There was a meme doing the rounds on social media on Monday, after over 100 million people tuned in for the Super Bowl and its famous Halftime show for which Jennifer Lopez and Shakira co-headlined.
On the left, a photo of Golden Girls' lusty widow Blanche Devereaux, and on the right, an image of Jennifer Lopez hoisting herself on a pole during the Halftime Show. The point was to show just how much being 50 has changed since 1985. I mean, Blanche could be JLo's grandma and there yet is a mere one-year age difference between them when each photo was taken.
But amid all the "yas queen"'s, "slaaays" and some disgruntled viewers who labelled the high-energy, salacious performance as "trashy", a discussion emerged from disillusioned women who believed JLo's incredible physical appearance was making the rest of us look bad.
"I feel personally judged by JLo's body," New York Times opinion writer Jennifer Weiner argued, "are we really supposed to look this good at 50 now?" with the writer noting that she herself was three months younger than the Puerto Rican pop star.
Celebrities have long been accused of setting 'unrealistic' beauty standards, which in turn is said to have a damaging, unhealthy impact on the self-esteems of regular women, most notably young impressionable teenagers. I certainly felt that pressure growing up.
But having recently entered my 30s, I see these women in a different and arguably healthier light. To look like Jennifer Lopez at 50 is realistic… if you have an estimated net worth of $400 million, 10 hours to prep for an event, and a team of hairstylists, makeup artists, personal trainers, etc. Another question to ponder is why aren't professional women athletes, who need to be in peak physical condition to succeed, ever criticised in the same way?
Lopez's makeup artist Scott Barnes told Elle.com it took from 10.30am, from his team's arrival at Lopez's house, to 5.30pm to complete the look—not to mention all the touch-ups that occurred right up until showtime. (I am also reminded of that video Kate Beckinsale shared to Instagram of her getting ready for the Critic's Choice Awards where two men are fussing over her hair and legs (??) which made me ponder just how weird it is to be a celebrity.)
The physical preparation JLo's high-octane performance at the Super Bowl would have been considerable as well, and it was good timing to be off the back of her training for the film Hustlers in which she plays a stripper. Lopez said learning how to pole dance "might be one of the hardest" things she's ever had to learn: an hour four times a week for months in the lead up to filming and working muscles she didn't know she had. And that's for someone who, with just one glance at her Instagram, is obviously already super fit.
It's only fair to assume JLo has dietitians, personal chefs, and personal trainers to ensure she's eating right and keeping to an exercise schedule to maintain her physique. If I had all those resources and time at my disposal, I would probably look like JLo, too, but the reality is I don't and neither do most women. It really does take a village and us mere mortals shouldn't forget that.