Beauty Bytes: June 29, 2012

Haifa, Israel: Twenty women between the ages of 74-90 competed for the title of “Most Beautiful Holocaust Survivor” last night. 74-year-old contestant Esther Liber, shown here dancing with 89-year-old Jenia Schwartzbart, told Ynet News: “I’m not in it to win. I’m competing because it puts us all in a good mood and is a pleasant experience.” Romanian-born Chaya Caspi, 78, says, “what matters is internal beauty and helping one another.” While the charity event had its detractors, from the looks of the photo gallery, a good time was had by all. YNet News. Photo Gallery at SFGate.

• London, England: With life expectancy increasing in the developed world, there’s been an increasing curiosity as to what all those extra years mean, especially as mass media skews towards a distinct youth bias. A collaboration between GV Art and Newcastle University’s Institute for Ageing and Health has created The Art of Ageing, an art exhibition inspired by newly informed visions of ageing. Some of the artists were inspired directly by scientific research done at the Center, while others explored ageing from more social and personal perspectives. Not to be missed: Melanie Manchot’s grand landscapes featuring her 60-year-old mother as an older nude, and Susie Rea’s inviting photographs of 90-plus brothers and sisters. The Art of Ageing, at GV Art.

• Ever wonder what the “miracle” weight and beauty cures in the 1950′s were? Turns out they were a lot like the ones we have now, though less high-tech: paraffin wraps, seaweed baths, and suction massage. Here’s a video, complete with the obligatory “silly vain ladies – make sure you succeed!” condescending male voiceover. The Daily Mail.

• Maybe the miracle weight cure is…visiting a museum. Or reading a book. There is new research showing an association between lower weight and enjoyment of cultural and intellectual activities. The study, published in the journal Sociology of Health and Wellness, found that an interest in ideas, art, and knowledge is associated as strongly as exercise with a low BMI. In contrast, shopping, watching TV, and attending sporting events were associated with a higher weight. The article suggests a cultural bias towards thinness among the cultural and educational elite, but doesn’t prove it. Also: there’s no Cinnabon at the library. Pacific Standard.

• Yes, the Disney Princesses are beautiful – but what about those of us who love the villains? Disney’s bad girls are more than evil…they’re also really glamorous. Now Disney has unveiled a designer doll collection of six of their most famous villainesses, and will be selling apparel, accessories, and cosmetics in the fall as well. The cosmetics collection includes a 3-pack lip gloss, a 6-color eye palette with eyeliner, and a 6-color nail polish pack, all coming to Disney stores in September 2012. Laughing Place.com.

• The coolest Disney villainess right now if Maleficent, the evil sorceress in Sleeping Beauty. Angelina Jolie is the latest actress to have a crack at the role, following Julia Roberts and Charlize Theron. The movie, Maleficent, is due in 2014, but you can see pics of Jolie in costume here. Zimbio.com.

In pictures: Cindy Sherman may have wrapped up her retrospective at MOMA, but The Daily Mail has found more early work from her days at art school. Here is her take on Jerry Hall on the cover of Vogue, from 1976. (Original cover at the link.) The Daily Mail.