I got the new Shape magazine in the mail the other day. Yes I still subscribe to my share of paper mags and I like it that way. Apparently I’m part of a dying breed.
I was surprised by the cover for two reasons:
1. There was an ad on it.
2. A “regular” woman was shown running vs a bikini-clad celeb.
To be honest, I liked it. I didn’t even care that almost half the cover showed some weightloss protein powder. I found the non-celebrity running girl refreshing.
Then I opened the mag and snapped back to reality:
The first cover was merely a jacket. The real cover features a bikini-clad Jada Pinkett Smith.
My question for you: Do we need bikini-clad celebs on the cover of fitness magazines? I didn’t mind skimming through the cover article and looking at the exercises Jada supposedly does to see if there’s anything fresh to try. The first line of the article states, according to her trainer, Jada can squat 3x her weight, which, at 105 (in the article) would be 315. I’d super love to see/hear about how the hell she squats 315, but they left me hanging on that front.
It didn’t have to be Jada in a bikini for me to be interested. A trainer or frankly anyone who’s been successful with their fitness would have been interesting to me. For me, when a celeb is in the mix, there’s a disconnect because most of us do not have permanent personal trainers, chefs and the like.
I get that we’re a visual society. But does fitness have to be sexed up and infused with celebrities to sell?
Are you especially interested in or inspired by fit celebrities? Is it time to shift the focus in the media away from how we look? Last day to enter my giveaway!
I’m linking up with Amanda today for Thinking Out Loud Thursday.
Hi Marcia! It’s not easy for anyone to be in great shape, but I like to hear how normal people do it more than celebrities, that’s for sure. While I prefer to read about the diets and workout regimes of real fitness professionals and athletes, I still like to see celebs in the mags knowing with a grain of salt that those shots aren’t real. Oh, and I still love a good hard-copy mag, but I don’t get any subscriptions right now. I should change that!
I don’t get anymore magazines because the photoshopping and overuse of the words “fast” and “easy” drive me crazy. Also, I sincerely doubt that Jada can squat 315!
I was just about two minutes ago debating whether or not I should unfollow a (male) personal trainer I follow in Insta because he’s been putting up a lot of “New Year, New You” posts with those headless bikini girls. Seriously, WTF is that?? Show me real people!
This is why I stopped reading Shape years ago. I couldn’t care less about celebrities and their fitness habits. I spent so many years beating myself up because I didn’t look like those cover models. It’s really hard to feel good about just being in shape when you have that staring you in the face…I’m definitely over it and am more inspired by real people (like you) who’ve accomplished amazing things all the while living like a regular person!
Interesting question! I actually do still like regular ole magazines, but I get less than I used to. I am less intrigued by celebrities and their fitness regimes, but more interested in regular people with budgets and time constraints. If they look and feel good – I want to know about it. Have a great Thursday!
Honestly this is the main reason I’ve stopped subscribing to most magazines. I’m very interested in hearing about the average person’s successes but the celeb stuff leaves me cold.
I always suspect why someone is on the cover of any magazine. I’m sure one of the Smiths have a new CD/Movie/book/instagram to promote and their publicist has it all set up for promotion. I don’t believe anything in any magazine anyway. And I subscribe to Shape too, but only because it was free. I have not read the last 2 issues though….
I like paper/hard copy magazines but I don’t always have time to read them. And, sadly, so much of the content is recycled. After subscribing to Runner’s World for years, I can almost stop getting it but I digress.
I don’t need a celebrity on the cover but I don’t mind it. I prefer when they are known for their physical prowess, like Jessica Biel or Jennifer Garner. It would be nice if they were in clothes they would actually wear to the gym. Or maybe Jada squats 315 in a skimpy bathing suit.
Mine only had Jada! I like the real people or realer people look of Runner’s World (sometimes has regular runners). I have mixed feelings – I don’t mind celebs if they are ones that I like and have a “real feel” or “real body”… I am totally anti front page ads though!
