Mess World Simulacra-Mania!
Oct 3, 2025
Dive into the latest pop culture chaos as the hosts tackle Selena Gomez's mental health startup scandal and its commodification. Explore the dystopian overtones of the Kim Kardashian x NikeSkims launch at the NYPL. Pamela Anderson’s anti-beauty pivot meets capitalist absorption, while Doja Cat’s edible lipstick stunt raises eyebrows. The ‘Bodies on Bodies’ trend takes center stage alongside captivating runway beauty styles, from simulacra skin to mud and clay textures. Don't miss the viral Labubu left at Marx's grave and the chaotic critiques of beauty standards.
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Aestheticizing Mental Health Backfires
- Aestheticized mental-health products flatten illness into consumable solutions and risk re-stigmatizing sufferers.
- Jessica DeFino argues Wondermind's consumerization suggests symptomatic outbursts become personal failures rather than clinical needs.
Kim Absorbs Partner Brands
- Kim Kardashian's brand partnerships absorb partner identities and flatten other brands into her aesthetic.
- Emily Kirkpatrick says brands become indistinguishable once Kim 'turns them into Skims.'
Dystopian Skims Performance At NYPL
- Emily describes the dystopian feel of a choreographed Nike x Skims performance on the New York Public Library steps.
- She compares the militaristic, indistinguishable athleisure to Vanessa Beecroft and warns of troubling symbolism.
