Brazilian Women Vainest in World -Study

[matcom]

<snip>

BRASILIA, Brazil (Reuters) - Brazilian (news - web sites) women care more about their appearance than any other women in the world, with half prepared to undergo plastic surgery to keep their looks, a recent study shows.

In Brazil, where being called "vain" is often a compliment suggesting self-respect, 86 percent of women said they tried extremely hard to improve their looks compared with an average of 67 percent worldwide, according to the 2003 global women's survey by cosmetics company Avon.

Ninety percent of Brazilian women classified beauty products as an essential rather than a luxury, compared with an average of 77 percent worldwide, Avon said, citing its survey of 21,000 women in 24 countries.

Avon's official explanation for Brazilian womens' beauty conciousness was their struggle to enter a job market where they are still well under-represented in many fields.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=573&ncid=573&e=1&u=/nm/20030901/od_nm/life_brazil_vanity_dc

[Sushi_lover]

1. Survey was probably done at the cosmetics counter

[coralrf]

2. Go there...and you will see why.

The women of that country are often considered the most beautiful in the world. In South Brazil there is no end to the parade of fantastic looking women. Overweight flab, unkempt K-Mart rags, home-dyed coifs and TV orchestrated frumpery is not tolerated there.

A girl I know:

http://groups.msn.com/RichardsStuff/tatiana.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=276

Look at the hands, the eyes and the slender body. She is in her 40’s. This picture was taken in Peru on our way to Macchu Picchu and on to Brazil.

[Darth_Kitten]

3. Yes, let's not judge women.....

by their looks. Don't get worried, gals, because it really doesn't matter. :eyes:

[coralrf]

4. It seems not to in the USA..

a country known for its obese mummu wearing slobs. Personally, I think it does matter as it is a testament of how you treat yourself.

There is no reason not to work with what you have. No woman needs to be a K mart Hippo but all too many in this country are. Young girls are gross in the USA and their mothers offer crap in excuse like.."It does not matter". Bullshit. I see no pigs in magazine adds, leading media roles or anywhere that one is trying to get the public to look. It does matter.

In the 1950's the world admired the American woman. Now they make a game in spotting the Yankee Gorda, white fat legs, tennis shoes, huge beverage loaded with calories and ice, goofy shorts and carping attitude. Usually accompanied by a guy in khaki shorts, huge gut, tennis shoes, goofy baseball hat, and looking for an Air Conditioner and Budweiser in Tortugeuuro Costa Rica.

I just tell the world I am an Aussie.

[theemu]

5. Damn

No woman needs to be a K mart Hippo but all too many in this country are.

Damn, dude. I understand that you might be dismayed with the current state of health in America, but why do you have to frame it in such economically hateful terms? People like you are the reason why conservatives attack liberals as being elitists.

The fact is, just as there are plenty in Brazil who cannot afford fine designer clothes (starting with, but not limited to, the 22% below the poverty level), there are plenty in America (keep in mind 13% of our country is below the poverty line) who cannot afford them. There are people throughout this country for whom large chain stores such as K-Mart, Wal-Mart, TJ Maxx and others are the only viable alternatives for purchasing clothing.

And really, who gives a flying fuck if a 'pig' is in a magazine ad or not? Why care about magazine ads?

[JewelDigger]

7. I totally agree with you...

...it does matter. And I am really ashamed of too many of my fellow Americans and how they present themselves to the rest of the world and then brush it off as 'it doesn't matter'. Words like style, grace, and good taste don't seem to fit into too many American's lexicon anymore. I've lived overseas for several years and travelled widely. You can spot an American a kilometer away (and it's because of the LACK of grace, style, and good taste that's exhibited).

Btw, I love your descriptives. Unfortunately it's all very true!

[DS1]

9. "I just tell the world I am an Aussie."

wow, I would have never guessed :eyes:

btw, that woman is pretty damn plain

[blondeatlast]

10. Wasn't gonna say it, but I thought so too.

[Aristus]

16. Whew, guys...Harsh!

I thought she was beautiful and elegant. I love the peek-a-boo photos in the other part of the gallery. What a flirt.

[Darth_Kitten]

17. Since when were women ever TRULY admired......

for what REALLY matters?

I say if any women wants to be a huge K-mart mumu wearing "hippo" ,it's her right, and I hope she acquires a hippo size 'tude to go with the ensemble, to further annoy those who are only too perfect themselves! :evilgrin:

[AlienGirl]

13. How much looks matter...

There is no country on Earth where women are not valued primarily for their looks. Probably it's an instinctive thing, just as men are valued for their power and social status...

Tucker

[mac56]

6. Wait a minute - - "a girl"?

In her 40s?

The term is "woman". What decade is this, anyway? Sheesh.

[blondeatlast]

8. Your strandards are pretty high. Home-dyed coifs?

I think your problem is with poverty, not appearance.

[Catherine Vincent]

11. There's plenty of women in the US that look like that.

And btw, she's not all that.

[Logansquare]

21. She's wearing a lot of makeup

I've noticed some men seem to be attracted to the accesories of femininity more than the actual woman wearing them. When I had really long hair, my hair could have gone out on dates without me.

[mac56]

22. Welcome, Logansquare!

Good reply.

[Nlighten1]

12. I find this hard to believe.

American women are the vainest. Period.

[JewelDigger]

14. Nah

American women don't have 8x10 glossy's of THEMSELVES sitting on their own desks at work. I have seen this several times overseas. (Gee, I hope I don't give anyone ideas *sheesh*)

[Darth_Kitten]

20. Really?

:eyes:

[JewelDigger]

23. It's really true!

The first few times I ran across it, it was very hard not to laugh! (And hard not to make a 'wicked evil' comment :evilgrin: )

[Squeech]

15. Argentina

Argentina has universal medical care, and the Argentines lead the world in cosmetic surgery-- even more than the Brazilians, and both genders.

I do believe that the Brazilian economic strategy is to position themselves as the world's leading exporter of attractive skin.

[leftofthedial]

18. IMHO, it shows

Some extraordinarily beautiful women in Brazil.

(Don't hold a candle to the beauty here at DU though.)

[Turbulence]

19. cosmetic surgery capital of the world

at least I have heard it said:shrug:

[LynneSin]

24. Probably to keep up with Venezuela

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3043347.stm

Venezuela, which has won more international beauty contests in the last 25 years than any other country, would have missed the pageant for the first time in over 40 years.

Venezuelan contestants have won four Miss Universe title and five Miss World contests.

Brazil must feel inferior, venezuela is like the "Texas" of world beauty pageants!