Lookism in Ice Dancing

[DreamSkates]

I can't think of any skater or ice dancer who is "average looking" or "ordinary looking". I watch how they skate. Their looks are irrelevant to me. Plus, I feel it is impolite to talk about someone not being good looking. So I may not continue this discussion.

People often talk about this but in a different way - by pointing out who they think looks the best, most attractive, sexy, or other descriptors. It is a normal human thing to react to how a person looks and be attracted to others based on looks. That of course is an individual matter/opinion.

 

[DreamSkates]

There are skaters - ice dancers and others - who can bring their inside beauty and emotion to the outside which supercedes all else and then you can focus on their presentation as they are skating, rather than just "looks".

One thing I enjoy about figure skating is how stunning everyone looks (costuming, makeup, etc.). Well except for one junior US competitor at Nationals. Looked like he had jeans and a tshirt on for his short program.

 

[binbinwinwin]

We have to ask ourselves if some federations accept what they consider pretty or not...

Am I entering forbidden territory if I ask anyone here if some skaters have been under the knife ? Some people are quite sensitive about it (but that's their choice). There have been speculation about Yuna but looking at her, she didn't look like she was different at all.
(But if it's offensive to some, forget it.)

A lot of people seem unfamiliar with Asian eyelids and how they can vary wildly. Yuna Kim never got surgery, she has something similar to "속 쌍꺼풀" which probably translates the closest to hooded/hidden eyelids. Wearing fake eyelashes with glue can make the hidden epicanthic fold more prominent so people assumed she got them done. I've only ever heard people who aren't Asian or aren't familiar with our eyelids say that she got them done. Like I'm not saying people are purposely trying to be offensive but there's definitely a lack of understanding happening here.



Anyway, speaking of "Lookism," I was on another figure skating related platform and I've seen people say that Kaetlyn Osmond is too fat to do her Black Swan FD. The judges still mark her well but I guess it's no denying that there are still figure skating fans who want a certain look or think a certain look is acceptable for a theme.

 

[Areski]

Lookism exist in ice dancing. It is more Internationally then it is in the US. My opinion one cannot be very successful in ice dance at a higher level and internationally if you are overweight or couple does not look well matched. In addition, taller couples tend to be more successful in ice dance. This is a huge rink and taller skaters just look more impressive.

I think that there are no overweight figure skaters for much more practical reasons than ''lookism''.

 

[SmallFairy]

I absolutely adore Guillaume with every centimeter of my body, but if I only saw a photo of him, I would say: "Yes, he's pretty" and mean it, but I wouldn't feel that strongly about him. I do because I have seen him dance - I have seen him hold his back straight, hold his head high, I have seen his neck bend over, I have seen him move his arms, hands, wrists in that special way, his entire body so fluently and beautiful, and add to that his very special charisma.

Why is Mads Mikkelsen voted the most sexy man in Denmark time and time again? I'm crazy for him the same way I'm crazy for Guillaume, and they certainly do look different