Well, we’re getting a bit of a peek as to how Emma Watson is going to be spending her time now she’s a college dropout. Emma and Lancome just announced that she will be the newest “face” of the beauty brand. Um… really? Her? As I’ve said before, I think Emma is cute, but not beautiful – which is probably why she was chosen. For her “accessibility” – you too can look like movie star Emma Watson if only you buy extensive makeup and your hair is going through an awkward stage. And she’s very, very young – 20 years old. I guess it boils down to: why do we need a 20-year-old former child star and college dropout to tell us to wear makeup? Why her? Why now?
Get ready for some beauty magic: Emma Watson is the newest face of Lancôme. The Harry Potter star, 20, announced the news via Twitter Monday morning after leading followers through a series of clues over the weekend.
“Thanks to her charm, romanticism and her incredible modernity, Emma Watson has become the icon of her generation,” Lancôme president Youcef Nabi said in a statement. “We are delighted by the new collaboration with Emma, who brings a fresh spirit to Lancôme.”
Watson follows in the footsteps of such pretty women as Julia Roberts, Penélope Cruz, Kate Winslet and Anne Hathaway, and is the brand’s youngest ambassador to date. The partnership comes at a good time: Watson recently shared that she’s taking a break from her studies at Brown University to focus on her “other professional and acting projects. I will still be working towards my degree … it’s just going to take me a semester or two longer than I thought.”
[From People]
Many of these beauty and fashion companies have been pissing me off to the extreme lately. It’s a combination of who they’re using to front their brands – people like Megan Fox, Rumer Willis, Julia Roberts – and the over-use of airbrushing and Photoshopping which adds another layer of ridiculousness to everything. Have you seen Julia’s Lancome ads? They’re airbrushed her to the point of absurdity. And Megan Fox’s plastic face is just obscene in Armani ads. And Rumer… well, I don’t think people should get such high-profile work out of pity.
I’ve never been one of those people who beats my breast about false advertising and advertising furthering the subjugation of women, but FOR REAL. I think it’s a tacky as hell for a beauty company to pick Emma as their “face”.
Also – who else thinks this is exactly why Emma dropped out? She’s going to be fronting campaigns and going to parties and events and then… well, I hope she doesn’t Lohan it.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I disagree, I think she is very beautiful.
However, I DO agree that maybe they could have waited until she was much older to make her the “face” of the brand. LOL
Lohan was never in her life so high-profile than Emma. I think she is gonna finish college, she is only 20 after all! Why not ride high on her sucess while she can? Taking a break isnt all that a big deal anyways, how many girls can you count who dropped out of college to have babies and work low wage jobs instead? Chika is raking it in right now!
I don’t think Watson is going to ‘Lohan’ it. Something tells me that her parents won’t go for that crap. She and the other Potter cast has made a nice transistion so there should be no need to worry.
She’s boring to look at. Uninspiring and meh inducing.
come on! she didn’t drop out,she said on her website that she’s deferred a couple of semesters which i imagine is because she will have a lot of publicity coming up this year for the last harry potter movie.
Ah, to be young & rich! It’s her life, let her do with it as she pleases. Hell, if I had her money and opportunity at that age I would have done the same thing. She can always go back to school
I don’t think they chose her because she’s beautiful, I think it’s more of a fresh-faced youthful thing they’re going for, which would make sense then to choose her. No, she’s not a knock-out, but she is very natural and pretty, and there is a girl-next-door vibe that looks great in pics – that said, I’ve never understood why make-up companies use 20 year olds to advertise products meant for 40 year olds.
She didn’t drop out though, she’s just taking longer to graduate – which I think is perfectly fine. I’m a college student, and many of my own friends are graduating late due to traveling abroad and co-oping (internships). I don’t see anything wrong with Emma taking a break from school to fulfill her [multi-million dollar contractual] Lancome obligations.
Also she is in a class way, way above the likes of Rumer Willis and Megan Fox! She’s a budding fashionista; have you seen her Burberry ads? They’re beautiful, as is she
I understand the temptation, but I thought Emma was made of smarter stuff like that. I know you all hate “Bitchface”, but Natalie Portman completed her studies at Harvard and did exceedingly well. See:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/science/01angier.html
Emma seems very intelligent and should complete her education; let’s hope this is just a “gap year” thing.
