Malaysian Dreamgirls

The basic rundown is that Malaysian media, acting in true accordance to its phony, warped ideas of what the free press is, has a new reality show titled Malaysian Dreamgirls. It chronicles the lives of 12 girls who aspire to be successful models. Put simply, it is the Malaysian version of America's Next Top Model minus the professionalism. Also, it is only aired online so as to circumvent the censorship board therefore allowing the exposure of flesh by Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

Curiosity got the better of me and I have just wasted the better half of a Friday night (on St. Paddy's weekend no less) watching every posted episode. Now it was all fine and dandy - I even forgave the shoddy camera work and the perverseness that is Kenny Sia - until I got to Episode 4. The first competitive photoshoot that will result in one girl being voted out was lingerie themed. This pisses me off ROYALLY. It is vulgar, obscene, and downright disrespectful.

The proponents of "free, uncensored" press in Malaysia seem to equate free with nudity or partial nudity. It disgusts me that these women - all intelligent and beautiful in their own right - are made to parade in front of a camera with next to nothing on for the purpose of judgment. No consideration for intellect, virtue or graces. Now, one may argue that modelling requires none of these but if such is true, then why have short or unfit girls made the cut? It is highly hypocritical to speak of modelling as a successful, enhancing career if one is reduced to the status of an object.

I love the fashion world and I think modelling is extremely glamorous; a world I am just not tall enough to belong to. My objections are not with the notion of modelling, but herein lie with the producers of Malaysian Dreamgirls who propogate a warped idea of modelling through this reality show series. They seem to forget that Malaysians are essentially a conservative society; we value virtue and modesty. Requiring girls to pose in lingerie - an attempt to "fit in" with the rest of the modelling world - is a crude, vulgar expression of rebellion that is shameful and distasteful. Forcing the audienceship (an audienceship that determines the show's success no less) to swallow profanity at the expense of being branded "backward and kolot" is disrespectful and reflective of the immaturity of the media. It is for precisely such reasons that the media ought to be heavily regulated.

With great freedom, comes great responsibility. The ability to circumvent censorship by airing online does not release one of that responsibility; contrarily, it is in a free arena that one ought to display exemplary behaviour thereby marking one as great and truly deserving of freedom.

Once again, the Malaysian media has proven itself unfit. Beneath the facade of "progress", the true notion being propogated here is that sex sells. And the price is RM1 per sms.