Nominated Yet Shut Out

Every year as the Oscar nominations are being annouced, Annie
Leibowitz is photographing a group of Hollwood's young and most note
worthy actresses of the year. Among those on the cover, Best Actress
nominee, Carey Mulligan and Amanda Seyfried. These two women are shoe
ins for this because of their stellar bodies of work. Mulligan is
nominated for her star turn in 'An Education' and Seyfried held her
own against Meryl Streep in last year's hit, 'Mamma Mia!'. So with
that being said, why isn't Gabourey Sidibe sitting somewhere in that
photo?

Is the shade of her skin the problem? People come in all different
shades. As Vouge Italia proved with their Blackout Issue, the
different shades of African-American's skin is the best to photograph.
Sidibe's complexion is in stark contrast to the women on the Vanity
Fair cover. If variety is the spice of life, why aren't we celebrating
her for not being a cookie cutter image of American beauty? Does Vanity
Fair think Sidibe has too much of certain things? Too much melanin in
her skin or too much weight on her hips?

Sure, Sidibe isn't your average supermodel looking celebrity, but
isn't that part of her appeal? She turned in one of the best
perfomances of the year in 'Precious'. Some of the actresses on the
Vanity Fair cover aren't new to the public. Emma Stone has been
featured on this issue's cover twice, her most memorable role was in
'Superbad', after that we caught her in the very mediocre film known
as 'The House Bunny'. She hasn't progressed as an actress, so why no
shine for Gabourey?

Could it be putting Sidibe on the cover would be a giant step in the
direction towards broadening America's perception of beauty? Most
women don't wear a size below double digits. So, representing them
would be a rallying cry against an inacurate standard of beauty.
Middle America might not be ready for that yet.

We live in a society full of contridictions. In the land where thin is
always in, bigger is considered better. In today's climate being
lighter is considered being better, yet we say to darker skinned
people- the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice. America, let's
make up our minds because if Gabourey Sidibe keeps turning in
performances like the one in 'Precious', You're going to have to make
room on your magazine covers. We can only hope she won't have to pose
in a picnic scene sitting next to watermelon.