Love it or hate it, one of the things that makes American Idol so fascinating is its subjectivity.
The “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” intangible that makes it so unpredictable at times, and on a level more relevant to the rest of us- the reality that the level of our success will depend not only on our skills and talents, but also on our appearance, personality, and the image we present to the world.
A contestant’s appearance, personality and charm (or lack of it) can (and I believe often DOES) make or break a performance and the votes that the contestants receive.
The better looking and more confident the contestant, the more positive the crowd’s reaction (given equal talent). The judges are open about the importance of beauty and marketability in the competition- often making remarks about how much they feel “America will like” the contestant. Sometimes their opinions even become uncomfortably personal- think about the shirtless Casey James and how Kara DioGuardi swooned.
When America first met Crystal Bowersox, she might have been recognized more for her not so pearly whites than her powerful voice. Fast forward to the Top 24 show and Crystal has a shiny new set of perfectly white teeth. Her new swagger surely comes from her increased confidence!
The physical transformation of Idol contestants is nothing new… Carrie Underwood, Elliot Yamin, Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken and many more former Idols have had minor and major image alterations during and after the competition.
Sometimes the only thing the contestant needed was the assistance of a professional and the financial resources to work some magic.
Elliot Yamin has had a new smile thanks to $50,000 worth of porcelain veneers and other dental work. Although he spent over 20 hours sitting in the dentist chair, he feels that the results were worth it. A Beverly Hills dentist worked on Yamin free of charge and said that the changes would “help muscle function and will help increase the volume of his voice”. His smile was something that Yamin used to get teased about and was a source of embarrassment. Now, he cannot stop smiling. Although he placed third on Idol, he says he “feels like a winner.”
Kelly Pickler’s voice is not the only thing that has blossomed since her Idol appearance... After dancing around questions, shortly after finishing Idol, Kelly admitted that she has had a breast augmentation.
At the opposite end, even the strongest singers can get voted off for a lack of confidence or a poor image. Each season has given us an example of someone who may have won the competition were the contestants required to sing behind a curtain...
While Crystal has not done much to change her dreadlocks, she has definitely had some coaching from the wardrobe department. Simon once referred to her as looking like a subway performer. Lily Scott was voted off, not because she was the weaker singer or lacked confidence; but because Katie Stevens simply had a more mainstream look.
The success of the contestants on American Idol, as in life, is not only dependent on talent and a great work ethic.
To achieve your full potential, it is important to project the appropriate image and the self-confidence that comes from being happy with how you look.
Being everything you can be will always (and whether we think it’s fair or not) require talent and hard work, yes, but also an image consistent with your goals, a winning personality, and an outward appearance that captures the imagination and inspires the confidence of others. The “total package”.
This remains one of the more common reasons patients come to my Orlando Plastic Surgery and Skin Care Center- and while winning American Idol after your surgery may not be realistic, the transformations we see in our patients attitudes, confidence, even their manner of dress, is very rewarding and exciting for all of us.
What could be better than making yourself look and feel more beautiful and confident?
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