| It's an age-old question, a question that | | | | And there's Alanis Morissette. She wears her |
| many women have been ruminating about-What | | | | hair as if it never experienced the touch of |
| does it take to be a female icon? Ages ago, | | | | a comb. She appears naked in her music video |
| people had only the mythological goddesses to | | | | even if she has none of the prefect curves to |
| idolize. Centuries ago, women had the likes | | | | speak of. She speaks her mind through her |
| of the Virgin Mary to consider an icon. And | | | | music. She tells a story of her imperfect |
| decades ago, they had the members of the | | | | self through her songs. And yet, she's |
| royalty to look up to (think Queen Victoria). | | | | idolized by many, even emulated. |
| The female icons of the past were distant | | | | |
| images. They were beyond the realm of the | | | | So What Does it Take? |
| common and ordinary. | | | | |
| | | | The message is clear. Even you can become a |
| Modern Female Icon | | | | female icon. So what does it take? It's |
| | | | about making colorful stories out of the |
| Fast forward to the future, iconic women are | | | | person that you are. And it does not even |
| still anything but ordinary and common. They | | | | matter if you have grave imperfections for a |
| stand out. They inspire awe. They make | | | | true icon is desired and admired |
| women want to be just like them. They make | | | | uncritically. Being an icon is accepting your |
| people look beyond their imperfections and | | | | genuine self and being comfortable about it, |
| consider them worthy of praise and undivided | | | | being ready to scream out even the horrid |
| attention. | | | | facts about you. |
| | | | |
| Making Something Extraordinary Out of the | | | | Zippo Lighters-Beyond Functionality |
| Ordinary | | | | |
| | | | And there are your favorite Zippo lighters. |
| But unlike female icons of long ago, they are | | | | The brand has stood the test of time and has |
| within your grasp. They are one among the | | | | managed to make a lasting statement. At the |
| common bunch who has managed to make an | | | | onset of its popularity, it carried the image |
| impact, to make something extraordinary out | | | | of functionality. Called windproof lighters, |
| of the ordinary. And this has made them | | | | Zippo lighters were known to stand against |
| beloved by even more women. Now more and | | | | windy weathers with its efficient fuel |
| more members of the female species are vying | | | | delivery and its nifty windscreen. |
| to be like them, watching their every move, | | | | |
| emulating even their gross mistakes. | | | | But Zippo lighters have gone beyond |
| | | | functionality. It's now an embodiment of |
| One such modern female icon is Oprah Winfrey. | | | | what an icon is-stylish, admired and |
| She's not of a royal descent. She's not even | | | | emulated. And so is the rise of Rippo and |
| a member of the nobility, nor is she born of | | | | Zappo lighters, the Zippo fakes. |
| a middle class family. But why, she's part of | | | | |
| the minority, of the African American race | | | | You can try and carry one of those |
| that has suffered centuries of demoralization | | | | matte-finished personalized Zippo lighters in |
| and unfair discrimination. Yet she managed to | | | | screaming shades of red and watch heads turn |
| rise above all. White Americans flock around | | | | your way as you light your cigarette. Yes, |
| her to hear what she has to say. | | | | you can be a female icon too. |
| | | | |