Only pretty girls need apply

Nekesa Mumbi Moody, The Associated Press
Published: Monday, May 28, 2007

NEW YORK - She was an "amazing talent," a young singer with a wonderful voice who wrote beautiful songs. But she was no beauty, and was flat-chested and overweight to boot.

Remembering the aspiring star, music executive Jody Gerson still feels terrible about thinking: "She's never going to get signed, even though she's fabulous."

Gerson might feel even worse after the early exit of the matronly Melinda Doolittle from American Idol. In today's music industry, Plain Janes need not apply. Sex appeal was once considered a bonus for a woman -- now it's practically a requirement.
Avril Lavigne recently boasted about being hot.View Larger Image View Larger Image
Avril Lavigne recently boasted about being hot.

Doolittle and the heavyset, gap-toothed LaKisha Jones were widely considered this season's most talented Idol contestants. Yet both were eliminated from the final four in favour of Blake Lewis, who makes the teen girls swoon, and the long-locked, 17-year-old looker Jordin Sparks, who eventually won the contest.

A quick check of the Billboard Top 40 turns up a list of candidates for America's Top Model (or Canada's) -- Avril Lavigne, blond stunner Carrie Underwood; tomboyish but sexy Ciara, hip-swivelling Shakira.

The only two in the Top 40 who might not be considered perfect 10s are Pink, who is still svelte and appealing; and multi-platinum Grammy-winner Kelly Clarkson, who got her break only through winning the democratically elected American Idol.

When asked whether a female with so-so looks and sex appeal could get a record deal, country singer Gretchen Wilson quickly replied: "They can't."

"I believe that very few will get through and they better be amazing," Wilson said in an interview. "The music is not about just music anymore, it's about the look, the 'it' factor if you will ... it's marketing."

True, looks have always been a part of the music business. Diana Ross played a model in the movie Mahogany, Marianne Faithfull was considered a beauty, Tina Turner's legs were part of her sex appeal, Olivia Newton-John was the lovely girl-next-door and Stevie Nicks rocked teenage boys with more than just her guitar.

But there also were stars like wild-haired, pudgy Janis Joplin and Barbra Streisand, who challenged beauty standards with her protruding nose. Even curvy Aretha Franklin was known mainly for her one-of-a-kind voice.

Today, it's hard to find a singer larger than a size six and without a sexy look -- all of which are played up with sensuous videos, modelling spreads and provocative magazine covers. Lavigne, who once scoffed at singers who stripped for the cameras, fronts the new issue of Blender topless, save for a strategically placed banner that reads "Hell Yeah, I'm Hot!"

The hit reality show Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll is a striking example. In finding a replacement for current lead doll, stunner Nicole Scherzinger, the judging panel -- which included the cosmetically enhanced rapper Lil' Kim -- did talk about vocal qualities. But while a few contestants had strong voices, all were taut, toned and sexy, and the focus was more on their dancing and overall desirability. Which is to be expected from the group responsible for the anthem Don't Cha (as in, "don't cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me?").