Beautiful Girl

April 18, 2003 7:24 PM

Beautiful Girl is an upcoming print magazine for teenage girls interested in fashion, boys, and beauty. Nothing new, except it's from a Christian perspective. Discover God's makeup tips and learn about his "romantical" side (yes, he's got a crush on you). What do you imagine girls will think about this magazine?
posted by acornface (32 comments total)

It's also worth noting that all the Beautiful Girls shown here seem to be white. Probably an oversight, but eek!

I remember my mom's religious friend giving me subscriptions to Focus on the Family mags for teenage girls (I learned that sex was bad, New Kids on the Block were suggestive hooligans interested only in getting in your pants). What's different about this one is that it seems to actively court the Cosmo Girl crowd. I bet a lot of parents will like it, but my feeling is that most teenagers will still prefer YM.
posted by acornface at 7:28 PM on April 18, 2003

That make-up link was frightening. But it may explain why so many of them look like Tammy Faye Bakker.
posted by bas67 at 7:59 PM on April 18, 2003

erm... it isn't a joke/parody site, it's for real...??
posted by t r a c y at 8:08 PM on April 18, 2003

"Let God be your stylist!"

If I were Christian, I'd find that insulting. As it is, I merely find it crass.

Apropos of nothing, earlier today I saw a guy wearing a t-shirt that was a Christian take-off on Lord of the Rings, only it was (obviously enough) "Lord of the Kings", with the "one ring to rule them all" verse changed to "one King to rule them all," etc. (didn't have time to read the whole thing). Come on, guys, every single pop culture meme has to have its Christian version? You have to turn everything into a travesty?
/rant
posted by RylandDotNet at 8:13 PM on April 18, 2003

“You, my princess, are the most beautiful girl in the world because I personally created you. Don’t you understand that you are My masterpiece? Each day I celebrate My light that shines through you in the dark world around you.”

That's really wierd.
posted by The Jesse Helms at 8:19 PM on April 18, 2003

I wonder if these girls have heard of these divine products (nsfw.)
posted by homunculus at 8:20 PM on April 18, 2003

Just out of curiosity... and be honest now... how many of you can say that you weren't shocked at the plainness of the girls in the photos?

They're average, normal-looking girls, yet it's almost shocking to see them in a "beauty" photo spread.

Beautiful Girl is ham-handed with the religion, but say what you want... a magazine that tells girls that it's okay to actually be who you are and look the way you look (rather than Seventeen's lip service to self-esteem sandwiched between photos of drop-dead gorgeous models hawking cosmetics)... with some slightly slicker production, this could be a Good Thing.
posted by 4easypayments at 9:07 PM on April 18, 2003

God also created hairy legs and armpits....is this mag going to suggest they forego shaving as well?
posted by SweetIceT at 9:48 PM on April 18, 2003

God also created hairy legs and armpits....is this mag going to suggest they forego shaving as well?

And if they do, so what? Heaven forfend that girls don't feel guilty about not augmenting or altering their bodies to please other people. What a horrible lesson, shame on them.
posted by headspace at 9:55 PM on April 18, 2003

Q. Me and this guy started messing around and then like all the sudden he doesn't talk to me anymore. He's instant messaged me and says he has a girlfriend now. He didn't even say anything after that! Is there something I did wrong?

A. It sounds like he just used you. Guys like that just want a good time. You shouldn't mess around with any guy other than your husband.
posted by The Jesse Helms at 9:55 PM on April 18, 2003

I just had a flashback about a woman who once tried to make a "Jesus wants you to dress nicely" argument to me to explain why we should be concerned about our clothes.

That said, if any of you are wondering how this weird website came about, chances are some young Christian women were sitting around and thinking, "you know, I really love makeup. How can we start a Christian ministry to makeup users?" and they decided to publish a magazine. It seem that everything in evangelical protestantism comes down to creating a "ministry to [subculture here]" by showing the "Christian side" to whatever obscure activity one happens to be involved in. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, and sometime makeup is just a desire to make onself look nicer. At least have enough depth to recognize your own shallow side. :)
posted by deanc at 9:55 PM on April 18, 2003

God also created lesbians.
posted by nyxxxx at 10:13 PM on April 18, 2003

In my teen years (mis?)spent in the Southern Baptist Church, there was one beautiful girl who was a model and perpetual beauty contestant. Invariably, if you complimented her on an outfit, she would say "Well, I prayed about it, and God told me to wear this today!"

