February 14th, 2012

Posted by Shannon Stewart on February 14, 2012 | 3 Comments

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Since today is a day about love and romance, I was going to write about that, but instead, I have decided to write about the new Sports Illustrated cover. The new edition just came out today, so it has been all over the news. The models that shot for it were anxiously waiting to see if they made “the final cut.” They dreamt that their picture would land the coveted cover, because it has been known to catapult model’s careers. Many young girls will now have new models that they aim to be like one day, and sadly enough, many men will flock to the stores to buy themselves a copy. In this day and age, it wouldn’t come as a shock to me if women even bought that for their husbands or boyfriends!

Men are visual. It takes them hard work and effort not to lust, especially when wherever they look there is scantily dressed women, girls posing topless, nude, or in barely anything. There are billboards that stare them in their face, and TV shows that show women as just “sex objects.” I don’t know about you, but I want to be known for more than what I look like or for my “sex appeal.” What happened to the days that women strove to be classy? When I say classy I immediately think of Kate Middleton. She just exudes such elegance, even without trying. She dresses like a lady, and conducts herself with such refinement. I read an article the other day about Adele. She stated that she did not want to lose a bunch of weight to be skinny and show off her chest to sell records. She has such talent. Her voice is beyond amazing. I was happy to hear that there is a singer out there that doesn’t feel the need to follow the crowd. She doesn’t need too.

The cover of Sports Illustrated really bothered me and to be honest, I haven’t really paid attention to the magazine because it was not one of my goals to do. Her bottoms reminded me of dental floss or a shoe string. And her top, well, it didn’t cover much. Do they really need to make her bathing suit so skimpy to sell some magazines? We as women are more than just our bodies. No wonder why men have a distorted perception of women! We are encouraging that manipulated mind-set. Have you ever heard the term “trophy wife?!” I want to be more than just a trophy wife. Do you?

The fact is that people are buying the magazine, for it they weren’t, then they wouldn’t be publishing it. That is the sad reality. Now, we all are human and we make mistakes everyday, I just try not to make the same mistake twice! I have worn things I wish I never had. Like on season one of America’s Next Top Model I wore lingerie for a shoot. I didn’t feel comfortable in it, but I denied my conscience and did it anyways. I learned a lesson and have never done that again! I also would not wear the bathing suit that I wore on there either (although they did some editing to the picture). We all are human, in need of the Lord’s grace. I am so thankful that He is so merciful and forgiving because I am in desperate need of it!

Be a woman of worth. A Proverbs 31 woman, for “her worth is far above rubies.”