Morning Coffee: The Girl Next Door

I was perusing the blogs this morning and found an older article written about someone’s reaction to Super Skinny Models. I found this article fascinating because in it he references not only how models look cold but how he often looks for a girl who he thinks will eat a plate of nachos with him every once in a while. I think what got me the most about it is how he referenced that there is something about creating an ideal of the girl next door image. Chris Greenberg writes:

Since the “skinny model” is a type that I’m not particularly interested in then I’d say that I’m looking more for the “Girl Next Door.” Admittedly, I don’t entirely know what that phrase means and realize that it imposes another type of daunting standard for women — be effortlessly beautiful, but totally laid back.. oh.. and also be conveniently located. 

So, my thought is to try to define that concept a bit for Chris. I do not have a fancy title or a big desk with an awesome writing job, so take my opinion for what it is and look at it from the perspective of average American views.  Often times I describe myself as “girl next door pretty” although these days I think it’s becoming more of a soccer mom fashion look as I prepare for the core of my thirties.

So, what is the elusive girl next door look?

It appears that when you search this online you get a few options… porn, Joey Potter from the show Dawson’s Creek and a few other assorted dark-haired beauties. However, the internet is lousy with opinions on what it is and even more so on what it is not.

The girl next door to me is exactly what Chris was talking about. Someone who you feel like you have known for years but never really noticed. She is the girl who wants to eat nachos with you but still looks great when she gets up in the morning. It is a hard ideal to live up to as far as most of us females are concerned. However, I think that more women are that image than we all realize. I hope that this look is really something defined as a girl who you would not be afraid to take home to meet your mother. Her beauty is easy, casual and unassuming. Intimidation is not a concern and she is someone everyone is friends with. This statement knocks out every celebrity out there because… face it, if Katie Holmes or Olivia Wilde showed up at your local bar everyone would be in line to chat them up and see what they are about. They are all too well-known to have the girl next door thing working for them.

Beauty has and always will be a subjective concept. So, to define the girl next door I think you first have to define the following things:

1. What does this girl represent to you?

2. Would you want to take her home to meet your mother?

3. Will she really eat a burger, a plate of nachos and have a beer with you?

4. Does she look effortlessly beautiful for real? With or without makeup? First thing in the morning?

If you can find a girl who meets those concepts than I think you can say that you have found the girl who is appropriate for you. You are the person who defines her and only you can say what that concept truly means to you.

In the meantime, I am going to continue to think that I somewhat embody that stereotype. I mean a girl can dream right?