So much for Emma worrying about cutting her hair. Lancome had Isabella Rossellini as a previous model-so much easier to see the model’s face when there is not hair everywhere. I think Isabella was in her mid-30’s at the time, though, so that just shows the change in industry “philosophy”.
Lancome are after that Harry Potter demographic, huh? Wise- catch ’em young!
I am shocked at the animosity in this post towards Emma Watson. She has never been anything other than poised, mature, and lovely. She is absolutely gorgeous and has successfully represented other luxury brands, such as Burberry. She took time away from her career to go to an ivy league university at a point in her life when other starlets started flashing us their cooters at nightcubs. She never said she was dropping out, she said she was taking a break. The mere fact that she went to college at all, rather than take the path of some of her contemporaries, speaks volumes about her character. Why would you assume she does not intend to go back? I’m just shocked at the vitriol towards a girl who has always shown such maturity.
I like her but I hope this isn’t why she is taking a break. Also I hope she really does take a break and then go back to school. Her appeal isn’t going to be her beauty (She is pretty but not stunning). If she wants a long-term career she should model herself after the classically trained intelligent British women who came before and leave the Lohaning to poseurs.
I think she made the right decision holding off on school. You can always go back to school but the opportunities in acting might not always be there for her. At least, I assume that is her thinking. I work in higher eduction and a big supporter of it but she’s going for dreams while they are still accessible.
THis stuff only pisses me off with beauty products. But I frankly get pretty mad about it. Last time I mentioned it a bunch of rabbid commenters got in my face. But yes Kaiser I agree. I get mad at Cover Girl and Loreal. I guess we all have to take issue with something.
Story has it the last Harry Potter movie is going to be massively promoted by the actors.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this is one of the clauses within Emma’s contract that wasn’t really flexible. With Deathly Hallows 2 being the final installment of the series, I don’t think she stood any chance of talking herself out of any of the planned promotion duties. Lancôme is just an extra side job in my opinion.
And I’m not even that much of a Watson fan. I think she’s cute and on the good path but her dramatic eyebrow acting has truly put me off in some the Potter movies (mind you, she’s been doing better for the past couple ones).
awwww! i like her. she is beau-ti-ful!
She seems like a smart girl, I’m sure she will go back to school but why not take the opportunities when they come up. I guarantee she won’t take after Lohan.*shudders*
No disrespect to those who came after, but Isabella Rosselini used to OWN those Lancome ads in the 80’s.
The 80’s, you know, when the actual model, hair/makeup people, and the photographer created the (raises jazz hands) *magic*, not a tech nerd with a computer on standby.
But I sorta get it with her. Fresh-faced, non-threatening, no controversy. Just…nice. Lancome’s apparently reaching out to a younger consumer base, so…meh.
**goes back to kicking kids off my lawn**
Agree fully 19 all those ads – including cosmetic – from the 80s were so much better done than today. As beautiful as Isabelli’s were, I liked Paulina Porizkova’s ads and Revlon’s beautiful faces series. It’s seems like everything has declined in quality in pop culture – even something as innocuous as cosmetic advertisements were much better done a generation ago than today – but they are all over youtube where they live a second life.
Cut the girl a break! She seems to have a pretty level head on her shoulders (especially for 20), and really has done nothing to be so upset over — unless you count being pretty and successful.
Okay, so who would you LIKE to see as the face of some fashion/beauty campaigns, Kaiser??????
I’m with you on the Megan Fox/Armani mismatch, that photoshopping is a hot, hot, hot mess….
I guess shilling for a cosmetics company is more important than finishing your degree.
If she hadn’t been the in the Potter movies, Lancome wouldn’t look twice at her. The only generation she’s an icon of, is the HP generation.
In terms of looks, she’s nothing special. Nothing wrong with that, but don’t tout her as something she’s not. As for her qualities of ‘charm, romanticism, and incredible modernity,’ she’s 20 years old! She’s barely had time to build character and a personality!
Emma’s falling for the siren song of vanity. It certainly can’t be the money, can it? She’s got tons of the stuff!
