Bridget Jones and the Rise of the Fictional Role Model

Published on Monday, December 19 2011

Written by Guest Contributor

A hopeless romantic, a babbling fool, and a clumsy archetype of humankind. These are the ingredients needed to create our perfect unassuming heroine of the past decade -- Bridget Jones. We cringed and watched in awe as Bridget placed herself in situations which were conveniently deemed "inappropriate". However, the reason why Bridget resonated with us and became a runaway success was due to our overwhelming response of "Thank god, it’s not just me then!" We’re frequently bombarded by flawless woman, whether it’s in our everyday life or on screen. We tend to forget that many celebrities are regular, average woman as well. Sure, they have a bit more money than you or me -- but at the end of the day, they have feelings, with a tendency to embarrass themselves. The only difference is, their embarrassment is for the world to view. Not so perfect now then?

Take for instance, Miss Universe 2004, Jennifer Hawkins. A beautiful rare species. Yet we couldn’t contain our jealousy-fuelled happiness when the skirt she was wearing came undone whilst she was parading around in a fashion show. She might have a perfect bum that probably has never bore the brunt of the traditional Bridget Jones granny-panties... But hey! It was still pretty funny! Kudos to Hawkins for managing to play it off with a fit of blushing giggles. Other not so endearing wardrobe malfunctions include body part exposures from the now-famous cases of Tara Reid and Janet Jackson, the latter causing mass hysteria and outrage at the (supposedly) family-friendly Super Bowl halftime show in 2004. Tara, on the other hand, didn’t notice as she smiled and lapped up the press attention that every one of us unconsciously craves. 

It wasn’t just fashion in which Bridget was challenged -- it was her body type. She set herself a goal to lose 20 pounds, which we watched her struggle to do. In reality, you open up a fitness magazine and are exposed to double-page spreads of happy, gleaming women staring back at you. A smaller picture next to them indicate a "before" shot. You read their weight loss stories and it’s the same thing over and over again: eating sensibly and exercising more. Is it really that easy? Hell, no! Just ask notable yo-yo dieters such as Kelly Clarkson and Jessica Simpson. Both beautiful woman, yet they have publicly battled with their weight, for which they've received intense criticism. It was also difficult for Nicole Richie to find a right balance when she went from a chubby "wild child" to a scarily slim family woman. Richie was known to have been a mere 82 pounds at her lowest. However, the woman who is most talked about in terms of weight fluctuation is Kirstie Alley. Whilst being a spokeswoman for the Jenny Craig program, she lost 75 pounds. But once her program ended, she once again became enticed by the seduction of food. We constantly see Kirstie in the press at various sizes. 

I also have a point regarding actresses who seem a bit too good at playing their "comedy" roles. Sandra Bullock is the queen of comedy. Nonetheless, her ability to fall over sporadically, say inappropriate things, and make an utter fool of herself is almost too authentic. Sure, it may just be down to exceptional acting chops -- or simply she may just be playing roles that fit her own character and life experiences down to a T. More recently, the witty heir apparent of Bullock, Emma Stone, has been touted at one of the most promising rising stars of today. With roles in Superbad and Easy A, she plays up her "relatable goof" status. This may be a far cry from the well publicized story of her thoughtfully putting together a PowerPoint presentation to convince her parents to move to L.A.; this brought out more organized, level-headed, and serious traits of Stone. Although, that could’ve been a isolated case of "when push comes to shove", do whatever it takes to follow your passions. Her representation of "role model" is giving the Bridget Jones Archetype a fabulous, fresh overhaul. 

My intent after all this is that we shouldn’t give up on fictional role model characters. It may have been a long time since the Bridget Jones movie and its sequel were center stage, but there is no shortage of flawed fictional females out there who are just like you and me. It might be that supposed "perfect" woman who sits opposite you on the train, and it can also be a familiar face that graces your screens every day. Also, don’t forget you’ll be the one who ends up getting the hot guy at the end!

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