And she was dead serious. She seriously believed that the Almighty took an active and regular role in her wardrobe. With all her heart.

Total faith. Like a child. In some ways I am envious. But mostly I'm terrified.
posted by Ynoxas at 10:13 PM on April 18, 2003

Well, with make up tips like this:

"EYESHADOW: Our eyes reflect so much of who we are, what mood we are in and our emotions. As a Christian, our eyes should ultimately reflect the of God in our soul. Shadow them upon the Lord."

how could they go wrong?


I want to think this is a parody...but I think it's not.
posted by dejah420 at 10:20 PM on April 18, 2003

how many of you can say that you weren't shocked at the plainness of the girls in the photos?

Well, me for one. Granted, I read your comment before looking at the site, but even so there were maybe three girls that I would ever have called plain. I agree with your basic point, though.

And for the record, this definately not a parody. I have several friends at home who I'm sure will be subscribing...
posted by hippugeek at 10:26 PM on April 18, 2003

It's really funny... if so many Christians weren't so goofy something like this really could be a better alternative to most of the trash teenagers are sold.
posted by Space Coyote at 10:43 PM on April 18, 2003

Is it just me, or did they manage to turn a normal-looking teenage girl into Michael Jackson?
posted by djwudi at 11:49 PM on April 18, 2003

yes, he's got a crush on you

To quote the hilarious Franklyn Ajaye: "I hate to break it to you, but He's seeing other people".
posted by biscotti at 12:11 AM on April 19, 2003

acornface: It's also worth noting that all the Beautiful Girls shown here seem to be white. Probably an oversight, but eek!"

Check out the black girl on this page...

(Interesting -- maybe this is just a rip from a catalog, but check out that sexy pose, the come-hither bedroom eyes -- and she and I aren't even married yet! Mixed message? Subtle virgin-whore dichotomy here? Is she supposed to turn me on and then tell me it's not Christian of me to want her? Does my being an atheist get me off the hook?)

...but otherwise you're right, and it's a shame for a site that aims to define beauty. Also very odd: No talk at all about body image, and no fat chicks anywhere, which is too bad.

Bizarre shit on that fashion page I linked above, too. Check out the names of the outfits.

Kudos to them, though, as 4easypayments notes, for focusing on average, everyday-looking people, which is a fantastic step forward (Michael Jackson make-up jobs notwithstanding).
posted by boredomjockey at 1:46 AM on April 19, 2003

Michael Jackson make-up jobs notwithstanding

you mean the one where they make the perfectly lovely girl look like utter hell?

that poor thing is not a winter. she needs warm colors. shoot the makeup artist and lighting guy.
posted by patricking at 2:20 AM on April 19, 2003

It seem that everything in evangelical protestantism comes down to creating a "ministry to [subculture here]" by showing the "Christian side" to whatever obscure activity one happens to be involved in.

The Lord Is A Filter, and He Shall HyperLink You TO SALVATION!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 2:38 AM on April 19, 2003

Genesis 3:16
Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy pain and thy conception; in pain thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Ehm..I guess my rule wouldn't require much dressing.
posted by elpapacito at 4:20 AM on April 19, 2003

That make-up page made me think of this

(yes I know this isn't FARK)
posted by chrid at 6:07 AM on April 19, 2003

Tell a friend about BG and win Jennifer Aniston's soap!

homunculus' divine products URL notwithstanding. heh

*sigh*
Well, it is a focused market, targeted well, no doubt and it seems to have some money behind it, not to mention sponsors [still hawking cosmetics].

The only difference between YM is its "editorial" tack.

Scarlett's Mom, life advice columnist, appears to have given birth to Scarlett at quite an early age! Mom is the one on the left in the photo! Hard to tell, I know. I'd prefer to see GoAskAlice.com hack that page!


The message board is hilarious, what with headlines like Prayer's Answered, Prayer's Given.... ah, if it only was so simple eh?


Fanatisicm is fanatisicm no matter how you couch it. Ah, marketing. Everyone wants to belong, I guess it's better than some racist hate group.


