Mila's Thoughts Lately

The girl next door was always a commodity, diva.

The Show Notes: * Summary * Links * Reading & Watch lists * Mocktail Recipe SUMMARY The grilled cheese crop top effect isn’t just about food; it’s the quiet negotiation we do with traditional gender roles every single day. In this episode, I’m unpacking how nostalgia gets sexualized, why we end up playing both the mother and the lover at the same time, and how Alix Earle has essentially weaponized the girl next door archetype into a full magnetic personal brand. This is about attainability, the labor it costs us, and who actually benefits from it. We elaborate on Americana advertising culture. And create connections that signify that you can't have Americana advertising culture without the inherent sexualizing of women. We also discussed the commodity factorization of women and fast food advertisements. We weathered Paris Hilton's Carl's Jr. ad in 2000 and something. Or it's Alix Earle’s NFL ad. We reflect on my previous research of the dedication of women's hunger and its connections to the girl next door archetype. Rather than just a weapon, we talk about Earle’s rise to fame using manufactured and strategic relatability and femininity to achieve sustainable attention online. We also talk about summer plans, getting sick after finals, graduating college, and our five favorite things that improve our lives. LINKS ✦ read the full essay before it goes behind the paywall on June 8th → here [https://vanitythoughts.substack.com/p/the-crop-top-grilled-cheese-effect?r=52fo5u]✦ subscribe to Vanity Thoughts for essays like this every week → here [https://vanitythoughts.substack.com/subscribe] READING & WATCH LIST The Takes: Girl Next Door Trope Explained: watch here [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDzDh0DLtz8&t=426] Alix Earles Content Stratgy breakdown: read here [https://www.saramccord.com/blog/alix-earle] The Alix Earle Effect-ELLE magazine: read here [https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a44775813/alix-earle-tiktok-interview-2023/] Bunny Talks: Teenagers Disscuss The Girl Next Door: read here [https://www.lse.ac.uk/media-and-communications/assets/documents/research/msc-dissertations/2009/Barton-final.pdf] Why “The Girl Next Door” Is Incredibly Destructive to Society: read here [https://aninjusticemag.com/opinion-why-the-girl-next-door-is-incredibly-destructive-to-society-65b0fd7d4702] MOCKTAIL RECIPE 1/4 a cup of nonalcoholic fairy wine—long-term infused with rosemary, red wine vinegar, and blood orange. fill and dilute with cold water add a few drops of vitamin D oil Add a few drops of sugar-free tasteless electrolyte mix HEALTH BENEFITS Adding a small amount of red wine vinegar to a mocktail provides several functional benefits, most notably blood sugar regulation and digestive support. These benefits primarily come from its acetic acid and polyphenol content, which remain present even after red wine is fermented into vinegar. A mocktail infused with Vitamin D acts as a functional beverage that supports immune function, strengthens bone health, and improves calcium absorption, all while providing hydration. These alcohol-free drinks promote better sleep quality, clearer skin, and improved liver health compared to cocktails. Join the discussion, and get the opportunity to ask and anonymous beauty in life questions that will make it in the next podcast episode. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit vanitythoughts.substack.com/subscribe [https://vanitythoughts.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

The TikTok AI Beauty Filter is Changing Our Brain Chemistry

SHOW NOTES: table of context * Summary * Highlights * Reading List * Research Prompts This is Mila’s Thoughts Lately, were we talk about the beauty industry, body politics, and pop culture through through a feminist lens. Episode Summary: We’ve moved past 'Snapchat Dysmorphia' into something much more calculated. Today, we're talking about AI filters on TikTok, the medical reality of Filter Dysphoria, and why the internet is obsessed with making us look like digital clones of ourselves. Highlights: * The evolution of Snapchat face to face, Instagram face, to beauty filters now is challenged by AI innovation, taking away the ability to see someone using a filter. * Studies indicated that Gen Z and Millennials are getting plastic surgery younger as a result of this online activity. * Filter dysphoria is fostered by online social media addictions. * Different beauty filters are models of communication and community building. Reading List: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. (2019, January 23). According to a 2018 survey by the AAFPRS, 72 percent of facial plastic surgeons saw an increase in cosmetic surgery or injectables in patients under age 30 since 2013. https://www.aafprs.org/AAFPRS/News-Patient-Safety/News.aspx [https://www.aafprs.org/AAFPRS/News-Patient-Safety/News.aspx] Campbell, C., & Neuilly, M. A. (2017). Example of sociological to psychological connections in reciprocating perspective [Image]. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Example-of-sociological-to-psychological-connections-in-reciprocating-perspective_fig1_328601392 [https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Example-of-sociological-to-psychological-connections-in-reciprocating-perspective_fig1_328601392] Metzler, H., & Garcia, D. (2023). Social drivers and algorithmic mechanisms on digital media. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 19(5), 735–748. https://doi.org/10.1177/17456916231185057 [https://doi.org/10.1177/17456916231185057] Metzler, H., & Garcia, D. (2024). Social drivers and algorithmic mechanisms on digital media. PubMed Central (PMC). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11373151/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11373151/] Research prompts The Tech Stack — “how do AI beauty filters work” deepfake face mesh augmented reality real-time The Neuroscience of Perception — “own-race effect” OR “self-recognition bias” beauty filter distorted self-perception neuroscience Filter Dysmorphia / Snapchat Dysmorphia — “Snapchat dysmorphia” OR “filter dysmorphia” body dysmorphic disorder social media plastic surgery requests study Sociological & Gender Dynamics — beauty filter feminism “digital labor” self-surveillance Foucault social media gender norms study Algorithmic Bias in Beauty AI — AI beauty filter racial bias skin tone “training data” discrimination algorithmic audit Mental Health Impact — social media beauty filters “body image” anxiety depression longitudinal study adolescents 2022 OR 2023 OR 2024 Regulatory & Ethical Responses — beauty filter disclosure law Norway OR EU “digital manipulation” advertising regulation social media ethicsWomen Full essay is readable here: https://thedesktopvanity.substack.com/p/filter-dysphoria-is-the-new-chronicCitations and Research Summary for Contributors: https://thedesktopvanity.substack.com/p/beauty-filter-dysphoria-case-studystreamable on youtube, apple podcasts, spotify and substack This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit vanitythoughts.substack.com/subscribe [https://vanitythoughts.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

