America the Beautiful

The United States of America is one of the wealthiest nations on the planet with many opportunities for its citizens. In 2004 alone, Americans spent $12.4 billion (yes, billion!) on cosmetic surgery. With such an abundance of wealth, why are Americans so discontent? Consuming almost 40,000 media messages a year, young Americans are told that unless you look like a supermodel or a rock star, you’re not good enough for anyone to love. In America the Beautiful, filmmaker Darryl Roberts goes on a 5 year journey and illustrates how these increasingly unattainable images contribute greatly to the rise in low self-esteem, body dismorphia, and eating disorders for young women and girls who also happen to be the beauty industry's largest consumers. With appearances by Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson, and Anthony Kiedis, the film reveals that too much television and easy access to plastic surgery are conventional answers, but they do not fully explain this national psychosis.