Given the religious overtones from the USA overlord, it's not surprising "the time is right" for such a mag. All that evil out there, whachagonnado?
posted by alicesshoe at 8:36 AM on April 19, 2003

CONCEALER: Nothing is concealed from God's eyes. He tells us in Proverbs 5:21 that He sees EVERYTHING we do! But because we are human, He also knew that we would slip and mess up from time to time. Thankfully Jesus' blood is a perfect cover-up for the blemishes of our life.

While, admittedly, the sight of Jesus' blood on your face would distract people's attention from your blemishes, you might want to go with something that matches your skin tone a little better. Sure you'll rot in the fires of Hell along with the whore of Babylon, but isn't eternal damnation a small price to pay for being popular?
posted by filmgoerjuan at 9:32 AM on April 19, 2003

Invariably, if you complimented her on an outfit, she would say "Well, I prayed about it, and God told me to wear this today!"

And I'm just guessing that she dated the football player who prayed with his teammates to help them win the game! Hallelujah! You just know Jebus is sitting in his barcolounger in the sky snacking on his ambrosial pork skins and rooting for the team that prays the hardest. Glory be to God!
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 1:26 PM on April 19, 2003

Check out the black girl on this page...

I was just browsing through here, clicked on the link and she looks remarkably similar to my step sister. My step sister has more muscle than this chick but dang.
posted by ZupanGOD at 2:10 PM on April 19, 2003

This whole Plastic Jesus rubbish really pisses me off. I say the church should go back to condemning everything young people stand for. And Latin masses. I'd respect them all the more for it.
posted by Celery at 3:45 PM on April 19, 2003

acornface: "It's also worth noting that all the Beautiful Girls shown here seem to be white. Probably an oversight, but eek!"

Ah gotta Represent! Don't worry about the black youth. They're in good hands. *shiver*

This makes me miss Dynamite magazine, sponsored by the Scholastic Book Club, it was pretty much designed to get children salivating like pavlovian dogs at anything on the boob tube. I can remember practicing kissing techniques on the cover of the Kristy McNichol issue.. *heavy sigh*

*looks around*
*clears throat*

Anyway Dynamite certainly had no religious doctrine it was trying to shove down the throats of children. Instead it had saccarrine teen idols and a really juvenile sense of humor. The doctrine was dictated by corporate greed and media frenzy, not religious dogma. Whatever happened to the good old days, where there was a separation of church & state and bible thumping youngsters were either screaming condemnations across the street at innocent bystanders or getting beat up in playgrounds by heathen bullies, God love'm?

RylandDotNet: "Come on, guys, every single pop culture meme has to have its Christian version?"

Hey. It works for the porn industry.

nyxxxx: "God also created lesbians."

Really? I thought I did. All I have to do is date a woman and they turn..

dejah420: "I want to think this is a parody...but I think it's not."

Welcome to my world. I think that about everything nowadays. How "The Promise Keepers" would be really funny if they weren't really happening, and Willie Aimes as BibleMan just makes me frightened and sad and angry and hysterical all at the same time.
posted by ZachsMind at 4:40 PM on April 19, 2003

Ugh, I wouldn't really call that an improvement. She looks better in the first picture, mostly due to the lighting.
posted by delmoi at 8:42 PM on April 19, 2003

So what? This magazine wants to turn all America's youth into Tammy Faye Baker clones? Eeeww!
posted by ZachsMind at 9:06 PM on April 19, 2003

Scarlett's Mom, life advice columnist, appears to have given birth to Scarlett at quite an early age! Mom is the one on the left in the photo! Hard to tell, I know.

Oh my. I can see bare toes in that picture!

The elders aren't going to like this at all. Nope, not one bit.

True story: a great older lady at my church when I was growing up (fine lady, if there is a left hand of god, she's sitting there) told a story about how when her and her husband were getting married (1920's?), her father (a lifelong preacher) nearly called off the wedding because she had on open toed shoes. After being assured her dress was long enough that no toes would be visible during the ceremony, he allowed it to continue. Which of course makes no sense because in 1920's rural Tennessee probably 1/2 the population walked around barefooted. Quaint story nonetheless.
posted by Ynoxas at 3:28 PM on April 21, 2003