Asian celebrities/models/bloggers who did plastic surgery.

This blog is about 4 famous people as role model of plastic surgery in Malaysia and Singapore.

LengYein,  Malaysia famous people which community involvement in different kinds of careers such as model, actress, host, pianist, dancer, tattoo artist, beautician, makeup artist, manicurist and also businesswoman. She owns her boutique, fashion accessories shop, nail&beauty salon, tattoo parlour, magazine and also a mamak which is named as Taj Corner Restaurant. She has almost 284k followers in her Facebook fan page. Places that she did her surgery is at her nose, lips, chin and eyes. 

Kinki Ryusaki, Malaysia famous female tattoo artist which owns her tattoo studio in Kuala Lumpur, Sungei Wang Plaza. She had been tattooing since she was 16 years old. She treated and believed the art of tattoo just like the art of life. She has mostly 588k followers in her Facebook fan page. She went Korea with Leng Yein and she had her eyelid surgery. 

(Here's another proof on Leng Yein and Kinki Ryusaki had did plastic surgery at the same time)

XiaXue, Singapore famous blogger who always post about her lifestyle, fashion, makeup and local issue. Her main blog could reach 50,000 reader daily. She is also a host  for a TV show (Guide To Life). She has 184k followers in her Facebook fan page. What she did is her nose. She often injected botox to her face to maintain her face condition. (chin, cheeks, lips)

QiuQiu, Singapore famous blogger who also a host for her TV show Budget Barbie. She usually blogs about her lifestyle, fashion stuff, makeup, travel and etc. She has 15k followers on her Facebook fan page. She did breast implant, her nose, and forehead implant. One of the episode from budget Barbie, its about the process she did her breast implant surgery. The reasons she did is because she has flat boobs and she felt that she is lack of confident when she went to the beach with her friends and she choose to wait them on the shoreside.

In my conclusion, people has their own reasons to choose to do plastic surgery . For example, the blogger Qiuqiu from Singapore, She did it just because she want to get her confidence back. There is nothing wrong with people who did plastic surgery. I understand that natural beauty is the gift from the god but sometimes people might still want to stand it out in a different ways to overcome their desire to become prettier. 

Research & References: 
LengYein. (2011) Plastic Surgery Journey in Korea. [online] Available at:https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150274330399341.352629.74485364340 [Accessed at: 31 July 2013]

Sumi.net (2013) Perfect Body Shape II. [Images online] Available at:http://sumi-connie.blogspot.com/2013_03_22_archive.html [Accessed at:31 July 2013]

Harrison.(2008) Leng Yein Jie. [online] Available at:http://www.popularasians.com/forum/f83/leng-yein-jie-35537/ [Accessed at:31 July 2013]

Kinki Ryusaki. (n.d.) Kinki Ryusaki. [online] Available at:https://www.facebook.com/KinkiRyusakiTattoo [Accessed at:31 July 2013]

Xiaxue. (n.d) Everyone's reading it. [online] Available at:http://xiaxue.blogspot.com/ [Accessed at:31 July 2013]

Bongqiuqiu. (n.d.) Qiu Qiu. [online] Available at:http://bongqiuqiu.blogspot.com/ [Accessed at:31 July 2013]

How does plastic surgery influences women?

Plastic surgery are very common among the women nowadays. From the video above, the doctor said:"good looking people have more fun, and have more looking good friends." After that there are two women talked about how plastic surgery influence their life, their opportunity to get work, mate and etc. Does plastic surgery really helps? How does plastic surgery influences women? Why women are getting plastic surgery?

Women nowadays have more opportunity to play in different types of role such as politician, actress, singer, model, host, reporter, ...etc. People that are act in these role are usually get in touch with the society such as, television, newspaper, magazine, advertisement, poster and so on. Usually these jobs required people with good looking since they are presented to to society and public. In that way, common people are gradually impressed by the good appearance of those role of women. Some of them will started to feel that they are not satisfied what as they are and plastic surgery provides them choices/effects that are efficient and lasting.

There are two types of plastics surgery which is cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery.

Based on my experience, my aunty has "botox" injection on her face and around eyes. She told me that the reason why she did this is to prevent sagging and stay young. She was recommend by her friend, who also did double eye lid surgery. I believe that she is influenced by her friend. Moreover, my cousin had her nose job(silicon injection) just because she wants to look as pretty as caucasian celebrities’ features she liked. I can conclude that media has somehow influence some people to go for it.