She is very pretty and added so much to the Potter movies. Her face is so appealing. I think they are trying to introduce this higher end product to the younger generation and get them hooked early. Smart business move I guess. But few twenty-year olds really need makeup.
She’s not a college dropout (at least, not yet) and I think she fully intends to resume her studies, at least at this point in time. I think she should be allowed to live a little—she’s already financially independent and she’s taking her career opportunities while she can. She can always go back to school later, and if she chooses not to … well, it’s her life. Lots of other celebrities have done the same, including, I think, Mila Kunis.
Heatheradair – I like the idea of Winslet fronting a campaign, but her Lancome ads are ridic:
http://www.celebitchy.com/145139/how_cheesy_hilarious_is_kate_winslets_new_lancome_ad/
I would like beauty campaigns to be fronted by the best examples of the target audience: women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. More Julianne Moore, Meryl Streep, Monica Bellucci, Sofia Vergara and yes, even Angelina.
@Susan: I agree. She is boring, but she fits right in with all the Lancome ladies. I wish they’d shake it up a bit over at Lancome by going with Sofia Vergara (I had this idea before reading Kaiser’s comment) Lancome needs some women of color. It is very obvious that they are not comfortable selling their product to women who aren’t stuffy, white, and highly pretentious.
She is beautiful, sophisticated and well-dressed. Good choice.
Agreed re. older models, but they would have to not ‘shop them into cartoons. Jane Fonda’s ads! Her painted on features floating in a sea of ‘shop! So much for the mature woman.
Julianne Moore would be TERRIFIC. She’s beautiful, authentic, and pretty much universally beloved. GOOD pick.
I always think of Lancome as a brand geared toward an older group….like 30 and beyond, so maybe this is their attemtp to reach out to a younger market. I think Emma is beautiful in a sort of plain way. I think she’s more lovely in still photos than in motion, if that makes any sense.
Why do you insist on calling her a college drop out when she’s clearly said she is taking some time off and then persuing her degree at a slower pace? You might not agree with her choice, but it’s hers to make. The animosity you’ve been showing her lately beggars belief. It’s like she’s lashed out at you personally by making a life choice that suits her.
Regardless, I think she’s pretty. Maybe not drop dead gorgeous, but I don’t see why she should have to be. I’d rather look at her than Megan Fox any day.
Oh yeah, because Lancome can teach her waaaaaay more than any university ever could. Duh, she did it for the money! By, the by, Lancome, good choice in ‘role model’ selection. Teaching young girls that beauty is more important than brains. I wouldn’t accept free samples from them, let alone purchase any of their products. Here’s a scoop; NO amount of make up will help when the beauty fades and you have no degree to fall back on. She may as well start saving for the cosmetic surgery she’ll have 10 yrs. from now to try and remain somewhat relevant. Tacky and pathetic Lancome, tacky and pathetic.
ITA with Sigh no one will ever match the Isabella Rossellini Ads I still see her face whenever I hear the name Lancome.
#11 tripmom – well said.
And good for Emma. It’s her choice to take time off, and she’s already shown she has a good head on her shoulders. Maybe Lancome chose her so they could save some $ on airbrushing. Emma has gorgeous skin. (ah, youth)
Look, she isn’t Lohan. First, she has a triple digit IQ. Second, she has well-grounded, educated parents. If she never returns to school, so be it. The parallel isn’t to Lohan, it is to Reese Witherspoon, also a highly intelligent individual who was set to go (and maybe did for a little bit) to Stanford, but didn’t to pursue her career. Like Emma, she is smart and has well-grounded, educated parents who provide the necessary support system. Reese turned out ok. So will Emma.
I’ve never understood why people think Emma is fantastic. She’s ok as Hermione, I guess, but rather ordinary lookwise IMO.
I agree, she’s not beautiful, to me, she’s almost below average. Nothing special
I don’t have anything against Emma, but I don’t think she’s the right person for this.
Get the money while the getting is good, then sock it away. Hollywood is very fickle and she might not get another big movie.
She should have stayed in school. Hollywood is impressed when actresses get an education (Portman, Hathaway). If she doesn’t go back it will look bad and in the long run hurt her career.
