L IF E S K IL L S
RoliGupta, writer
“These days
every one wants
a Miss India or a
Miss Universe
rather than just a
healthvkid.”
ou’re a liar. Each time you tell yourself that
looks don’t matter. Think about it. You look
into the mirror, suck in your cheeks and
practise your best pose, before tossing your
hair and strutting off to attend a party. You
breathe in to hold your tummy when you walk into that
pivotal meeting to start discussions on a confident note. You
form your first opinion of a person you have just met, within
three seconds, based on his or her physical appearance. For,
looking good is an integral part of self-esteem. Or, is it?
L O O K G O O D E Q U A L S F E E L G O O D
“Looking good for women has become like a law of nature,”
observes Mumbai-based psychiatrist and psychotherapist Dr
Anjali Chhabria “People are biased towards good-looking
people, whether they admit it or not. Good-looking women
always get attention from all. In most cases, a good-looking
person may feel more confident than another who may be
less good-looking, especially when individuals in the
environment start noticing and complimenting the good
44
FEBRUARY 2011 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
looks—
the good looks become a reason to get positive
attention from others. This elevates a woman’s self-esteem.”
The environment has also undergone a tremendous
change with nutritionists, spas and nail bars, personal trainers
and weight watcher groups mushrooming all over. The
growing obsession with the ‘look’ is becoming an inseparable
part of personal equity. From airline crew going on mean
diets to lose ungainly inches, to leading international hotels
placing a premium on ‘good-looking, well groomed’
personnel, this perspective is fast percolating to the educated,
globe-trotting segment of financially independent women too.
“Of course my physical appearance factors in heavily as
part of my self-esteem,” says Roli Gupta, writer. “Being well
dressed and presentable is terribly important for me. For
instance, I desist from wearing sleeveless outfits as T
think my
arms are fat My facial features and skin colour do not bother
me at all, but I do feel concerned about my weight and most
certainly never wear anything that I think makes me look
fat.” Is this view specific to Indian climes? “Look at those
anorexic models abroad too,” argues Gupta “I feel this
PHOTOGRAPH: © STEVE HIX/SOMOS IMAGES/CORBlS