Research & References:
PlasticSurgery. (2013) Common procedure performed by Experience Cosmetics Surgeons. [Images online] Available at:http://www.istard.org/common-procedures-performed-by-experienced-cosmetic-surgeons/ [Accessed at:1 August 2013]

McManus. (1994) Demand for Cosmetic Surgery Rises, and With it, Abuses. [online] Available at:Dhttp://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/24/news/24iht-face.html [Accessed at: 1 August 2013]

TheStarOnline. (2013) Malaysia among popular countries for plastic surgeries.[online] Available at:http://www.thestar.com.my/story.aspx?file=%2f2013%2f5%2f7%2fasia%2f13075661&sec=asia [Accessed at:1 August 2013]

A South Korea Plastic Surgery TV Program.

This is a South Korea TV Program "Let Me In"(translated as "Let women be beautiful") which invited Korean women with an "abnormal" facial or body features to undergo surgical procedures to enhance their appearance and increase their confident to the public. Some of them had went through people's sarcastic on how their appearance look like before they applied for the TV show. 

Yang Jae-jin, the psychiatrist for the TV program said that, "It's easy to say the standards of beauty are unfair or wrong, but if you havent's been in their shoes and couldn't carry on a normal life because of your looks, you shouldn't judge."

I agreed with his statement because some of the people has their own reason to undergo this surgical procedures, its just like they have their story behind. We shouldn't judge a book by its cover. 

Research & References:

Kwaak.J.S. (2013)  Making a Case for Cosmetic Surgery. [online] Available at: http://blogs.wsj.com/korearealtime/2013/06/05/making-a-case-for-cosmetic-surgery/ [Accessed at:24 July 2013]

Cruz.J.D. (2012) The magic of plastic surgery in korea. [online] Available at:https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FiGEI_2wYjc [Accessed at:24 July 2013]

Regenglobal.(2012) Korea cable program Let Me In 2 - Transgender. [online] Available at:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6RVqZUsdXw [Accessed at:24 July 2013]

Korea Plastic/Cosmetic Surgery

Plastic Surgery has only grown over the past 20 years and has become so popular now since like everyone is getting it. It has become a trend and it could be symbolize as "the permanent makeup".

But how does this happen? I believe that one of the reason is people could get pretty in an easier and faster ways. There is also another reason to prove that why plastic surgery is getting famous now. Based on an article that wrote by Ahmad.M, 'What K-Pop has to do with South Korea's Plastic Surgery Obsession', he said that the western beauty (caucasian) has permeated across virtually all international beauty market, through advertisement, pop star, hollywood, and movie. That's mean "western" equals to the word "beautiful". Western face feature are usually with long sharp nose, eyes with double eye lids, prominent jaws and high cheek bones.  In addition, as the technology has getting improve, the price of plastic surgery is getting cheaper, safer, better, recovery faster had increase the its popularity to the world. The rise of K-pop can also consider as another reason people will go through plastic surgery.

Girls Generation.

Before & After

The most requested face at plastic surgery offices.

Actress/Model Kim Tae-Hee

Even some part of South Korea parents encourage their children to get plastic surgery. Based on an interview article 'South Korean Parents Are Making Their Kids Get Plastic Surgery' by Standen.C, I found that some of the mother will pay for their daughter to get for a surgery. Eyes and nose job are the most common part that people will probably do and it's consider as the "basics". They do believe the prettier person will get more benefit. Even some jobs are only required for people who did plastic surgery. Everyone seems like want to get benefit by using their appearance and this is how the culture has made it to normal.

There's a case study to proof that most of the women in korea has probably had their face done. South Korea has the highest rate of people has gone through plastic surgery compare to others country. The average years is among 19 to 49 years old. According to the article, Koreans complain about picture of 20 Miss Korea 2013 finalist were posted on Reddit was a encouragement for user to go under the knife as Asian nation's growing trend. 20 beauty queens almost have the same feature such as big eyes, small face, tiny button noses, pointed chin, same hair colour, and etc. As you can see that, these 20 pageants were looking so familiar with each other.

20 Miss Korea 2013 finalist

In my conclusion, plastic surgery has become very common nowadays and women has the choice to get what they want. Not to say plastic surgery is a bad thing but is good if there is a way to make yourself more confident and attractive. Everyone can be beautiful.


