Culture Needs More Lordes, Fewer Royals

Lorde, the singer-songwriter from New Zealand, is a self-proclaimed feminist, an advocate of LGBT rights, and a young woman capable of embracing her flaws.

Celebrities and popular icons have the opportunity to share with their audience something invaluable, but most are afraid to do so and instead give in to the demands of the industry and blend in with all the other stars who are produced from the same manufacturers. Yet Lorde has chosen to do something different with her fame that is noteworthy and beautiful. The entertainment industry is in dire need of popular icons like Lorde who encourage youth to accept themselves and address important issues through popular music and media.

Lorde rose to fame last year at the age of 17, when her song “Royals” topped the Billboard Hot 100. That song, which speaks against materialism and raises the idea that the pop music “royalty” that society praises is superficial and irrelevant, was nominated for “Record of the Year” at the Grammys. She does more than just sing about social issues, however.

Recently on Twitter, Lorde shared an edited picture of herself, in which her skin was fixed to perfection, next to an unedited original in which the blemishes on her face were clearly apparent.

“I find this curious,” the singer posted along with the images, “two photos from today, one edited so my skin is perfect and one real. Remember flaws are ok.”

In a society and industry so fixated on a specific image of beauty, it gives many people relief to know that individuals like Lorde have the courage to stray from the standards and embrace themselves for who they are. This makes her all the more noteworthy in an industry rooted in mass production. By sharing a picture of her troubled skin with 1.3 million followers, Lorde has taken the opportunity to let her fans know that imperfections are perfectly fine.

Michelle Lee, a senior attending Westview High School, told JSR, “It’s a relief to know that not all popular stars are obsessed with looks and standards on beauty. It gives teens the confidence to accept themselves for who they are.”

On a related note, the star has also expressed support for the LGBT community. While talking about her upcoming tour on the Australian “Kyle and Jackie O Show,” host Kyle Sandilands brought up Lorde’s friendship with Taylor Swift by making a lesbian joke. Yet Lorde immediately confronted the host.

In this age, many stars are absorbed by the lust of the entertainment industry. Take, for instance, Miley Cyrus. Cyrus recently appalled fans when she ate a fan’s underwear during her “Bangerz” tour. Lorde, in contrast, earned praise when she stood up for her beliefs by confronting a man more than twice her age.

It is refreshing to see a new icon taking a stand against the injustices that she finds in the world by actively confronting an industry so entrenched in a sick obsession with fixed standards of beauty and sexuality. Lorde has used her fame and music to speak to her audience about issues that are important to her and problems that need to be addressed.