She dropped out for a makeup endorsement deal?! But she’s an actress!!! Here I thought she had gotten some GREAT role that she couldn’t turn down (cough HUNGER GAMES cough) but it’s all for a cosmetics deal?!!!!! I’m disappointed…. really disappointed
the campaign for the final Harry Potter flick is going to be MASSIVE. She’s wise to defer for a semester or two.
I think she’s gorgeous, haha i had a crush on her when i was in school, now i’m gay but she is so gorgeous.
I don’t think she’s going to Lohan it up at all.
It seemed for a while she wasn’t sure if she wanted to continue with film when Harry Potter was over and so started uni and now she’s probably realised that she does want to try and continue with a film career and so it’s best to jump right in after Harry Potter than wait ages and have people forget you.
It’s a good job she left uni to concentrate on film, she’s intelligent and when she has the time/inclination to finnish her studies she will give it her full attention.
For one I think she is gorgeous, not just “cute.” And if she were headed down the Lohan route, I think we would already have had plenty of stories already. She is the older version of Dakota Fanning–poised, mature, and talented.
1) Emma did not drop out of college
2) The last HP movie is coming out this year & she is contractually obligated to do promotion work for it &, seeing as this is the very last one (sob!), ALL of the HP kids will be doing loads of promo work for it.
I’ve been using Lancome makeup (not skincare) for over 20 years, and have seen the ridiculous change over the years from beautiful faced models to average faced celebrities. Its really sad. And baffling. My teenage son was in Nordstrom with me last year when the Julia poster was up and he thought she looked freaky (so do I btw) the photoshopping was so overdone. Having a celebs name or mugshot on a product will do absolutely nothing towards getting me to buy said product. I look at ads, I read reviews, I try product. If it works for me I buy it. If makeup is on a really beautiful face, I’m more likely to give it a look, a celeb, not so much. This girl is the plainest yet for Lancome. I never know her name & have never seen any movies or tv (?) that she is in. When I was young, the supermodels did these campaigns and they were really beautiful. Those were classier days all around. Actresses…ugh.
Taking a break at twenty doesn’t make you a college drop-out. I’m 23 and haven’t finished my degree yet. I don’t really understand why she’d choose to do this; she certainly doesn’t need the money, and I didn’t think she cared so much about “staying relevant.” But if this is what she wants to do, she should go for it. She’s young, beautiful (not just cute, in my opinion) and insanely rich, and I have a feeling she hasn’t taken a real break yet from acting or studying in her entire life.
As celebrity models go, at least Emma’s inoffensive. I sure hope she replaces Julia Roberts completely — I’m so sick of seeing her face anywhere, most of all in Lancome ads.
Makeup companies and magazines should go back to using professional models rather than “personalities” because most of the personalities of these “personalities” (with the exception of Emma) are horrid.
BTW I couldn’t stop laughing at your line about Rumer Willis: “I don’t think people should get such high profile work out of pity” . What a classic of celebitchiness!
I like Emma Watson, and it’s not surprising that they chose her as their “face”. She’s not beautiful, but that’s not what it’s about. Her looks are unthreatening, which definitely makes her accessible, and she’s popular right now. These big brand names always choose the “it” people of the moment. I’d be shocked if she turned into Lindsay Lohan (literally and figuratively), and I don’t think that will happen.
It’s unfair to call her a college dropout like it’s a bad thing, though. Compared to a lot of the other young female celebs, she is one of the best. She’ll have even more on her plate when the next HP comes out, and it looks as though she’s just having fun and exploring her options with this new project. As long as she doesn’t become trashy, then I can’t complain all that much about her. Think of all the celebs out there who lack talent, beauty, and brains, but are still getting work and have huge fanbases. They don’t deserve it, but that’s the way it is. Emma at least has some talent, and she seems like a nice girl with a good head on her shoulders. Hopefully she stays that way. I can’t fault her for taking a break from college. We’ll see if she goes back. She seems to be more into fashion and beauty than I thought she’d be. Maybe she changed her mind about school and just doesn’t want to admit it. Who knows?
I think she’s gorgeous, just don’t like the short hair.
