Dammitall

Earlier this week it was announced that Ellen DeGeneres has been named the newest face of CoverGirl (SFGate: Daily Dish : DeGeneres Confirms CoverGirl Status).

I'm curious to know your gut reactions, your feelings on what this might do for the brand, whether you think it's a step in the right direction or the wrong direction (or whether you have any opinion of that sort), whether you anticipate any backlash, if there's any question of her appropriateness for the role, and anything else you can think of.

Admittedly, I'm not a makeup user so I can't really speak as a consumer of the Cover Girl product, nor am I particularly familiar with their company as a whole. That aside, I think this is incredible and I'm more than a little surprised. I can remember very clearly the initial fallout from Ellen coming out publicly, both in character on her sitcom and in real life. At the time I was struggling with my own sexual identity; it was a major milestone for her to have taken at a time when many were convinced her career would be in ruins afterward, but it was a hallmark moment for me in dealing with my own situation then.

Fast forward a decade later and she's the host of an award-winning daytime talk show, has millions of adoring fans and just got legally married to another woman in California. I personally think it's freakin' awesome, but I'm still surprised. For all intents and purposes in our cultural context, Ellen is "the butch one" (or at least moreso than not) in her relationship with Portia de Rossi. It leaves me curious to know the process that lead up to this choice on Cover Girl's part.

Anybody else have any reactions to share?

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Meditrina

My first reaction was I think Ellen is a great comedian/actor, no matter what her sexual preference is. Kudos to Cover Girl for not choosing a "typical" spokesperson. I do wear make-up, not a lot, but enough to know that Cover Girls products are good. This would never make me not buy their make-up. In fact, I may look at their line of products before others, just because they stepped outside of the box on this one.

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CinnamonGirl

On the one hand, I think it's awesome... I've been an Ellen fan since before she came out. Woohoo!

On the other hand, she doesn't really strike me as the "Cover Girl" type. I mean, yeah, I guess she has to wear makeup on camera, but I've never seen her as a makeup kind of girl. I suppose I see her more as making jokes about Cover Girl than actually being their spokesperson.


Edit: Oh, forgot to add... I'm not really a makeup girl myself, although I've used CG in the past. To be honest, one product is as good as another to me... but then, I don't have much experience.

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snowy

I think Ellen is an awesome choice. I think she appeals to those of us who aren't classic girly-girls--myself included. I'm a tomboy but I like make-up. Most of the spokesmodels cosmetics companies choose aren't going to convince me to buy any, because while they may be pretty, they don't resemble me in any way. I feel like Ellen is more like a normal, average woman, regardless of her orientation, and that will make her a great spokesmodel.

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abaya

I think it's great. Personally, the more mainstream exposure that minorities (whether ethnic or sexual-preference minorities, etc) get, the better it is for everyone. It helps redefine "normal" in the minds of the majority, to not be so WASP/hetero-normative, and that's a damn good thing in my book. I have no problem with her being "appropriate" or not.

Now, that said, I am not a huge make-up user, and I almost never pay attention to ads (I don't remember the last make-up ad I saw), so I might not have even seen this if you hadn't pointed it out. But I am very sure that plenty of women (and men) in the US will see this ad, and for that reason, I don't care what they're trying to sell... marketing is a powerful social tool, as well as an economic one.

Along the same lines, there was a recent Dove ad that had normal-sized women (not models, at all) in swimsuits in their promos... I thought that was a fantastic idea. I hope to see more of that in the future.
-----Added 18/9/2008 at 01 : 25 : 43-----
I also just want to add how excited I am about all you ladies posting like mad, lately... ROCK ON!!!

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jewels

She's earned herself a huge female following with her show.

She has great skin and those great blue eyes. Although she may not be the femme that Portia is, she's still liked and related herself to all types of women, gay, young and old.

I didn't know about this but I think it's very clever. Her audience (or a good portion) will likely become Cover Girl's newest clients. Look how Oprah's audience demands turned tiny businesses into huge ones.

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genuinegirly

She is beautiful and has a cheery smile. Sounds like a cover girl to me.
I don't quite see what her sexual preference has to do with anything.
But, hey, if there's a huge boost in the sales of covergirl, great!

Come to think of it, one of my friends used to be a huge Ellen fan, then a while back she just became dis-interested. I wonder if Ellen's coming out has something to do with it. Boggles the mind.

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StellaLuna

Oooh, I love it! She's really very pretty, but not in the standard model-y "hold her down and feed her a sammich while admiring the fact that she has nice skin" way. Ellen's just genuinely pretty but in that approachable and not scary way. Am I making sense here?

And since we're talking about that... I LOVE makeup. LOVE. I don't do anything crazy with mine but I enjoy the owning and the wearing of it.

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Screw tradition!

ShaniFaye

I've been a Covergirl girl since I started wearing makeup when I was 14, to me there is no other better makeup, no matter how much it costs and I've tried them all

Kudos to her, but I have to say, she strikes me SO much as a non makeup wearing kinda girl that its hard for me to imagine her pushing makeup lol

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jewels

Found the clip, if anyone's interested.

Ellen is the New Face of CoverGirl! - The Ellen DeGeneres Show

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We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess.
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maybird

I think Ellen is hilarious! I love her to death! I'm not sure she is the typical Cover Girl type but I don't wear Cover girl anyways. It would be nice to have a lady on there who actually has something to say and has a voice, opinion, and isn't concerned with her looks or how she comes off to other people. She'd be good for the job...she knows what she likes on women...haha...it's like having a gay hairstylist..they always tell you like it is and make you look smoken hot!

Peaches

I think it's wonderful. I'm not a big consumer of make up, nor an Ellen fan. Her sexual preference means nothing to me. I DO applaud CG for putting forward the image of a strong, successful, woman instead of an empty headed model. We need to see more of this. For our youngest women if not for ourselves.

Grasshopper Green

The models who are in makeup ads have zero influence on the products I buy. That said, I think this is a great move by CoverGirl. Ellen is a good-looking woman and it's refreshing to see someone who isn't young or typically model-beautiful as a spokeswoman for a very recognizable brand. Kudos to CG and to Ellen for taking the job.

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annie1

I LOVE Ellen! I think it is great that she is the new face of Cover Girl. I think her role in the public eye has really helped the public to understand and support same sex marriage. I am so happy that she has become so successful in the industry. I think a lot of people respect her, I know I do!

*Nikki*

I love Ellen.

That being said, I dunno about using her as a spokesperson for cosmetics of any kind. Seems like apples and oranges to me.

StellaLuna

I think that's part of why I like it so much.

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Screw tradition!