OxygenD's Editor Blog with Diane Hart

Friday, May 21, 2010

Tat storm!

We've been swamped with emails from many of you about tattoos after printing a comment from a reader in our June issue. Michelle took offense at our refusal to remove a tattoo from one of our fitness models, saying that "Tattoos detract from the beauty and effort of a weightlifter and are just plain ugly" and asked us to keep our standards higher. What do you think? (I myself like tats....but what about you?) Let me know what you think and we'll add them to our coverage of the "Tat storm of controversy" in an upcoming issue of Oxygen. Have a great weekend – stay active, eat clean and we'll chat next week.

11 comments:

  1. Tattoos are a (sometimes collaborative) art piece that somebody has invested a lot of time and money in acquiring. Like all great art, it deserves to be seen.

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  2. I completely support tattoos and think that when someone (fitness models included) puts the time, effort and pain into getting one it should be considered a part of them. Besides, as a fitness magazine, Oxygen should in no way be expected to act as the morality police.

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  3. I myself have tattoos and love them. To me, it would be somewhat a form of discrimination to not feature a fitness model just because of her tats. She worked hard to get her body in that shape and the tats are now a part of her body and should also be featured.

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  4. "We want to see your muscles, but please cover your tattoos", how is that any different than "We want to see your muscles, but don't care for your brown eyes, could you get blue contacts?" Or "We don't like your blonde hair, could you color it brown?" Let people be who they are! Take them or leave them...it's time we quit picking women apart as if they were fried chicken!

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  5. I support tattoos, I mean we airbrush enough, aren't we trying to get away from that? It adds a certain something to a model to have a tattoo and frankly makes them more memorable. Leave the tattoos alone!

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  6. I loved the tattoo! I don't have tattoos and don't really support them, but just because she had a tattoo doesn't mean she is unhealthy-Look at her! I think it adds to her personality and individuality. I'm sure there are a lot of airbrushed things in magazines that we don't notice or care about, like an out of place hair or unnaturally green eyes. So why care about the tattoo?

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  7. I honestly did not understand the fiasco that was caused by this one small tattoo. I thought the tattoo actually added a bit of spunk to the pictures, usually you see the 'perfect' fitness model, but allowing this tattoo to show made me feel like she was just like me and not a model of unattainable goals. I don't even have a tattoo!

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  8. Hi all! Thanks for taking the time to let me know what you think - I'm always so impressed by Oxygen readers and their frank, no-nonsense way of speaking their minds. Keep an eye out for our August issue where we showcase many of your comments.

    Thanks again! Hmmmm....what tattoo should I get now?

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  9. It's more than just a tatoo but an expression of the person. I get this fantastic magazine for tidbits but I really love how I get to learn about the real fitness guru you've highlighted each month. Why would I want you to cover up something that's part of her?

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  10. Chiming in a bit late- but I think that TAT's are a form of self expression for the individual. Let them shine! Having worked in magazine layout for a while, I understand that photo's often get 'flipped' for the best looking layout and for ease of readership. It's the information that is important- not the fact that we've turned a picture over...

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  11. I don't really like tattoos but I don't care if a model has one and it was clear that the picture was reversed. I don't know why it's causing such a fuss.

    I would take offense about pale pink lipstick with an orangey tan way before tats.

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