Like it or not she is one of the faces of her Generation – Lot’s of young girls look up to her Kudos to Lancome for making what I think is a good marketing decision. Also Kudos to Emma
Ok, I just looked her up becuz she’s one of those celebs I have no idea why they’re famous, so now I know, she’s in the Harry Potter series. Fortunately, for us, our kids never got into it. So an actress that has done one movie series (yes, I’m admitting its very popular) about freaky characters is the new Lancome girl. (The other couple things she’s done weren’t of any relevance.) So I guess this is Lancomes move to get the youngsters, which is fine, but I still think the ad would be classier with a reallly beautiful face.
Say what you want about Megan Fox but men LOVE her. All my male friends are crazy about her and think she’s perfect looking.
I hear she is also doing The Perks of Being a Wallflower movie soon, not sure if it’s confirmed or not but she is the main actress I hear associated with that film, so she could just be doing that, and I find her to be gorgeous, but as part of the HP generation, I may be biased?
I guess I’m just getting old, thinking about how weird it is, the way things are now. When I was young, to be a model, you had to be tall, slim (not size 0 anorexic look like you’ve just hucked up breakfast) and have a beautiful face, good skin, and usually, at least decent hair.
Nowadays, you have to be famous. You can be short, squat, covered in nasty tattoos, bad hair, bad skin, bad face (coke zits anyone?), have fake hair, fake tan, fake boobs, or fake facial features. But…you m u s t already be famous. In a famous porno vid? No prob, even if you have all of the above features, they’ll just photoshop away. Nudity on the internet, dating scandals, drug scandals, crack faced thievery scandals, or star in some popular with kids movie or tv or reality series, all ok, as long as you’ve been featured on tmz or e channel. All it takes to be a model nowadays. No wonder, we have a flock of low talent, low class trolls that will do anything to be famous.
So cute gossip girl !
Congrats for short hair !
Well I guess I just have to say that it’s a good thing that beauty is in the eye of the beholder or whatever. To me, this girl is absolutely beautiful. I had hair like hers in college, and I wish I had the eyes, the brows and the face-shape that she does to be able to pull it off. Have you seen her Burberry ads? Those are breathtaking. I swear, hollywood is pretty much like highschool for adults. Somebody gets ridiculously popular, and all of a sudden, we’re supposed to worship their “beauty”, even if they’re a strung out druggie weighing no more than 90 pounds and their bobble-head looks like a box. And natural beauties like Emma Watson are called “meh” and “cute”. It’s crazy to me.
Seriously for my beauty products I want to see a “mature” woman with wrinkles damn it! I love Emma however she isn’t going to sell me on beauty products.
I don’t think this is the only reason why she has “dropped out of college”. The last Harry Potter movie will be coming out in the next couple months…so she’s gonna have to promote the hell out of that. She is going to be in The Perks of being a Wallflower.
And I disagree, I think Emma is a beautiful and talented woman. I can’t wait to see the pictures.
@ Kaiser: Monica B was the face for Dior make-up and their fragrance Hypnotic Poison for a time, at least in Europe. Charlize T was the face for J’adore by Dior.
Julianne Moore is(?)/was(?) the face for Bulgari.
Which reminds me… Goopy did ads for Estée Lauder fragrances years ago, back when she was looking different…
As others have said before me, I only really cared for Lancôme when they featured Isabella R.
Emma is very pretty and love the haircut on her. With her money, I could live forever and not have to work or go to school and, with this opportunity for her, there will be more rolling in. I would’ve done the same thing.
In my above rant, I was saying that this girl was any of those things. She’s nice looking, and I don’t know of anything objectionable about her character & I assume she’s talented as an actress. I think her hair cut is cute, and she looks like she has nice skin, and is nice looking. However, I think that the top pic of her is as good as she’s going to look; in other words, I don’t think she’s a beauty, and in the “olden” days, these big cosmetic cos. had some really beautiful, unique faces. I think all of you can picture some of the women I was describing up above in their recent modeling gigs. (((Shudders)))
Ooops! Meant to say:
“In my above rant, I wasN’T saying this girl is any of those things…”
Normades: How exactly has the lack of a college education hurt the career of Reese Witherspoon? And, I don’t think Hathaway has a degree. She went to Vassar for awhile and then transferred to some “independent study” something or another. She has talked about finishing but I don’t think she ever has. Ugh, the point of a college education is to broaden your horizons and increase your opportunities. Right now, she has opportunities, so for crying out loud, take them! She’ll be fine. She isn’t some illiterate nitwit.
