Over the past couple of days, Miranda Kerr’s image, and our perception of her, has been questioned online. An article published in New York Magazine has spurred on a couple of other articles, suggesting and finger-pointing accusations at Miranda Kerr.
So we’re clear, this is not one of those articles. I will not link to them – if you’d like to read them, may I suggest tracking them down yourself.
The general gist of them is that Miranda Kerr is a vacuous, hypocritical idiot, one that is deceiving us.
If Miranda Kerr is lying to us, it doesn’t faze me. Because even if she’s a ball of lies, her faux-message is better than so many true and honest ones presented by models and celebrities alike.
Miranda Kerr is a wife, mother, model and businesswoman advocating a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle. She’s a daughter and a sister, with a wholesome image.
My question is: what’s the problem with that?
I’ve not seen a photograph of Miranda Kerr falling out of a cab at 3am, high off her head. I’ve not seen one picture of her sans panties dancing on a podium at a nightclub with the remnants of coke lining her nostrils.
I’ve not seen her drunk behind the wheel of a car, or being abusive, or advocating bitchiness or sensationalist rubbish.
If the biggest problem we have with Miranda Kerr is that she is promoting self-love, a healthy body image and positive thinking, with some family values thrown in, then we really do have a problem.
If Miranda Kerr is a big fake, who does that harm? The thousands of teenage girls, not to mention older women, that read her book, Treasure Yourself, and absorb some of her messages on self-love?
I think what the critics are underestimating is Miranda’s audience – I’m not sure any of them are quite so ignorant to believe that a sip of noni juice and a few positive mantras will turn them into a Victoria’s Secret model.
I’m not sure any of her fans say, ‘Gee, I like that Miranda Kerr, she’s beautiful and all, but I really dislike the way she tries to make us feel better about ourselves.’ Not everyone can look like Miranda Kerr. Not everyone wants to. And I’m pretty sure most people get that.
In a bid to try and find something nasty on Kerr’s part, I Google her. I search through images. I take a quick look through her blog. It reveals this; an article on expressing breast milk for mums that are struggling with the process, an array of healthy recipes, various entries on skincare tips and food facts, a post encouraging readers to share the recent GetUp! It’s Time video with friends, to end marriage discrimination. I have flicked and flicked through blog entries on the Kora website and I cannot find one that offends me, or one that I feel delivers a negative message to women.
The beauty and health regime that Kerr preaches and lives by has very little to do with the way she looks, that I’m sure of. I suspect that Kerr would look they way she does minus or plus many of the factors she chooses to incorporate in her lifestyle. But what I do not doubt is the way her lifestyle makes her feel. Eating healthily, getting the right nutrients, exercising regularly, and thinking positively can entirely change the way you feel, your attitude and your health – both physical and mental.
The fact that Miranda Kerr makes (part of) her living parading down a catwalk in her underwear does not bother me. It does not make me feel insecure, unconfident or jealous.
Kerr may have millions of dollars, and more time than many other women, but that is her good fortune. I’ve got no doubt Kerr works incredibly hard. And I’d like to think that instead of belittling someone for their good fortune, I’d work on creating more of my own.
And as for claims that Kerr should present a true image of the ins and outs of daily life – complaints on the difficulty of motherhood or marriage, I say this; perhaps she doesn’t have any. Difficult as it may be for some people to fathom, some women, like my mother who raised three children, or my sister-in-law who is raising four, rarely complain about the trials and tribulations of being a mother – maybe they are fortunate not to have any or maybe they just share them with a select few, trusted people, instead of a headline on a magazine. Maybe Miranda Kerr is blissfully happy within her marriage; I know I am with mine. And, dare I say it, if Kerr is not, then it really is none of our business.
I would not like or empathise with Miranda Kerr any more if she came out and admitted that she had a terrible marriage, or post-natal depression. I would feel sorry for her, and wish her all the best for a happy and healthy life.
In a world full of so much pain, anger, distrust and destruction, I understand that it can be difficult to accept that some people are happy, no matter what. I’m a bit like one of those people – perpetually happy. My glass is overflowing, not just half full. I have an unwavering self-belief, so strong I’m not sure where it even came from. I’m positive, so much so, that sometimes it borders on irritating. I advocate a happy life. I always will.
If someone poked the barrel of a gun in my face, and insisted I needed to be miserable, or share the woes and troubles of my life to survive, then I’m afraid they’d have to shoot me.
I will never stop being positive. I will not apologise for being happy. And I don’t believe Miranda Kerr should have to either.
If you don’t like the Miranda Kerr message; don’t listen to it. There are plenty of other people spurting and spruiking different messages; perhaps one of them is more suited to you.
I’m not sure what the critics want to hear. Or see. Perhaps a sneaky paparazzi shot of Miranda Kerr stuffing her face with hot chips, chocolate stains smearing her unkempt outfit. Perhaps they want a tell-all interview, one that reveals the jig is up.
When I approached Therese Kerr, Miranda’s mother, this afternoon for a reply or reaction to commentary being made about her daughter, she gave me one, “In life you can’t please everyone and everyone is entitled to their opinion and we don’t begrudge anyone of their opinion – freedom of speech is the very thing that makes our country so great.”
Some might consider that a vacuous comment, one without substance or oomph, avoiding the issue entirely.
I consider it an intelligent one.
And one consistent with the messages promoted by the Kerr camp.
I’m not all that interested in the lives of the Kerrs, or the Kardashians, or the Kennedys for that matter, but if what they have is a means to spread a message to the masses, and that message is a positive one, then I have no objection to it.
I’ll stand up and defend the notion of self-love anytime. It might not be hip, but it’s damn well worth it.
