No doubt all of you have been in line at Target or Kroger before and have glanced at the tabloids after deciding you really shouldn’t buy that package of peanut butter M&Ms (well, maybe that last part is just me).

Whatever the case may be, you can pretty much count on the same stories getting recycled week after week that you wait in line.

The celebrities of focus change every so often, but the stories are as old as time.

It’s almost a guarantee that you’ll see the latest “baby bumps” (I’ll save my distaste of that phrase for another time), the latest love triangles and the latest drug/alcohol/legal scandals.

However entertaining these stories might be, they usually don’t affect you and your view of yourself.

My big problem with these tabloids and magazines are when they broadcast celebrities without makeup.

Just last week, I went on the Today website, only to find that Katie Couric went “makeup free.”

Sorry, I don’t care enough to find out if these celebrities are wearing makeup.

In a few rare cases, the point of showing what the celebrities look like with their kids when they’re not on the red carpet is to remind us that they’re normal people, too.

But nine times out of 10, I’d say the point of the media broadcasting this message is to just fill space or humiliate the celebrity.

Maybe it’s just me, but this doesn’t have the best effect on my self-esteem. Whenever these usually extremely pretty people are seen without makeup, the media pounces on them by saying they look exhausted or frazzled.

These attacks on celebrities make me self-conscious to go without makeup. Yes, I’m tired. I work every day and I take 15 credit hours of classes. And I know I’m not the only student like that here at ISU.

But instead of feeling comfortable enough in my own skin, since so many other people are in the same boat with obligations, I make sure I always wear foundation and mascara, at the very least.

It should not be news-worthy when someone wears their skin naturally. I’m not sure when this became such a popular fixation, but it is one that I definitely think needs to go.

People should learn to be comfortable with who they are, myself included. What kind of message does it send girls who are just learning about the world of makeup?

Instead of it being seen as useful for breakouts or school dances, makeup becomes a necessity, and with each generation trying to grow up sooner than the previous one, this pattern can only get worse with time unless something changes.

I can assure you all that the next time you see me, chances are that I will still be practicing my typical regimen (with the possible addition  of eyeliner), but I know it’s something I need to work on.

I believe that the first step to change is acknowledging that something actually needs to change, so I’m already there.

Now I just have to get past step two.

Grace Johnson is a junior publishing major and Editor in Chief. Any comments or questions regarding her column can be sent to:
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