And, one more thing, if Natalie Portman’s “award season” speeches are evidence of her education, then I would say she might want a refund on her tuition. They were dreadful.
She’s a cute girl, but I don’t really think she’s the best choice to sell anti-aging cosmetics and products.
I’m sorry to say that I don’t think she’s a very good actress (all the kids in the Harry Potter series are poor actors, but she stands out as particularly bad), so I don’t see her having the career that Natalie Portman or Reese Witherspoon have. But if she can make money as a spokesperson or model, then good for her – she should bank that money while she can.
I think she looks like Cindy Gibb from Modern Girls. Love that movie! “It’s Bruno X!”
I love her- I think she’ll be okay, and I think she’s adorable. I’m okay with everything about this.
I guess Lancome is trying to be young and hip?? I really liked their previous models like Uma Thurman and Anne Hathaway, but hiring a 20 year old kid to be their face is too much.
first of all I wouldnt consider her a college drop out. second of all I find her very beautiful
I’m surprised you got so upset!
I think Emma Watson is cute as a button, very poised, smart and overall down to Earth. Megan Fox is dumb but harmless, in a “Let’s see what drivel she’ll come up with next” way. Like Taylor Momsen.
I’m pretty neutral about her as the face of Lancome, but as far as her as a person, she, Mila Kunis and Carey Mulligan are my three favorite younglings if the moment.
Kaiser, i agree with you 100%.
and she ruined my hermione: i still can’t believe they choose her on basis of similar looks with the book character.
I like Emma, but otherwise find it ridiculous a 20-something to advertise beauty products for 40-something or else.
And being Photoshoped at that.
emma is such a beautiful n elegant girl. dun compare her with Lohan. I surely think that emma has brain. why not make money while u can, or regret later. love her. support her
Why do we need ANY celebrity telling us to wear makeup? Why ever? I’ve always felt it was OK to be a girl and eschew makeup, but society tells me otherwise. Sometimes I give in (for special occasions!) but most of the time I just go bare-faced and feel better for it.
Why is her age an issue? I’m 19 and I use Lancome products. Lancome has a wide range of products to suit all women, not just those who are 40+.
Kaiser, you’re way off. Emma is chill and beautiful. She has fine features and looks fabulous in the ads we’ve seen so far.
Your posts the last few days have me feeling like you’re drinking the hate-or-ade. Anything positive to put out?
So – I’ve been reading you blog for years on and off, and I’ve been dropping in at least once a day for the past year but this is actually the very first time I felt the need to comment on one of your posts. That being said…I’m rather shocked at your venomous tone…I’ve read and re-read your post several times and I haven’t managed to come up with a good reason why you’ve decided to go after Emma so viciously. Really – you sound almost spiteful – has she run over your dog or something? I totally get the “bitchy” part from Cele*bitchy*. What brings me to your site day after day (all the way from faraway Eastern Europe, no less) is precisely the fact that you can balance “bitchy-ness” with common sense and a fantastic sense of humour. But this post – I don’t get you. Lumping Emma in with Lohan…really? Repeatedly calling her a “college dropout”? Not fair. I expected better from you (sigh).
I’m sure she’s just making a smart business decision to strike while the irons’ hot. She’s had a long running success with the Harry Potter franchise, but since that’s coming to an end now, it’s just common sense to branch out while she still has that ‘popularity’ & ‘publicity’ to use to her advantage. (But as others have mentioned, the girl has nothing to worry about in the financial department.)
I agree with MollyB – “You can always go back to school but the opportunities in acting might not always be there for her.”
I say good for her, even though I agree entirely with everything Kaiser says about cosmetic ads being ridiculous for the last few years. It just annoys me.
SEXY LEGS = PRETTY PUSSY SO HER PUSSY MUST BE DELICIOUS
As far as the HP movies go, Emma isn’t the best actress, but I’ve always liked her. In any interview I’ve seen her in (and mind you this was years ago, when she was 15-17) she really is charming and intelligent.
That’s a serious chunk of a watch. Nice review.Your photos do a great job of capturing the domed crystal.