To Old for Dolls: The Erasure of Tween Culture & Growing up to fast

SHOW NOTES Table of Context * Synopsis * Timestamps * Reading list * Recommended googling * Thank you BTW: this is the think piece this episode is based on: Show Notes & Synopsis Once I heard that the American Girl Doll Co was quietly canceling productions of Felicity the 17th century American girl doll due to her story. I've concluded that this would be the beginning to means an end. To be fair felicity was supposedly or allegedly getting pulled from production because in her original story books the American abolitionist no that's Felicity had family that owned people. They got me thinking about the narratives that dolls Play in our eyes. And after finishing my pop culture class I learned that popular substances are substance less. Dolls and imaginative play I felt like I gave up way too soon. Just to only see older kids still actively enjoying them. I certainly remember waking up one day and realizing that my mom was donating all my dolls without really telling me I was 12. I'd like to vote deeper I soon realized that toys were a tool and it's production value and heavy price was a symptom of a late stage capital and patriarchal society. They wanted to exclude women from imaginative play early on in order to keep them from her receiving unique forms of financial independence. I'd argue that since this is primarily affecting toys geared towards girls, we are seeing some type of gatekeeping of imaginative play early on. Many scholars argue that in 10 years imagination will be the most sought after skill in the job market. We're certainly doing these tween of the surface especially as we erase TWEEN culture. Doing girls at the service by teaching them through media, pop culture, and play that they are to grow up much faster. We will explore the mid the legends and the misconceptions. As we find a whimsical retelling in toy culture and girlhood and the patriarchal nonsense riddled within play. TIMESTAMPS Chapter I: Gatekeeping imaginative play: (01:06) The Thesis: (2:30) Who thinks that dolls suck now: (5:06) Is that a Study In your Polly Pocket (9:03) chapter II tween hood: (11:12) What happened to the tween Era: (16:28) Beauty influencers are replacing fashion dolls: (18:22) Chapter III Myth Busting: (19:21) Babysitting and American Dreams: (21:25) Conclusions: (25:00) Reading Lists Babysitter: An American History: [https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/6607714-babysitter] Miriam Forman-Brunell [https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/571549.Miriam_Forman_Brunell] Princess Cultures: Mediating Girls’ Imaginations and Identities [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24871329-princess-cultures] Miriam Forman-Brunell (Editor) [https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/571549.Miriam_Forman_Brunell], Rebecca C. Hains (Editor) [https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10784294.Rebecca_C_Hains] Recommended Googling: * What is the usage of dolls in psychological studies * Toy marketing and pricing across genders * What is the famous doll study * What happened to the tween era * Studies on if women mature faster than boys * The differences between Monster High GEN one and GEN three * How have Bratz dolls changed then versus now Mila's Thoughts Lately is a reader-supported publication. To get access to video essays at a podcast a week before posting on YouTube, become a free subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit vanitythoughts.substack.com/subscribe [https://vanitythoughts.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

March Madness Beauty News Recap: Cardi Bs new Haircare Brand, Glossier & more (Prt 1)

Welcome back to the desktop mini podcast. we chat about beauty politics pop culture and power through feminism.Little Miss me, journalist extraordinaire has a lot to say in this video all the way from glossier layoffs, to leaked labs drama and Cardi B's new hair care brand. Making trend predictions and commentary on all things in the beauty space for the month of March.Contribute to my independent beauty editor dreams by becoming a subscriber to my sub page here: [https://thedesktopvanity.substack.com/publish/posts/detail/184266001?referrer=%2Fpublish%2Fposts%2Fpublished]If you're ready for part two (sub stack contributor exclusive) then click here: [https://open.substack.com/pub/thedesktopvanity/p/wtf-is-up-with-elfleaked-labs-drama?r=52fo5u&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true]Sincerely yours Mila. This podcast will also be available on Spotify, Apple, and wherever you listen to your daily podcast. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit vanitythoughts.substack.com/subscribe [https://vanitythoughts.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

WTF is up with E.L.F–Leaked Labs Drama & more: Part 2

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit vanitythoughts.substack.com [https://vanitythoughts.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] Thank you to my paid contributors for supporting my multimedia beauty editorial Substack. Part two is an exclusive deep dive that elaborates on where we left off in part one. If you haven't listened or watched part one yet here's the link to it on YouTube (Watch here) [https://youtu.be/dXgbFETAojY] If you're they're actually I think they should shoot for drugstoreready to dive deep into topics like Leaked Labs, how POC founded brands struggle compared to others, and E.L.Fs pipeline from weird to offensive commercials, then please enjoy. If you rather Watch part one [https://youtu.be/dXgbFETAojY mental check] first or on its own it is still just as great. In part one we talk about Leak Labs, Glossier doing everything but going bankrupt, and Cardi B's new hair care brand. (there is no paid content bellow this line this time, but enjoy the free preview.)