Earlier this week, I saw the new documentary, Invisible Beauty, spotlighting Fashion revolutionary Bethann Hardison.
Co-directed by Frédéric Tcheng (DIOR AND I, HALSTON), the film explores the life and career of the legendary model, entrepreneur, and activist.
It’s equal parts memoir, with Bethann musing about her life choices in her various beautiful homes and historical testimony of the prolific racism in the fashion industry.
Bethann Hardison is uniquely qualified to take on racism in the fashion industry as a 70’s top black model. She admits she was the first “black, black” model who shared the catwalk with many women of color. When she stopped modeling to start her modeling agency, she prioritized hiring a diverse talent pool. She succeeded in creating supermodels that didn’t fit the prominent blonde and white cookie-cutter image. Two of her biggest finds were Veronica Webb and Tyson Beckford. Sadly, after she closed her agency, the whitewashing of the runways and advertising campaigns began.
The documentary argues that the trend of heroin-chic, white female models proliferating the runways and advertising campaigns was due to the fall of the Berlin Wall. The tidal wave of Russian beauties erased everything Bethann strived for – more inclusion.
The actual footage from runways during this time is alarming. There is no way anyone can deny the suppression of models of color after watching a parade of lookalike young, x-ray-thin white women on every runway.
How did Bethann address Racism?
She organized. Her brilliance is displayed as she gathers thought leaders and stakeholders in the fashion industry to start a dialogue. She smartly deflects anger, frustration, and short tempers to keep people focused on the goal. She provokes conversations in every sector of the industry. She expertly switches from being a nurturing, motherly presence in the lives of young models to a powerful activist on talk shows and media outlets.
The documentary makes a point to show that racism is cyclical. Every time Bethann succeeds, a few short years later, her work is virtually erased—two steps forward and three steps back. But somehow, she knows this and can calm the others as she seeks to unify and move forward again. It’s fascinating to watch her turn her thoughts and words into action. She is so clear in her message that her various supporters, including Naomi Campbell and Iman, never waiver in describing her purpose.
The documentary is too long. The last thirty minutes are painful. I kept wanting it to end repeatedly, but Bethann rattled on and on about death. Afterward, I told my friend I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see her cough; I stopped listening. The good news is she’s still alive and kicking.
The bad news is when it comes to motherhood, she’s right up there with Joan Crawford on the Wall of Fame. She’s elusive when discussing her strained relationship with her son. But clearly, her son bears the scars from his upbringing.
Whether or not she finishes her memoir is never addressed either. Repeatedly, she is seen on screen staring at a blank page, talking to her therapist and psychic about her writer’s block, and meeting with her editor. But we never find out what happens is a misstep.
New York Fashion Icon Evetta Petty, the owner and designer of the New York City Hat Boutique Harlem’s Heaven, shares how she stays on track with type 2 diabetes while running a successful small fashion business.
We’re talking about movie characters with diabetes, including Steel Magnolias, Soul Food, Mad Money, The Baby-Sitter Club, and Nothing In Common on this Divabetic podcast.
How realistic are portrayals of living with diabetes on screen?
How accurate is information about diabetes and diabetes self-care? And how do we feel after viewing them? With all the emotional and physical complications comes drama, making characters with the condition a good plot point on the silver screen.
Guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Glucose SOS founder Pamela Heyward, Constance Brown-Riggs MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN, Kent Gash, Jessica Clark and Muniq Gut Health Shakes Founder Marc Washington.
This podcast features music from the album ‘Score’ by 2Celloscourtesy of SONY Music.
Divabetic’s monthly podcasts are dedicated to Music Lovers living with, at risk and/or affected by diabetes. We aim to be the epicenter of the circle of care, a link between patients and their healthcare providers, a translator of clinical speak, and a bridge between denial and acceptance, fear and confidence.
Divabetic was inspired by the late music legend Luther Vandross and created in 2005 by Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek, who, as Vandross’ assistant of 14 years, witnessed his boss, mentor, and friend struggle in silence and solitude with diabetes and its related complications.
Experience more of our GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS philosophy at divabetic.org
Recently, I saw the silent film, The Unknown, directed by Tod Browning and made in 1927 at the Walter Reade Theater at the Film at Lincoln Center. It was part of the series, Unspeakable by Tod Browning. Our screening featured live musical accompaniment by Donald Sosin. Donal Sosin is celebrating his fiftieth anniversary of partnering with Film at Lincoln Center.
Coincidentally, diabetes is known as the “silent killer” because many people with type 2 diabetes often initially have no symptoms. Mismanaged diabetes or untreated diabetes can cause much glucose or blood sugar in the bloodstream, negatively affecting the whole body, including the cardiovascular system, circulation, eyesight, and kidney function.
Also, high blood pressure is often called the “silent killer” because it may show no symptoms. High blood pressure increases your risk of heart disease, heart failure, and stroke. Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure to unhealthy levels. Having more than three drinks in one sitting temporarily raises blood pressure.
According to the Film at Lincoln Center’s website, Tod Browning (1880–1962) ranks among his time’s most original and enigmatic filmmakers. He made some of the most bizarre and eerily atmospheric silent era films, including The Unknown, starring Lon Chaney, widely considered Browning’s masterpiece. The Unknown also stars a young effervescent Joan Crawford. It’s a remarkable film. Sadly, it was billed as a horror film but not by today’s standards.
Lon Cheney plays an armless knife thrower, “Alonzo the Armless,” in a carnival. He alls in head over heels in love with the carnival owner’s daughter, Nonan, played by Joan Crawford.
Nonan sees a man kill her father outside her trailer’s window but doesn’t realize it’s
Alonzo because the killer strangles her father with his arms.
Alonzo and his tiny sidekick, Cojo, have everyone fooled because Alonzo is an imposter. Secretly, he wears a corset to tightly strap his arms to his torso so no one can see them. Cojo also knows Alonzo is a notorious criminal who has burglarized numerous people in the towns the carnival has traveled to. Still, Alonzo can live beyond police suspicion because they believe he has no arms. His life at the carnival is going well until he notices the carnival’s strong man, Malabar, is also infatuated with Nonan. Alonzo can’t bare to see anyone else vie for Nonan’s affection.
Unfortunately, his heart is in turmoil. Alonzo knows if Nonan learned that he killed her father, she would never love him. To win her love, Alonzo comes up with a plan to win her love.
Lon Cheney is so good at expressing his character’s inner pain, even without saying a word, that the plot’s bizarre twists and turns are still believable.
Alonzo decides to cut off both his arms. He enlists a top surgeon to operate by blackmailing him. Alonzo has dirt about the surgeon’s torrid past in Algiers. He threatens to reveal the surgeon’s wrongdoing unless the surgery succeeds. Several months of recovery go by before Alonzo can return home. When he finally reunites with Nonan, it’s too late. During their separation, Nonan fell in in love with Malabar. The two lovebirds plan to marry. Alonzo is enraged. He has no choice but to kill Malabar. The most obvious way is to sabotage Malabar’s new sideshow routine. Malabar has devised an elaborate stage show to prove he is the world’s strongest man. He will tie his arms to two horses that attempt to pull his limbs off by galloping in different directions.
Alonzo’s plans spiral out of control from there.
It’s storytelling at its best. I was blown away by the acting, the scenery, and the plot.
What scares you most about diabetes?
Many people fear complications associated with mismanaged diabetes, including stroke, blindness, and amputation. Although these conditions can be debilitating, they can all be prevented. Properly managing your diabetes can help you avoid the stress and anxiety around those intrusive thoughts and fears. The best way to start is to enlist the help of a certified diabetes care and education specialist (CDCES). LEARN MORE
