WHO IS THE “SEXIEST SENIOR ALIVE?”

WHO IS THE “SEXIEST SENIOR ALIVE?”

People magazine just announced that British actor Idris Elba as the "Sexiest Man Alive" in their latest issue. This obtuse “honour” is billed as a benchmark of male attractiveness and typically includes only famous people and celebrities. The origin of the title was a discussion on a planned story on Mel Gibson. Someone exclaimed, "Oh my God, he is the sexiest man alive!" And someone else said, "You should use that as a cover line.”This out-of-the-blue coronation has continued since 1985 with a new recipient every year since then. 

Of course, this meaningless honour dredged up a plethora of critical questions from my inquiring mind. Is this practise not sexist? Are we not depicting a group of good looking intelligent males as simply “sex objects?”Is this kind of adulation any more inappropriate than flaunting bikini clad women in beauty contests such as Miss America or Miss World? People magazine should be admonished and condemned for this practise. 

Of course, I wondered why People had not also conducted a parallel recognition of the “Sexiest Woman Alive?” My intensive research discovered that in December 2014, People selected its first and only Sexiest Woman Alive. No later People Sexiest Women of the Year have ever been announced. So I asked,”Why not?” Did the feminist movement cause People to dismiss this practise of glamorizing good looking females as demeaning and insensitive? Are the main readers for People magazine female and they are only interested in the sexiest “male” of the year?” My queries are endless!

My most interesting experience with “beauty contests” occurred when we lived in the Bahamas. Bahamians love beauty pageants. My sometimes faulty memory recalls contests for Miss Bahamas, Mrs Bahamas, Miss Teen Bahamas, Ms Full Figured Bahamas and Miss Junior Bahamas for the four to six year old contingent. These latter contestants wearing “evening gowns” and tiaras were driven around the streets of Nassau in the back of pickup trucks decorated with streamers and balloons and blaring rocking, modern music. There did not seem to be any sense that the female form, either pre-school age or over-the-hill age, was being exploited or denigrated. Unique body shapes and sizes did not seem to be an issue. 

Since we live in an age where anything seems to go, I am presenting my two readers with the following questions. Is it time for the Sexiest Senior Alive? What would be the judging criteria? Would one of you nominate me? I anxiously await your reply!