The following report is a comparison of People Magazine’s “100 Most Beautiful” and Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World”. The purpose of this is to analyze whether being beautiful has an effect on how influential a person is considered. The only names that repeat in both articles are Tyra Banks, George Clooney, Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, America Ferrera, Tina Fey and Brad Pitt. These people are most definitely beautiful, but are they more influential because of their beauty? I will discuss why they are influential, because the reason they are beautiful should be obvious. Afterwards I will discuss if they are more influential because of their beauty or not, and whether being beautiful make you more influential.

Tyra Banks has been recently standing up for women in the battle against the media’s depiction of beauty and its nearly impossible standards. This being her most publicized and noted influence seems ironic and raises questions as to why a former supermodel would stand up for such a cause. The reason for this is because Ms. Banks gained weight, and a lot of it, compared to her tiny frame as a Victoria’s Secret underwear model. It is a little annoying that someone who participated in creating these virtually unachievable standards is taking a stand as soon as she no longer fits the criteria herself. True, Ms. Banks has always been considered a curvy model but that seems like a bit of a stretch compared to the average woman. She has launched a campaign called “So What?” to help women deal with body image issues. Her non-profit organization TZone is now a foundation to help young women deal with issues of self-respect and physicality. Many young girls will definitely look up to Ms. Banks because she was a former supermodel who is preaching that beauty comes in all sizes and curves are sexy. In regards to Ms. Tyra Banks, I would definitely say that she is influential because of her beauty statuses, former and present.

Brad Pitt, who is definitely gorgeous, has been making waves recently with his interesting production credits. He is producing a documentary called God Grew Tired of Us, which is about child soldiers in Sudan. He has also been producing a film called A Mighty Heart about the 2002 kidnapping and beheading of journalist Danny Pearl by terrorists. He has acted in films such as Babel which illustrates cultural misunderstandings, but also fun films such as Ocean’s 13. Pitt has been personally moved by the situation in Darfur. He has been helping to provide relief for refugees and helping AIDS orphans. Another awareness campaign that Pitt is involved with is the rebuilding of New Orleans. In regards to Brad Pitt, it is hard to say if he is influential directly from being beautiful. He is famous for his interesting film choices, but more so for his handsomeness. He is influential for using his celebrity status to increase awareness for different causes. Therefore, indirectly he is influential due to his attractiveness. People pay attention to Brad Pitt because he is so beautiful, and by following him they will learn of his causes.

America Ferrera is a young, new actress who stars as Betty in Ugly Betty. In reality, she is stunning, passionate, driven and real. She has become a role model for young women to show that beauty comes from within and to not judge a book by its cover. Ms. Ferrera is beautiful looking in person, and I think this is what makes her influential. Had Ms. Ferrera been ugly on the show and in real life, I do not think she would hold as much prestige as she does. She would not be a young starlet that young women would look up to if she were actually ugly. The show would be less of a comment on society, and Ms. Ferrera would hold less influence if she was actually not beautiful.

Tina Fey is not stunningly gorgeous, however she is pretty. I think that Ms. Fey would be influential without being pretty because she made everything happen for herself. She worked very hard and became the first female head writer for Saturday Night Live. She wrote Mean Girls and is currently writing, producing and acting in her TV sitcom 30 Rock. Ms. Fey created her own work to get in front of the camera, where traditionally beautiful people seem to be. She, being pretty as opposed to beautiful, has broken down the doors of Hollywood and forced her way in. Playing “Liz Lemon”. an NBC sketch comedy producer who leads a mostly male writers’ room (sound familiar?), the show illustrates a sort of self-effacing feminism, according to Time. I think Ms. Fey is influential because she has worked herself into a mould for beautiful people despite her not being glamorous.

Leonardo DiCaprio has been in Hollywood for a long, long time considering his young age. Once he became a star, he chose interesting and risky roles in films such as What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, The Basketball Diaries, Titanic, Gangs of New York, and Blood Diamond, to name a few. He has been recognized as one of the most eligible bachelors and physically gifted actors in Hollywood. On the forefront of global warming awareness campaigns, DiCaprio is a member of The Natural Resources Defense Council and had made a documentary called 11th Hour which is due this fall. The film explains the challenges facing the global environment today in attempts to raise awareness for the cause. Leonardo DiCaprio is definitely influential because of his beautiful appearance. People listen to what he has to say and care about it because he is beautiful. He is critically underrated as an actor by the masses (not critics) and people underestimate him, except in regards to his looks. This is why I think he is influential because he is beautiful.

Oprah Winfrey is so influential that the author of her biography in this issue of Time Magazine is Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa from 1994-1999. They have a good friendship, which may be why Ms. Winfrey has been focusing much of her attention on the country. She opened a school called The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, which is located near Johannesburg. This school focuses on educating girls in grades 7-12. Mr. Mandela mentions in the article that women and girls in Africa have low expectations and unequal opportunities. Ms. Winfrey has addressed this issue and donated $40 million to the Academy for disadvantaged girls in South Africa. She has funded the building of 60 schools in 13 countries through The Oprah’s Angels Network and has donated more than $200 million to educational and children’s organizations around the world through The Oprah Winfrey Foundation. Oprah Winfrey has dedicated much of her life to helping others. She is a rags-to-riches story and has built an empire since then. Although Ms. Winfrey is beautiful, many people hold her in high regard due to her dedication to helping others. I think Ms. Winfrey is influential due to her obvious commitment over time and not due to her beautiful appearance.

George Clooney is regarded by many as one of the most handsome men alive. I think part of the reason he is so handsome is due to his charm and talent. Mr. Clooney has produced and starred in films such as Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Good Night and Good Luck, and Syriana. He has also starred in major films such as Ocean’s 12 and the hit TV sitcom ER.. Outside of work, Mr. Clooney is an advocate for The International Crisis Group, which is a non-profit organization committed to resolving conflicts in places like Darfur. Mr. Clooney went to the region to assess the situation for himself. He made a documentary called A Journey to Darfur with his father in 2006 that aired on the AmericanLife TV Network. He has since been actively involved in raising awareness for the Darfur cause and has been fully committed. Mr. Clooney has even addressed a rally in Washington, lobbied the Senate and spoke before the U.N. Security Council about the need to help the situation. Mr. Clooney is a well-respected actor, writer and producer. He is incredibly handsome, but men and women alike regard him as a role model for the work he is doing to raise awareness about Darfur, and for his film credits. He has not only used his name, but he has gone above and beyond most celebrities in raising awareness for a cause. He is well respected and is influential because of this.

Mentionable “influential” people who are beautiful, despite not being mentioned on the “100 Most Beautiful” of 2007, are Thierry Henry, Cate Blanchett, Kate Moss, and Justin Timberlake. Thierry Henry is posed shirtless in the Time Magazine article. Cate Blanchett is very beautiful but in a non-traditional way and this is why she gets so many character roles. She is definitely beautiful, but she is not influential due to her beauty, but rather because she is not of leading lady traditional beauty. Kate Moss is a supermodel and is mentioned as being influential for how photogenic she is. Justin Timberlake is hot, and is only mentioned for his music and it’s chart-topping. This hardly qualifies as being influential.

Based on most of the beautiful and influential people mentioned in Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World”, with the exception in my opinion of George Clooney, Oprah Winfrey, and Tina Fey, all of those mentioned are influential either directly or indirectly due to their beauty. Even those who are noticeably beautiful though not mentioned in People Magazine’s 2007 list are definitely influential due to their beauty. There are plenty of non-beautiful people who are influential, but it is unsettling that some beautiful people are considered influential merely for being beautiful.


The Canadian Value Investor © 2007