This makes me think of that “You have just as many hours in the day as Beyonce” saying. We all have the same amount of hours in our day, but I spend a good majority of mine behind a desk, then at home making meals, cleaning, etc. I am sure that Beyonce works VERY hard, but she probably has a ton of help in the food, cleaning and fitness departments. Great post!
I’m a huge magazine (the paper kind) fan, too. The Shape magazine in the store didn’t have even the “fake” cover – straight to the celebrity cover!! I’m with you – I don’t buy it for the celeb of the month – I buy it for the exercises (which are getting fewer each month I think).
ok… to me – jada has strong looking quads/hams/glutes in that photo. i assume photo shop would have tried to trim them down lol. i guess she is short to only weigh 105? (i don’t keep up with celebs i wouldn’t have been able to tell you who this was if you hadn’t!) anyway, her legs look strong so i could see a solid squat max for her, but not sure about 315 solid. (i’d give her 250 though!) maybe the trainer meant she can squat her body weight 3x as in reps? who knows. but hey! they didn’t photoshop her thighs down to anorexic size!!! victory!
How odd that yours had that ad and Eric’s had Jada! The ones in the store show Jada (cause celebrity sells). I read Women’s Health and they had Britney Spears on the cover, looking NOTHING like Britney. Like, my husband saw it and said “who is that?” Then the article was not that great. I mean, she was telling how she keeps fit without a trainer, which is kind of what you are getting at, but I guess what I am thinking is that this interviews almost never have enough useful information… information you could go and use! In those magazines, I am looking for their new workout ideas and health research (even though it’s sometimes bogus). I guess who shows up on the cover doesn’t matter! 🙂
I actually don’t subscribe to magazines or even buy them- mostly because like you said, there is a disconnect. I would much rather spend my time paying attention to something that I can connect with and understand. I also call BS that she can squat 315.
Oh, what we all could achieve if we only had personal trainers, chefs, housekeepers, nannies, gardeners, nutritionists, stylists, managers, financial planners, assistants…shall I go on? Get real magazine editors!
I like magazines, but sometimes the stars on them are basically unrecognizable. If I can’t even tell it’s their face, how can I think their bodies are real?
I don’t know, I’d rather see real people transformations personally, but they’d probably overshop those too.
I think that’s one reason that people love blogs and social media so much because you have an opportunity to be introduced to real people with real lives and see their struggles and victories and when you look at a magazine all you see if the photoshopped picture of perfection that they want you to see.
I used to read Shape years ago but got turned off by celebrities. I just want to see real people too. And I want to read stories about real people and their real lives and how they still keep fit around all the real stuff that happens.
I am so so so tired of the celeb thing & b=never really dido anything for me.. I get inspired by real people! 🙂
I am so so so tired of the celeb thing & never really did anything for me.. I get inspired by real people! 🙂
Celebs don’t do it for me. I’d much rather see pics of normal people making progress and feeling good about themselves.
She can squat 315, she just can’t stand back up. 🙂
I just had this conversation with someone– I couldn’t care less about movie stars and even some elite athletes (although I can empathize a little more with someone who works hard for an athletic dream) I am truly inspired by the everyday person. The exhausted mom who just ran her first marathon, or just the average everyday person struggling through life. Many times my kids are my biggest inspiration– they amaze me how tough and courageous they are. The thing that irritates me about most magazines, is the obvious airbrushing and perfect hair and make up–this is the standard that we are supposed to hold ourselves up too? I think not!
That is the reason I quit Shape a long time ago. Couldn’t care less.
The only magazine I have now is runners. But when I skik through shape, I tend to see same old same old. I ever wonder if they will change their perspective and use REAL people! More applicable right?
I’m totally with you on this, however…is the girl on the “fake” cover even a real representation of what a REAL woman looks like? She looks pretty thin and rock hard to me, still not a true depiction.
the only celebs i like to see on covers are fitness celebs (runners, triathletes, etc that are only famous to us athletes). i totally agree- i don’t have a personal trainer or chef and don’t care what movie stars do