Physical appearance of Michael Jackson
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Michael Jackson's appearance has had significant changes throughout his career. Jackson has acknowledged having rhinoplasty operations on his nose and has claimed that the change in the color of his skin is due to the skin condition vitiligo. Some claim however, that the surgery has been more extensive and that Jackson has used bleaching creams to lighten his skin. Jackson's desire to change his appearance has been attributed to his father's mocking of Michael's African appearance (particularly his large wide nose)[1] (see Jackson prior to any physical changes, aged 20, on the cover of Off the Wall (1979)).
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[edit] Skin color
Although Jackson's skin color was a medium-brown color for the entire duration of his youth, his skin has lightened gradually since 1982, becoming light tan around 1987-1991, and today is a white color although it is not clear how much makeup affects its appearance. Jackson has attributed his changing skin color to vitiligo,[2] a skin disease in which the body develops antibodies against its own melanin, a body pigment, resulting in light patches and an eventual loss of all pigment. During court depositions in 1994, both Jackson's dermatologist Dr. Arnold Klein and his nurse (Deborah Rowe, whom Jackson later married) claimed that following a biopsy of his scalp in 1984, Jackson was diagnosed with lupus and vitiligo. As a result of this disorder, Jackson is said to use make-up to cover-up the imperfections in his skin and has denied numerous reports that he bleaches his skin. He has also been told by his dermatologist to avoid any exposure to the sun. Ever since then, Jackson has regularly worn long-sleeved shirts and trousers under an umbrella while in public to hide from the sun.
[edit] Plastic surgery
Jackson has had multiple plastic surgery procedures to modify his appearance. He claims to have had three operations: two rhinoplastic surgeries and the surgical creation of a cleft in his chin. When listing his cosmetic surgery, Jackson often omits mentioning the cleft; however, he confirmed this surgery in his 1988 autobiography Moon Walk.
In 1998 Jackson reached an out-of-court settlement with the Daily Mirror newspaper, which apologised for having described his face as "hideously disfigured and scarred". Steven Hoefflin, a high-profile Hollywood plastic surgeon alleged to have operated on Jackson's nose was, according to the press, also advising him against further surgery at this time. [3]
In the 2003 documentary Living with Michael Jackson, Jackson stated that he had had only two operations to his nose. He justified these operations by stating that they were to "help [me] breathe better and to hit higher notes". Jackson also agreed with Martin Bashir, interviewer for the documentary, that he was affected when he was called "ugly," and mocked and ridiculed by his relatives for having a "big nose" in his youth.
Jackson's use of plastic surgery has caused increased concerns of a possible cartilage and nose collapse.[4] However, his surgeons claim Jackson's nose is fully functional and at no risk of collapsing.[citation needed]
[edit] Hair
By the time the Jackson 5 had completed their first four #1 hits, Jackson's hair (and that of his brothers) was a typical afro, which he would sport throughout the seventies. By the turn of the decade, Jackson began to sport a jheri curl, wearing his hair longer in the back as seen on the cover of his album Thriller and soon three curls in the front of his hair, which would be a trademark of Jackson's.[original research?]
By mid-1995, Jackson had cut his hair short and had apparently straightened it and by about 2000, growing his hair longer in front. Some commentators have however claimed that Jackson's hair has been so badly damaged by chemicals and straightening that he now has to wear a wig or hair implants.
[edit] Attire
While it's likely that prior to becoming a performer, Jackson dressed like a normal kid, when he became the Jackson 5's lead singer, his father had dressed the band in rather typical formal wear.
Once the Jackson 5 became stars, the wardrobe they wore became more colorful with the addition of fringe and bellbottoms. Along with his afro, this general style became Jackson's look throughout the decade, although it appeared in more subtle variations in the later years. Once Jackson recorded Off The Wall, a tuxedo with a pair of white socks became his trademark.
Following the success of Thriller, Jackson became associated with a number of clothing trademarks and "costumes." The most notable was the black jacket, white glove and fedora he wore in his performances of "Billie Jean." The video for "Beat It," (as well as his performances onstage during his concerts of the song) showed Jackson in a red leather jacket that would also be identified with Jackson, albeit mainly for that one song--which was a crossover hit for Jackson anyway.
Michael Jackson began wearing a costume influenced by the Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band uniforms in 1984, during a photo op with Ronald Reagan and various award shows. He would return to this theme in the mid-nineties, most notably with a black non-specific military costume as seen on the statue that adorned the cover of his album HIStory: The Past, Present and Future: Book 1.
Jackson attempted to sport a more "street wise" image with the cover to his Bad album.[original research?] He also took the idea of old fashioned formal wear to another level with his "Smooth Criminal" video.
[edit] References
- ^ "But he said his own childhood had been traumatic. He was beaten for making mistakes in Jackson Five rehearsals and became so nervous he would vomit in his father's presence. His father also taunted him for his wide nose.", The Guardian, February 4, 2003, Tania Branigan
- ^ Oprah Winfrey's interview with Michael Jackson in 1993
- ^ Bad Fortune - The Guardian Newspaper, UK - Wednesday June 15, 2005. URL Accessed November, 2006.
- ^ Surgeon- Michael Jackson A 'Nasal Cripple' from ABC News
[edit] External links
- A photographic history of Jackson's facial structure throughout his life.
- Sketches by a forensic artist of how Jackson would have looked at age 45 and 70 without surgery
| Michael Jackson |
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| Album discography • Singles discography • Records and achievements • Awards • Moonwalk |
