Kudos to CLEO magazine, which has finally decided to drop train-wreck celebrities from its covers.
For the first time since November 2000, the No.2 young women's magazine, CLEO, is sacking celebrities from its cover in favour of less familiar models, gambling readers are ready for fresh faces.
And thank god for that. We're somewhat tired of seeing the same celebrities on the covers. It's as though they've got Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Jennifer Lopez, Eva Longoria, Mischa Barton and Cameron Diaz on rotation.
The September issue, on sale Monday, has Gunnedah-born Miranda Kerr on the front, and editorial director Paula Joye and editor Nedahl Stelio say they hope to use models from now on.
"Particularly with young women, we have been looking at the glorification of the Paris Hiltons and the Nicole Richies," Joye says, naming two ubiquitous stars who have built considerable fame on negligible achievement. "But if you look at what is happening to these girls, they are in drugs, in car crashes, in arrests, in jail. There's not a lot of reason to put them on the cover of magazines. I'd go so far as to say it's irresponsible when you are looking at the young women's target market."
Fair point. Why stop there though? Other things CLEO should consider banning - ridiculous celebrity diets, real-life stories entitled "I Was A Prostitute For A Night", features on why plastic surgery is so hot right now, and anything that promotes the wearing of leggings and neon t-shirts.