Magazine review – Cosmo Girl

Magazine: Cosmo Girl
Cover Story: Mila Kunis
Publication Date: October 2008
Age Range: 14 - 19
Genre: Fashion / Celebrities / Makeup
Rating: 1 2 3 4 5

Comments: This magazine is chock-full of makeup tips and advertisements for fashion items out of most teen’s budgets. Designer ads for perfume, makeup, and shoes are peppered throughout. There is a bit of discussion of social issues like drinking and smoking marijuana which are age-appropriate conversations to be having, and the magazine writers are clearly of the opinion that teens don’t need to be preached to, but that encouragement to use one’s best judgment is a good thing. There is also a two page spread of a follow-up story about a group of overweight teens who went through a special program to lose weight and improve their confidence about their bodies. Although it is great to see at least a few images of teens who are not slender with perfect skin, they are presented as part of a program to get thinner, which doesn’t seem like an ideal message to impart.

For the most part, this is simply Cosmopolitan magazine, minus the sex life tips, with a bit of information about universities in the US added, and repackaged for teenagers. Instructions for five steps to getting your fake eyelashes on correctly seem a bit over the top. The two highlighted fashion trends include ‘black magic’ - with everything in black or shades of gray from a black wig to glossy ‘patent’ black lipstick, and ‘circus showtime’ - with bright pinks and yellow eye makeup, frothy hairstyles and voluminous multi-layered ball gowns. Both photoshoots are over the top and extreme! Teens might find one aspect of one look they’d like to try, though, so the photos would certainly appeal to a teen who is experimenting with fashion as part of body image.

There are a lot of connections to current films and television series, especially those that promote brand name fashion, glamorous lifestyles, and dating cute guys. Considering the timing of the issue there is minimal Twilight coverage – a mere two page spread of three of the central male actors: Robert Pattinson (Edward), Taylor Lautner (Jacob), and Kellan Lutz (Emmett). Of course the “boys of Twilight” merit a mention at the very top of the cover, however!

Dates Read: 28 - 29 March