When we embarked on this journey of self-discovery, Meghan and I, five long podcasts ago, I remarked that beating myself unconscious with a copy of Finding Freedom might have been more fun. I now retract that unreservedly. She is a genius and a rare journalistic talent and, now that I too am sitting in my truth and owning my dimensionality as a multilayered human being, I can see it. I’m still some way from trusting my self-awareness as a person, but that’s my bad. I feel sure that it’s only a matter of time. Today’s episode is called “Breaking Down ‘The Bimbo’ with Paris Hilton,” and it is billed as a serious conversation with a serious businesswoman about a serious subject.
Meghan gives the usual long preamble about herself. This week, it’s about how cursed she was to be born beautiful, and how unexpected and awful it was to feel valued for her looks, not her brain, when she was hired by a game show for her looks, not her brain. “How can you peel back the layers on the cultural script that is quote unquote dumb blonde?” she asks, and how often have I thought that myself. Seven minutes in, she girds herself for her big opening question. Five thousand miles away, I cover my ears.