Research & References:

Ahmad.M. (2013) What K-Pop Has To Do With South Korea's Plastic Surgery Obsession. [online] Available at:http://jezebel.com/what-k-pop-has-to-do-with-south-koreas-plastic-surgery-573424674 [Accessed at:30 July 2013]

Willet.M. (2013) Korea's Plastic Surgery Obsession Is A Glimpse Into The Future [Photos]. [online] Available at:http://www.businessinsider.com/korea-is-obsessed-with-plastic-surgery-2013-5?op=1 [Accessed at: 30 July 2013]

Standen,C. (2013) South Korean Parents Are Making Their Kids Get Plastic Surgery. [online] Available at:http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/south-korean-parents-are-making-their-kids-get-plastic-surgery [Accessed at:30 July 2013]

Nolan.S. (2013) Has plastic surgery made these beauty queens all look the same? Koreans complain about pageant 'clones' . [online] Available at:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2314647/Has-plastic-surgery-20-Korean-beauty-pageant-contestants-look-Pictures-contest-hopefuls-goes-viral.html [Accessed at:30 July 2013]

Femalewallpaper. (2013) Kim Tae-Hee. [Images online] Available at:http://femalewallpaper.blogspot.com/2013/04/kim-tae-hee.html [Accessed at:30 July 2013]

Olddoobybrain. (2013) Korean Plastic Surgery Before and After. [Images online] Available at:http://www.doobybrain.com/2013/01/12/korean-plastic-surgery-before-and-afters/ [Accessed at:30 July 2013]

Joonle4ever. (2012) SNSD Jenie Japanese ver. [Images online] Available at:http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/girls-generation-snsd/images/15368247/title/snsd-genie-japanese-ver-photo [Accessed at:30 July 2013]

Group Consultation with Lecturer.

• How are women represented in media. 

• Talk about the ideas using fashion based media

• In relation to fashion based media. (can be like Tv program, next top models, project runway)

• The key concept on exploring > HOW ARE WOMEN REPRESENTED?

• If Idea & Concept on Japanese culture. Would you find them in Malaysia Magazine?

• How does it reflect everyday society?

• How religion has influence how women are see?

• (not descripting on how women looks in media)

• Different fashion base magazine

• Not looking at the only ads but the whole thing.

• Institution of the media that you choosen

• "Cosmetic, clothes, accessories,..... etc"

• How Japanese media influence the local women in Malaysia.

• (Research and analyse more on the japanese fashion culture)

The Role of Women in Media.

Women in fashion magazine and ads are always appeals semi-naked, sexually appealing with high fashion trend and heavy makeup. Not only for the appearance of the women but also the way how they posed their gesture in an advertisement. Why do women portray in that way?

Sexuality has become a theme for few famous brand to grab consumer's attention. Based on article, Sexism and Sexuality in Advertising by Jacobsen.M, he said that, pornography has grown $7billion in the industry and porn has become more mainstream and common. Its message and conventions has adopted by advertisement. As you can see that, male models from both of the images above are topless and women dressed up with boobs and thigh exposed. Women are portray with SEXY appearance and attractive expression. Besides that, the way the male models' pose is seems like the significant of "sexual positions" by lie upwards the female models' body.

For  example, 0.15s, 0.29s,0.30s, and 0.32s in the video clip, these scenes can be signify as sexism and sexuality in an advertisement. Women had been portray as  hot, sexy, seductive, and feminine inside these advertisement.



Research & References

Weartrends.com. (n.d.) Calvin Klei Collection. [Image online] Available at: http://www.weartrends.com/PhotoShow.aspx?type=1&id=4619&pic= [Accessed: 20 July 2013]

Jacobsen.M.F&Mazur,L.A. (1995) Sexism and Sexuality in Advertising.[online] Available at:(http://www.uky.edu/~aubel2/eng104/paranoia/pdf/jacobsen.pdf [Accessed:20 July 2013]

Azad.S. (2012) Are Women in the Media Only Portrayed As Sex Icons? Statistics Show a Massive Gender Imbalance Across Industries. [online] Available at:http://www.policymic.com/articles/4439/are-women-in-the-media-only-portrayed-as-sex-icons-statistics-show-a-massive-gender-imbalance-across-industries [Accessed at: 20 July 2013]

Dolcegabanachannel.(2012) POUR FEMME & POUR HOMME by Dolce&Gabbana [new 45" uncut version]. [online] Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_UzD-NFEj0[Accessed at: 20 July 2013]

Case study- Sex and The City II.

