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Extreme Makeover, The Sun-Maid Raisin Girl Edition

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How she sneaked into the plastic surgeon's office avoiding the paparazzi is any one's guess, but recently the Sun-Maid Raisin girl let her guard down -- she was caught on video as she cavorted among the grape vines somewhere near Fresno. Lo and behold, we come to discover this isn't the first time she's had some work done.  From what I've been able to track down on the Interwebs, this girl first consulted with either a stylist or surgeon in 1923, then in 1956, and again sometime in 1970.

Enter 2009, the information age, where even an illustrated corporate logo can't escape the watchful eye of, well, everyone.

And when The People saw the new look on the old girl? They responded. Folks want to know what up with that? Or in this case, those. The folks over at Jezebel have called out what they believe to be an obvious breast augmentation:

The Sun-Maid has had yet another makeover. And apparently some implants. And a cleanse. Lorraine Collett-Petersen would hardly recognize herself.

Quite possibly the Sun-Maid Girl hasn't changed at all on the inside, maintaining her innocence, being demure. We just can't see it on the outside. Anyone remember  Jessica in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? She's not bad, she's just drawn that way.

All celebrities have an image to cultivate and protect. Fairly simple if you are a human being, but woe is the celeb who is an artistic rendering. Cindy at Guanabee isn't allowing herself to be distracted by the new tah-tahs -- instead, she takes the maid's new "sim" look to task;

Critics are up in arms about her new, CGI look. Personally, we find CGI cold and impersonal–the exact opposite of the original, warm, Sun-Maid Raisin girl logo.

Not only would I agree the new look is "cold and impersonal," but did you notice the size of her hands? They are huge! Maybe her hands are large so she is better equipped to perform her monthly breast self-exam. Added kudos to the animators for now making hand size an indication of a woman's breast size. After all, large hands on men have been used to estimate penis size for years. It's high time men got a shot at figuring out what women are hiding under our peasant blouses.

Certainly in the 1970's the Sun-Maid Girl could have proudly sported an IBTC iron-on tee shirt in disco-inspired glitter writing. In the years following the death of disco it's obvious she resigned and is no longer a member in good standing of the Itty Bitty Titty Committee. In fact, the Sun-Maid Girl left her sisters in the dust.

The resulting reaction is mixed in 2009. Bored in Vernal admits her own vexation:

You all know I'm a live-and-let-live kind of person, so I surprise myself sometimes with my visceral reaction against breast implants, liposuction, facelifts, and other types of elective surgery. It's not only that I don't think they're safe, or that their cost could feed a small village for a year, or even the standard feminist argument against them. There might be a teeny bit of "you-didn't-earn-that-body-by-slaving-away-in-a-hot-gym" to it all.

Let's get real even if the boobs look fake. Who amongst us hasn't seen an attractive gal and heard the echo of "Bitch!" inside our own head? Even the most open minded and non-judgmental can hear that voice from time to time. It sneaks into our head despite all of our efforts to think positive thoughts like "She's got great bone structure and a Harvard education. You go girl!" We need not dwell in the land of negativity, look toward the light. Our very own BlogHer Contributing Editor Mel from Stirrup Queens put this out there for consideration:

I thought her boobs were glowing... Glowing boobs not only say to every person you pass "look at these!" but they can also double as a flashlight if you lose power.

Excellent point! After all, breasts have long been dubbed "headlights." Certainly glowing breasts could be quite useful if you can't find your car keys in an unlit parking garage or when you are out jogging after sunset.

And yes, that is the plan for little miss Sun-Maid. She's going to be doing things we "normal" women do. According to the Sun-Maid website, the icon will demonstrate her everywomanliness;

doing yoga along the beach, walking her way to lasting fitness and sharing healthy recipes and mini

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DebbieB 5 pts

She's the only one who looks like she might know what the inside of a kitchen looks like.

SCanon 5 pts

This post and the comments are so funny!  I'm with Lisa in that when I first saw the commercial the only thing that really stood out to me was that she was actually talking.  But now I'm going to see this commercial and giggle every time.  I also won't be able to buy Betty Crocker products anymore without thinking of Bride of Frankenstein.  Cheers, ladies.  You made my day!

Somer blogs at Merry Wife of Canon ( http://www.merrywifeofcanon.com ) as well as Smell My Plate ( http://www.smellmyplate.com ).

Gina Carroll 5 pts

I am still laughing out loud--- from the post...and from the fact that I, too, was reminded of The Bride of Frankenstein when I spied the 1955 Betty! I am almost tempted to go into my cupboard and see who else needs work. But that would require a cupboard adequately stocked with food staples, which mine is not! So I'll just have to keep coming back to this post and these extremely entertaining comments to get my jollies!

