s all part of the phenomenon that is country. Of course, there are always plenty of celebrities who wear more traditional “red carpet couture” to the ACMs, but where’s the fun in that? You can tune in to the Oscars, the Golden Globes, and even the Emmys to see that. But only at the Academy of Country Music Awards will you see gems like these:

Leopard print, tiered ruffles, a bustier, rhinestones, spiked platinum hair, and red platform stilettos. The only thing Tobi Lee seems to be missing is an obnoxious hat. Well, and good posture. Didn’t your mama teach you to stand up straight, honey?

The flesh-colored tutu/corset combined with snakeskin cowboy boots makes RaeLynn look like a six-year-old playing dress-up in Mommy’s and Daddy’s closets. The bright red flower and matching lips are a terrific pop of color, though. And her Mama (and possibly her ballet teacher) did teach her good posture.

Shania Twain goes slightly more conservative but very distinctly country in an all-black ensemble including thigh-high boots and a flared thigh-length strapless minidress with a trailing sash. On most women, this outfit would look like a shapeless sack but Twain pulls it off beautifully.

Somewhat less successful in the all-black category was Tori Kelly. Any one of these elements – belted leather shorts, tailored tux jacket, demure black-and-white buttoned-up shirt, and fabulous ankle-tied pointy pumps – could have worked. But the combination looks disproportionate and confused. And the frizzy, dark-rooted, non-hairstyle isn’t helping her cause any.

 

A few stars went for a more traditional look but gave it a nice country twist.

Carrie Underwood, a perpetual fashion favorite of mine, hit it out of the park with this traditionally-cut gown covered in giant pink and red peonies, accented with a wide black sash and matching clutch, and topped with a loose, messy updo.

Sheryl Crow opted for a traditional corset-style top but paired it with flowing harem pants. I’m not sure I love it in this still photo, but having seen similar styles in motion, I imagine the outfit had a lovely sweeping line as she moved, and the slight informality of pants is perfectly appropriate for the ACMs, and for Crow’s personality. She could have used a bit more color in her necklace than the gold that vanishes against her bronze skin, however.

Others tried a bit too hard to be avant-garde and unconventional.

Kaley Cuoco looked out of place in this admittedly fantastic dress that could have worked if she’d topped it with something other than this odd, faux/1980s tall bangs hairstyle and nude lips/Sharpie eyeliner combo. Based on her expression, I think she realized it was a misstep but by then it was too late.

I really like the trend of shorter, simpler, cocktail-style dresses that I saw at the ACMs.

Although I miss Kelly Clarkson’s darker locks, this gorgeous electric turquoise looks stunning with her blonde hair, and the pointy gold shoes are perfect.

Lauren Akins went even simpler in this plain peach dress with a slightly full skirt, a V-neck filled in with a big silver necklace, and strappy black sandals – and, of course, a perfect, and perfectly-coordinated, pedicure. Top it off with long, tousled, sun-kissed wavy locks and a cute guy on her arm, and she already looks like a winner.

A few other notable looks worth mentioning:

Beth Chapman cannot have an easy figure to dress, but she looks absolutely stunning in this pale-pink Grecian-inspired gown with impressive support (if also impressive cleavage), just a hint of silver detailing, and perfect pink piggies peeking out from under her hem.

Taylor Swift and Jana Kramer wore very similar metallic gowns with rhinestone-encrusted scoop necks and Art Deco patterns. Perhaps a bit dressy for the ACMs, but lovely and flattering without being too over the top. And both were wise enough to choose simple hairstyles and understated makeup and jewelry to avoid overpowering the intricacy of the gowns.

 

On the whole, the fashions at the ACMs were fun and flattering. There were beautiful bright colored gowns in yellow, deep rose, rich peach, and royal blue. There were peplums and keyholes and asymmetrical hems. There were black gowns with splashes of color in bags, shoes, and mani-pedis. There were short dresses, long gowns, pants, and shorts. There was hair up, hair down, hair curly, and hair straight. But the thing that I liked best is that with very few exceptions, there were big smiles. And if you’re having fun, who cares what anyone thinks about what you’re wearing? Even if you’re wearing a leopard print bustier and red platform stilettos.