***DISCLAIMER: I love this show (so entertaining and addictive), but there are lots of problems with the societal implications of the way beauty and women are depicted***
The Only Way is Essex (TOWIE) is a British program similar to a trashier, funnier version of The Hills- going 9 seasons strong! The show touts the young people of Essex as being beautiful and glamourous. Although the show is extremely amusing and a very fake reality program (as far as reality goes), the focus relies much too heavily on outer appearance- specifically for women.
Many of the characters are clearly funny and intelligent- many of the main female characters even own their own businesses. For example, Jess owns her own lingerie company; Lauren G has a spray tan company; Amy had her own salon and later her own show; Lauren P is a famous DJ; Sam, Lucy, and Lydia have their own clothing boutiques; and Gemma has her own clothing line. On the other hand, the only man to own his own company on the show across all seasons is middle-aged Mick (multiple club owner). However, the (only) homosexual character Bobby opens his beauty school on the show (though it seems his business does not last when he claims to also plan to start an event planning company and the salon is never shown again). Finally in season 8, the Puck-type Joey "Essex" also opens his own store- but the audience cannot take Joey seriously as an actual business owner- is this also a joke of the show? Nevertheless, the show tends to focus on petty arguments (always revolving around the incestual rotation of the cast members' hookups and relationships) and outer appearances (not only displaying how the people look, but most conversations regard how characters look or how they can improve their looks) rather than true accomplishments of the cast members to provide a more entertaining viewing experience. For example, Lucy and Mario call off their engagement not only because they feel that they are too young to get married, but also because other people are gossiping about their impending marriage. In season 7, Mick is criticized as being a Hugh Hefner type because he hires many play boy bunny-esque (called Sugar Hut Hunnies, but also similar to Hooters Girls) who are overtly sexualized in their professional roles, but also the way they are portrayed on the show. Video shots zoom in on their cleavage, 'bums,' and even the Hunnies are blamed for the cause of fights- whether between Mick and Gemma or Lucy and Mario. Although unrelated, the women are always presented by the show as to blame because of their seductive/ irresistible looks.
Even when it comes to sports, beauty rather than athleticism is the focus. In the season 7 finale, the girls play the English Netball team. Mario comments that the TOWIE girls 'have better make up.' All of the TOWIE girls have their hair down, sparkly purple jerseys, and sparkly purple nails. On the other hand, the official English Netball team women have their hair in pony tails- probably to avoid getting hair pulled or keep distracting hair out of their faces- typical of playing sports. The contrast makes the TOWIE girls seem ridiculous. Even on sports days and at the gym, TOWIE girls have full faces of make up and hair down. No one would run miles, box, or do yoga with their hair (which falls down their ass) down. Lauren G among others wear their (very long) hair down during a yoga session taught by Billi. Billi and Cara actually run the London Marathon with Arg, but much conversation regarding their training and even during the race is how they look- whether their extensions look well, how false lashes have stayed on, and that they haven't sweat off their tans. Of course, both women are congratulated for their accomplishment, but much of the achievement seems to be attributed to looking good while running (in be-dazzled tops).
The implication is that women specifically cannot succeed or are uninteresting (to view on television and for other characters to date) if they do not focus the majority of their efforts on outer appearances. Many females tend to display very ugly behavior with one another, though such actions are likely brought on for better ratings by producers as entirely or partially fake.
Another major implication is that women can never be beautiful enough- both because of the 'way' men behave/ think and the imminent 'competition' in Essex (i.e. society). Chloe, a main character on the show who appears to be little more than plastic, is occasionally funny and seems to be tricking the audience with her obviously posed stupidity. She has magnificent one-liners, but only likely because she rarely talks- she is more of a character to look at while she listens to other characters talk. When Chloe does speak, she reveals very little about her personal life (with the exception of in season 7 revealing a secret boyfriend of 5 years who was cheating on her). Otherwise, she goes on fake dates and discusses past and future cosmetic surgeries. She talks about facial botox, boob jobs, liposuction, and bum implants- in addition to the required hair extensions, blow outs, piles of make up, false lashes, fake tan, and mani-pedis for cast members to maintain on and off- air. Chloe constantly discusses looking ugly in the past and lacking confidence in her looks in the present. She constantly discusses new surgeries she could get to improve her confidence and 'keep up' with the competition in Essex because 'there are so many beautiful girls.' Many of the other women on the show constantly worry/ complain about their appearance. For example, Cara gets minor liposuction, Lauren G is always dieting, and Gemma is constantly being berated for being overweight. Even when Lucy changes her hair color, everyone from her boyfriend to friends fuss as if she made a drastic, life changing decision- more than opening her own boutique. The girls never look good enough, and always have to try to look better than other characters or Essex-ers.
To an extent, looks are also important to determining the value of men- though not as much as for women. Arg, an overweight main character throughout seasons, is always put down by 'friends' and other cast members for being heavier and less attractive than the other men on the show. Although Arg tries and occasionally succeeds to lose weight, it usually occurs with lots of insults and complaints. Arg gets a cue ball hait cut and is made fun of. Arg runs a marathon and is made fun of (when in training and for potentially failing to complete the marathon being that he is overweight). Arg was also constantly being compared to his much better looking best friend, Mark, who appeared in the first few seasons of the show. On the other hand, Mark then Mario were touted as the attractive/ ideal male characters- attractive faces, great bodies (always in the gym), perfect hair, charming smiles, and constantly (pulling women- or cheating when in relationships). Mario is particularly fetishized as being an Italian, rich stud. Mario's best friend, "Little" Chris, complains of insults about his height/ weight/ attractiveness in the season 8 premiere. Young Joey "Essex" is also displayed as an attractive boy, though only a boy because he is about 21 on the show. He is clearly attractive, but quite skinny and very funny. He serves as more of a joke than an attractive male figure. Joey's best friend, Diags, is constantly being made fun of for being ugly, though Chloe voices strong affection towards him because he is "funny." The masculinity of Charlie is also constantly questioned because although he is attractive, fit, and tall- his quietness and friendship with Bobby pose a constant possibility of bisexuality (which seems to be oddly problematic/ controversial in Essex/ British tv culture). While beauty can always be improved for women, men on the show can be redeemed for having lots of money and/or being funny. In other words, factors (whether shallow or not) other than looks attribute to personal value of male TOWIE characters.
Overall, by presenting women as only being good 'for looks,' but never pretty enough, women are considered failures as a gender. They rely on men for validation, though (as in real life) women need to achieve self-actualization in their looks, personality, and smarts to escape this perpetuation of misogyny.
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We live in a society of bigger, better, badder. Everyone is always looking for a level up or some sort of improvement. People look left and right, just to pick up the next thing on the street. In this world there are so many options- for school, work, significant others, friends- it is hard to make some one commit or feel sure of anything. How can one determine that something/ some one is truly good enough to prevent a rejection for the next best thing? There seems to be little commitment and lots of throwing looks around- but maybe that is a stereotypical view of me being a supposed '20-something.'
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