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Vivid studios goes into cosmeticsTonia, who I must admit I've never heard of before, is apparently a multi talented woman who has appeared on the Playboy channel and in centerfolds, and has also co-written a biography, started a publishing company, and forged a career playing poker. Phew! She's a busy woman, and good luck to her. That aside, I'm wondering what the hell is going on here. A porn film company teaming up with a former porn star to sell cosmetics to women? What is the thinking is behind this? Is Vivid finally acknowledging the large numbers of women who watch their high budget "couples" films? On the surface it would appear so. They know that it's not just men who watch their porn and subsequently know what a "Vivid Girl" is, so they're hoping to spin that into a tidy side business selling makeup. If that's the case, I can only say that it's a pity Vivid can't pay more attention to their core business and try a little harder to make women happy with their films. Like, say, taking the goddam facial cumshots out of every single scene in the "couples" movies they make. But perhaps something else is going on here. Are Vivid hoping to capitalise on the growing acceptance and normalisation of porn in society by offering women the fantasy that they too can look as hot as a porn star? That through their makeup line everyday women can look as good as the female porn stars their men are lusting over? Is this simply a step onward from the cult of worshipping supermodels? We have Andie McDowell and other supermodels mouthing "I'm worth it" to sell beauty products, so why not take that extra step and have female porn stars doing it too? I'm trying to work out why this thing disturbs me. Is it because it shows that the major porn studios have gained a significant amount of market power, which raises obstacles to the "future porn" that I hope for? Does it mean that for years to come these powerful studios will be the driving force behind adult content which means it will be harder to get rid of the redundant traditions, cliches and stereotypes of porn? Or am I disturbed because porn stars selling cosmetics creates yet another "body image" hurdle in the way of women? Trying to be a supermodel is hard enough, but female porn stars also take their clothes (and their pubic hair) off. In previous posts I've pondered whether women felt intimidated by porn stars. I'd dismissed the idea because women weren't expected to look up to them as role models. Now, with this, perhaps we are. Perhaps tomorrow's teenagers will wish they could look like Jenna Jameson rather than Britney Spears. Then again, maybe I'm being too Naomi Wolf about this. Maybe women will just want to buy "porn star lipstick" to go with their scarlet lingerie and strap on dildo, next time they're being a vixen in the bedroom. Maybe. Posted: Friday 15th April 2005, 7:11 AM Back to the Blog
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