It's not hard when you're mint

If there's one thing I know about women (and to be honest, it's likely to be the only thing) it's that they all have hang-ups about their physical appearance. Not exactly a mind-blowing breakthrough I know, but just lately there's been a glut of programmes and magazine articles dedicated to the fact that all womenfolk dislike at least one part of their body. I wasn't watching them, by the way; a woman I know told me about them...

Anyway, here's the thing - the women they get to present and exemplify these issues are some of the most desirable women in Britain. Which sort of takes the shine off the point.

There was an article in a magazine which basically got loads of celebrity women to do a photoshoot without any make up on, to prove that they're just as imperfect and fallible as you or I, despite living in a mansion in Islington.

The women they chose were all well-known, but see if you can see a theme here. They chose Davina Macall, Myleene Klass and Fearne Cotton. All of them (to a greater or lesser extent) are universally fancied in this country, so it sort of spoils the illusion. I have no doubts that they have hang-ups as well, but when you're a great-looking bird it sort of smacks of hypocrisy to your ordinary Joanne Normalface or Lizzy Bigbum.

Then there was a documentary highlighting the frankly ridiculous level of touching up done to magazine photography to the extent that 8 and 9 year old lasses were being given the impression that only perfection was acceptable. It was genuinely tragic that junior school children were bemoaning the fact that their teeth were crooked or they simply weren't pretty.

The thing is, though, they got Alesha Dixon to present it. Now don't get me wrong, she wwas an excellent host and her determination to get a magazine to shoot her without any touch ups showed just how widespread the phenomenon is, but let's face it - she's one of the most beautiful women in Britain. After she'd had her hair and make up done she looked stunning in the pictures, and although critics pointed out the number of touch ups they would have done to make the picture cover-ready, to the untrained eye she still looked like a serious piece of ass.

In conclusion, it's about time people started taking a stand against the stupid ideals portrayed in the media that make all but the most rhino-skinned females feel ugly, but try using ordinary, less-than-perfect celebs to get the point across.

I'm sure Tricia Goddard is affordable...