( http://www.proactiveblackparenting.blogspot.com/ )

Think Act: Proactive Black Parenting ( http://www.proactiveblackparenting.blogspot.com )

Nordette Adams 6 pts

Sarah, that was so funny it was evil funny. I saw it come through my email and had I been drinking coffee, it would have been all over my shirt. :-)

Nordette Adams ( http://www.bookotopia.com ) is a BlogHer CE ( http://www.blogher.com/haystackprofile/viewprofile... ) & you can find her other stuff through Her 411 ( http://her411.com ).

Sarah 5 pts

1936 Betty looks like she might cut a bitch.

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Sports and Fitness ( http://blogher.org/topic/sports-fitness ) Sarah and the Goon Squad ( http://sarahandthegoonsquad.com/ ) Draft Day Suit ( http://draftdaysuit.com/ )

Rita Arens 7 pts

that must've been right before she discovered hair dye

Rita Arens writes at Surrender Dorothy ( http://surrenderdorothy.typepad.com/ ) and BlogHer and is the editor of Sleep is for the Weak ( http://tinyurl.com/9pg62e ).

Devra Renner 5 pts

1955 hands down. I adore her with the white flashes on the sides of her head.  Would be an awesome Halloween costume!

www.parentopia.com/blog ( http://www.parentopia.com/blog )

Devra Renner 5 pts

They are somewhat portly. I wonder if they will be overhauled to be less plump. www.parentopia.com/blog ( http://www.parentopia.com/blog )

Nordette Adams 6 pts

I laughed out loud for real reading your lead on this one, and your post spurred me to post images ( http://bigsole.blogspot.com/2009/12/see-sun-maid-g... ) of Uncle Ben's makeover, which was more psychological, and Aunt Jemima's makeover, a character whose product one book author calls "slave in a box."

Does Sun Maid Raisins girl now own her vineyards the way Uncle Ben now owns his rice fields? Is that why she has time to do yoga on the beach?  :-)  My post at WSATA ( http://bigsole.blogspot.com/2009/12/see-sun-maid-g... ).

The computer generated image makes her more Dick and Jane reader to me.

Nordette Adams ( http://www.bookotopia.com ) is a BlogHer CE ( http://www.blogher.com/haystackprofile/viewprofile... ) & you can find her other stuff through Her 411 ( http://her411.com ).

Megan Smith 5 pts

I prefer the 1927, "Tree Grows in Brooklyn" look.

Megan

TV/Online Video Contributing Editor ( http://www.blogher.com/blog/megan-smith )

Megan's Minute ( http://www.megansminute.com/ )

Meg's Rad Reviews ( http://www.megsradreviews.com )

Lisse 5 pts

Ok, I saw this ad for the first time yesterday. The only thing I noticed about the change -- was that she talked.

Now that you've mentioned the CGI, uh, development, I have this vision of the two geeks from Weird Science going to town.

Next thing you know, Betty Crocker will start looking like Sandra Lee.

- Lisse

@ ( http://homeintheworld.typepad.com/ ) Home in the World: International Adoption and Other Travels

Julie Ross Godar 5 pts

I love the mod Salt Girl ( http://www.mortonsalt.com/heritage/mug.html ) from 1968 and do.not.want Simplants. Even if they glow!

PS: That video of the grapes shrinking into raisins in the sky? Ew.

Julie Ross Godar 5 pts

Looks to me like she's about due for a new one. Be very scared.

PS: Which one is your favorite? I'm partial to the anchorwoman from 1986 and the one with the Joan Crawford sneer from 1936.

Devra Renner 5 pts

So clever! And I agree with you,  there are some logos which just don't need to be modernized.   Can you imagine Coca Cola ever changing their font?www.parentopia.com/blog ( http://www.parentopia.com/blog )

Megan Smith 5 pts

Oh I see why they changed the Raisin girl!  Obviously the previously girl was morbidly obese and this new Barbie-esque look was designed to promote a healthier lifestyle.   What could possibly be wrong with that.  **insert sarcastic snickers**

Megan

TV/Online Video Contributing Editor ( http://www.blogher.com/blog/megan-smith )

Megan's Minute ( http://www.megansminute.com/ )

Meg's Rad Reviews ( http://www.megsradreviews.com )

Elisa Camahort 5 pts

They'll "grow her" up a la Dora.

Elisa Camahort Page BlogHer elisa@blogher.com My BlogHer profile ( http://www.blogher.com/haystackprofile/viewprofile... ) truly shows you everything I do online...Check it out!!