Bad publicity is still publicity
Who needs fake news, when there’s so much real excitement in the beauty industry?
MUD-slinging. Name-calling. Back-stabbing. I friend you. You unfriend me.
And we’re talking about grown-ups here, mind you. It’s pretty disturbing to think how some of these people are going to end up being the future leaders of our country.
Indeed, people say the General Election (GE) is often the start of the silly season, as that’s when politicians go all out making promises they can’t keep, and discrediting their rivals to ensure they win.
The whole episode reeks of unsavoury practices and brings out the worst in people.
But why wait for once in four or five years for such excitement, when the fashion and beauty industry offers juicy gossip, cover-ups and malice all year round, winter, spring, summer or fall?
One local personality who has had more than her fair share of the limelight recently was actress and entrepreneur Noor Neelofa Mohd Noor, better known as Neelofa.
She first drew attention on social media for promoting a beauty supplement for adults and babies on Instagram. In the mad quest to stay young-looking, we all crave anti-ageing and skin-firming products, and experts often say we should start early on our beauty regimen but infancy is taking it too far, no? I know babies start out somewhat crinkly, but that’s besides the point.
Neelofa later courted further controversy when she chose to launch her new hijab line at a party hotspot in Kuala Lumpur on the grounds that it was the cheapest event space available. Netizens and even fans criticised her for putting business and marketing above religious values.
She scored a hat-trick with her latest Instagram picture by promoting supplements which supposedly could make one grow taller! If it were that simple, people would not have to resort to the painful and dubious surgical procedure of breaking their bones and stretching their limbs on a rack in China.
I seriously wonder if she personally decides on what to put up on social media or leaves it to an agent to sign her up for whatever that’s thrown her way. One would think she would be more sensible seeing how savvy a businesswoman she is with her line of headscarves.
Could it be a case of bad publicity being better than no publicity at all? Then again, if she had just kept a low profile, no one would be any wiser.
Body-shaming seems to have a front row seat in fashion these days, especially with the recent scathing remark over how people weighing 60kg and more should not attend fashion shows as there would be too much thigh spillover.
One might argue that it was a private post on Facebook and this fashion-related person is entitled to her opinion. But we all know nothing is sacred on the Internet, and what goes around comes around to bite you back in the butt.
Often idolised for their well-curated physique, woe befall celebrities if they should ever let up for a bit to eat a full meal, or worse, gain weight (like the rest of us mere mortals).
Hollywood figures like Jessica Simpson, Rihanna and Christian Bale have all been demonised for looking larger than life nowadays.
Heck, I heard even Prince Harry is going on a diet to fit into his wedding tux, apparently on fiancee Meghan Markle’s instructions. Well, we all wish him well as he’s surely going to look absolutely dashing come the big day!
On the international beauty forefront, Canadian cult beauty brand Deciem’s chief executive officer, Brandon Truaxe, appears to have lost it on the company’s Instagram account, which he is personally handling.
He has accused industry insiders of being scam artists, and declared on a video that Deciem would be cancelling all marketing strategies and plans, because “marketing is simply a way to convince people to buy things that they don’t want or don’t need”. He maintains direct communication with customers on the brand’s social channels and announced that he wants to be called Worker instead of CEO, writes thecut.com.
The Instagram account is treated as internal e-mail on which Truaxe issues directions to the brand’s employees, and openly says which supplier is getting cut off and who will be getting more business. Even more drama, it seems last month, he fired his entire US team, reports harpersbazaar.com.au.
Mad man or publicity stunt? Will such drastic tactics draw flak or respect? Only time will tell if Deciem survives this digital warfare.
Me? I’m just waiting for the dust to settle after GE and common sense to prevail. That candidates prove their worth, be honourable and serve the people as they should, instead of taking advantage of the rakyat’s vulnerability.
In a few days, we’ll all know the outcome. Meantime, I reckon I should get some popcorn ...
The only drama which Patsy will stand for is Korean, because everyone knows that’s surreal. Share your thoughts with star2@thestar.com.