http://thebeautifulroom.com/promo.html
The introduction to the social networking site poses the question "What if there were a place...where everyone is...beautiful, single, and like-minded." Each of these three characteristics flashes alongside the image/s of a different individual or pair of individuals. First two blonde white women, then one blonde white woman, and finally a dark haired white man. The lyrics, "You're so beautiful" play in the background to club music. "Beauty is the key" scrolls across the screen followed by a description of the room. The site is described as including "Hand selected attractive people" with "equal men to women ratios." The site intro ends with the question, "Do you have the key?" Though "meeting a level of attractiveness" is "just one of many" "component[s]," the membership application requires you to "submit at least one close-up photograph of your face and one full length photograph of your body" for review.
I was flabbergasted when I first saw the site. I wonder exactly what values we're all supposed to share in our "like-minded[ness]." The beauty standard is certainly whiteness here, though there are a token number of people of color shown. For women, blondeness is certainly emphasized, though once again there are exceptions. And heterosexuality is implied, though interestingly enough never directly stated--perhaps indicating a desire to avoid appearances of discrimination without actually consciously acknowledging the concern.
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