Sometimes, fashion can become as a signify for one country. Different country has different fashion culture and aethestic standard. I used this film to study how fashion culture in a place influence other women from other country to follow the culture.

What is Sex and The City about?

This film is a 2010 romance comedy film which is the sequel to the 2008 film Sex and The City. It is about 4 different ages womens' lifestyles in New York. The main thing of this film that could not be miss out is the high fashion trend costume they wear. There are few scenes that I would like to study is how culture related to fashion. 

Short synopsis of Sex and The City II.

Carrier, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda are 4 best friends, they all are married accept Samantha, who is the oldest one among them and trying to keep her libido with hormones while dealing with menopause. She was invited by a Arab business man (devise a PR campaign for his business) to visit Abu Dhabi. She requested to bring all her best-friend together. 

New York

Abu Dhabi

As you can see that, when they visited to one of the desert in Abu Dhabi, they dressed themselves differently compare to what they usually wear in New York. I believe that there's some reasons cause them to wear in that way. 

• The culture

Women in Abu Dhabi usually wear Abaya (a long black robe) with a Sheila (a black head scarf to cover the neck and head) and some may add a Niqab to cover their face (only the eyes are expose) if some of them are very religious. Black Abaya outfit is an identity and sign that says" I am a U.A.E women." 

• The laws

Women in Abu Dhabi are not allow to wear indecent outfits. Guidelines such as shorts and skirts need to reach an appropriate length and same to swimwear as well. 

I remember the scene when they were having their breakfast beside a pool. Samantha dressed herself a maxi long dress with super low-cut design in front of her chest. The rest of the girls tried to persuade her to wear more clothes because they respect the culture in Abu Dhabi ( local women usually dressed their body with black- Arab's cultural) while the others 3 girls wore scarf, vest/cardigan to cover their shoulder and neck.

But even though there are many rules and laws for the fashion code for women in Abu Dhabi, but some of them still love to follow trendy fashion from other country. For example, this reminds me of one scene when they chased after some Arab guy because Samantha's condom accidentally fall out from her bag in the public. After that, there are 5 Arab women guide them out from the crowd. They show the girls what  they usually wear inside their Abaya("their real character"). However, they had to follow the law but what they actually love is the trend and fashion of New York city.

In my conclusion, I think that fashion has no national boundaries and everyone are free to pursue it, no matter which country they belongs to. And I believe that since UAE is a muslim state, women in this country has instructed to wear what they had ordiniert. Moreover, based on my observation, women in this country has less "power" then men, they did not play significant role in politic and religious life. In addition, I feel that why they had to wear all black is because to avoid being exposed to male-dominated society and these women can only reveal their real identity to their family and husband. 

Research & References

Sites.goole.com. (n.d.) Traditional wear in the UAE. [online] Available at:https://sites.google.com/site/exploringtheuae/presentation/culture/traditional-wear [Accessed at:28 July 2013]

Leigen.M. (2012) UAE laws you must know to stay out of trouble. [online] Available at:http://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/uae-laws-you-must-know-to-stay-out-of-trouble-2012-02-28-1.445519 [Accessed at:28 July 2013]

Expatwoman.com.(n.d.) ExpatWoman Guide to Abu Dhabi Etiquette. [online]  Available at:http://www.expatwoman.com/abudhabi/monthly_abudhabi_faqs_ExpatWoman_Guide_to_Abu_Dhabi_Etiquette_9129.aspx [Accessed at:28 July 2013]

Festy.(2010) Sex and the city 2-the movie. [Images online] Available at:http://festyinstyle.blogspot.com/2010/04/sex-and-city-2-movie.html [Accessed at:28 July 2013]

Amber.P. (2012) My Favourite Pastime: Watching Bad Movies. [Images online] Available at:http://www.mamapop.com/2012/06/my-favorite-pastime-watching-bad-movies.html [Accessed at:28 July 2013]

Saraqaseem. (2013) Orientalism. [Images online[ Available at:http://saraqaseem.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/orientalism/ [Accessed at:28 July 2013]

Deleere.S. (2012) Why Sex and The City is possibly one of the most offensive movies ever made. [Images online] Available at:http://lafinestproche.wordpress.com/ [Accessed at:28 July 2013]

Mtholyoke.edu. (n.d.) The Veil. [online] Available at:http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~skalmutt/uae/veil.html [Accessed at 28 July 2013]