If loving Jennifer Aniston is wrong, I don't want to be right. Unlike my older sister (calling you out, missy), I have never been one to follow the lives of celebrities, or even learn the names of the actors playing characters that I come to know and love. I'm not the person to go to if you want to talk about so and so's latest arrest or speculate about Taylor Swift's newest boo thang. When it comes to people that I am not intimately invested in or obligated to love, I just cannot be bothered. Until recently, I was terrible at keeping up with current events in general- as demonstrated by a very perturbed phone call to my sister circa 2008 expressing my outrage that the U.S. government had done nothing to release its citizen held hostage in Colombia for about 5 years. "You mean the ones released today? It's been all over the news. Amanda...is this a joke?". Sadly, it was not. I had five years to make that phone call, and I chose that day.
My point is this: despite being all but oblivious to the lives of celebrities, I am in head over heels adoration for almost all things Jennifer Aniston.
Here's Why
- Natural Beauty- Okay, okay, I am sure a lot of you will read this and think of other celebrities that you consider to be prettier than Jennifer Aniston. I disagree. Have you seen her skin?! It glows. It's like someone took a sunbeam, wrapped it around a shooting star, smeared the whole thing in coco butter, and left it out on the Mediterranean coast for three to five days. That's how Jennifer Aniston was made. It's what I like to imagine, anyways. Sure, a large portion of this can be attributed to a superlative amalgam of genes, but when I look at her, I cannot help but think, what has that girl been eating?! Which brings me to my next point. Follow me, please.
- That Body- I don't care what kind of Hater-Ade you might be sipping on right now- it is an undeniable fact that Jennifer Aniston is rocking a smokin' bod. She has an incredible fat to lean ratio and don't even get me started on her muscle definition. Yes, there are plenty of celebrities with beautifully sculpted bodies, I get it, but it is the way that Ms. Aniston has gone about strengthening and maintaining her physique that I applaud her for. Like many of you, I was first introduced to her in her role as Rachel Green on Friends. (Side note: Get it together, Netflix). In the earlier episodes, Jennifer is obviously gorgeous and in great shape- women watched Friends because they loved the storylines and banter, men watched Friends for those Ally McBeal style skirts that Jennifer was rocking in the 90s. Later on, Rachel begins looking just absolutely unbelievable due to Jennifer's reported change to her diet and exercise regimen. She looks just as hot- if not hotter!- today, than she did at 25. From all sources, she has always kept a healthy approach to staying fit and has (to my knowledge) not undergone any corrective surgery. Why attempt to correct perfection, am I right?
- Her Personal Style- I have seen tabloids bash her for always wearing different variations of jeans and a tee shirt, with the occasional blazer thrown in there, but I love this about her. I really enjoy shopping (too much-it's a problem) and seeing how she can look stunning in just a tee shirt and jeans has really helped me pump the breaks on my little garment addiction. She is in such great shape that she makes an otherwise "comfortable outfit" look like a million bucks. Her clothes are just the backdrop to the main event- that bod. She shouldn't be disparaged, she should be applauded! I want to look that good! I also really appreciate the fact that despite having phenomenal physique that anyone would love to show off, she has always dressed very modestly. This comment is not meant to slut shame anyone- it is your body and you hold the right to wear whatever you want. However, I personally (personal opinion alert, y'all!) believe that dressing modestly can work towards greatly mitigating the objectification of women and sets a positive model (for young women especially) that we, as women, are so much more than our appearances or physical offerings of sexuality.
- Her Approach to Exercise- From what I have read- and boy, have I read-she mostly just wants to stay healthy and fit. Certainly, I am sure that she is probably glad she has the arms of the world's daintiest prize fighter, but all of her interviews have pointed to a concern for health, rather than the physical rewards that come as a result. She likes to mix it up- yoga, Pilates, spinning, running, etc. Your body gets just as bored as you do when you run around and around the track every time you work out. Working different muscle groups is very important when trying to keep your body on its A game. If you have been gifted with health (because it is a gift), I entreat you to use it. Push your limits and stretch your boundaries. I bet that when you are at the end of your life and a set of stairs becomes an almost insurmountable obstacle, you will be glad you used what you had to the fullest while you had it. I like to think of it as an investment in future mobility.
As upheld by my listed ramblings about her, I am okay with admitting that I think about Jennifer Aniston way too much. I think about her when I am deciding what to make for dinner at the grocery. I think about her when I am desperately attempting to quell my almost compulsive yearning to buy more clothes. I think about her every morning before I go to the gym for motivation. Jennifer Aniston wouldn't skip today just because it's cold. Jennifer Aniston would slam this ginger, peach, and coconut water smoothie and make it happen, captain. She is my fairy godmother of health consciousness. I realize that not all of you will agree with me. Some of you probably have other fitness role models you aspire to mimic in your everyday lives, but for those of you who don't I am happy to share my goddess of good health. If that is the case, please join me in saying- "Jennifer Aniston, give me strength".