This is not a photo from BeautifulPeople.com, btw
Anyone who’s read any post, ever, on this site can probably guess what Some Country for Old Men thinks of BeautifulPeople.com. For those unfamiliar with BeautifulPeople.com, here’s all you need to know: It’s for attractive people only. The best part of this story from CNN is what happens to members of BeautifulPeople who don’t keep up appearances.
A dating site that markets itself as an elite community for beautiful people with a “strict ban on ugly people” has axed about 5,000 members for packing on the pounds during the holiday season.
The international site BeautifulPeople.com threw out members after they posted photos “revealing that they have let themselves go,” according to a company statement.
It’s early January but consider this story nominated for best of 2010. Continuing:
The site describes itself as an “elite online club, where every member works the door” — that is, users can join only after enough members vote them “beautiful” during the 48 hours after their profile is uploaded.
And apparently, enough beautiful people were angry that some members had enjoyed a bit too many treats during the holiday season.
Oh, man!
The company said it “expelled” 1,520 users from the U.S., 832 from the U.K., 533 from Canada, 510 from Poland, 425 from Germany, 402 from Italy, 323 from France, 220 from Denmark, 176 from Turkey and 88 people from Russia. In the e-mail, it gave users suggestions for boot camps and workout facilities to get themselves back in shape.
Surprise or not a surprise? Fat America had the most members expelled.
Proving that no one who runs a website called BeautifulPeople.com can be a complete dick (rightly, by the way) and get away with it, there’s some contriteness on managing director Greg Hodge’s part.
Is it elitist? Yes, it is, because our members want it to be,” Hodge said when the company started out in 2005. “Is it lookist? Yes, it is, because our members want it to be. Is it PC? No, it’s not, but it’s honest.”
Greg, ya big softie (not in the gut, though)! It’s not elitist. But it is lookist, and it’s your business model! And though we can hear a few of our friends and colleagues groaning at our approval of your methods, we say well done! You’ve made the world a better place.
[h/t jeg]
