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Who Did Nancy Pelosi's New Face?
Jacquelyn Martin / AP Photo
The speaker of the House turns 69 today—not that you’d know it, with her dewy eyes and seamless features. Sandra McElwaine on D.C.’s hottest hush-hush habit: eye lifts, Botox, and more.
It’s no secret in Washington that many politicians look a bit more “refreshed” (the latest buzzword for plastic surgery) these days. But of course no one wants to talk about it. One of the most visible members of Congress—the glamorous grandma—Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is turning 69 today, yet everybody is still whispering about her dewy eyes and seamless features.
“If some politician had a bad job and suddenly looks better, I’m probably the guy who did it,” says Dr. Unger. Joe Biden? “You’ll have to ask Mr. Biden,” he responds crisply.
In the gossipy world of political plastics, there’s Joe Biden’s hair and smooth cheeks, Hillary’s firm jawline, and Arnold’s granite-like brow—all subject to “refreshed” speculation. No pol wants an “Oh, my God, do I look like that?” moment, especially not in the glare of high-def TV, never mind the onslaught of new, young administration types. Bob and Elizabeth Dole had major lifts several years ago—he began sprucing up when he made those Viagra ads. (The president and Michelle are too young to go under the knife, but that didn’t stop several leading surgeons from telling me they’d love to pin back his ears!)
When I called to discuss all of this with a number of top doctors, I got the same reaction as when I did a story for the New York Times magazine on psychiatry in Washington in the ’80s. The scalpel was taboo. It remains deep in the closet. And while all were willing to talk about various procedures, they stressed confidentiality and froze when asked to name names or go on the record. What to make of Nancy’s look? Classic anonymous response: “She’s so cosmetically surgeon-ed, I wish she didn’t look so good. It would be more natural,” sniffs one well-known D.C. practitioner.
But D.C. cosmetic surgeon Barry J. Cohen ventured where no other M.D. would: “I would guess she had a neck lift some time ago, although is certainly ready for another,” he wrote to me by email. “It would appear that she had the fat removed from around her eyes, but has a substantial amount of excess skin on the lower lids. She has not a line on her forehead, likely indicating a date with a vial of Botox, yet has remaining lines at her crow's feet (it wore off or was untreated). Her nasolabial folds could benefit from a filler, to soften her creases, and she would likely benefit from a peel or laser abrasion…She has her share of lines and wrinkles. Likely from all the time spent at high altitudes in her (our) private jet.”
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Sandra McElwaine is a Washington-based journalist. She has been a reporter for The Washington Star, The Baltimore Sun, a correspondent for CNN and People, and Washington editor of Vogue and Cosmopolitan. Currently she writes for The Daily Beast, The Washington Post, Time, and Forbes.
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Sandra McElwaine is a Washington-based journalist. She has been a reporter for The Washington Star, The Baltimore Sun, a correspondent for CNN and People, and Washington editor of Vogue and Cosmopolitan. Currently she writes for The Daily Beast, The Washington Post, Time, and Forbes.
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Sandra McElwaine is a Washington-based journalist. She has been a reporter for The Washington Star, The Baltimore Sun, a correspondent for CNN and People, and Washington editor of Vogue and Cosmopolitan. Currently she writes for The Daily Beast, The Washington Post, Time, and Forbes.
Fentro
Beauty comes from within. That females are so youth-obsessed (or is it simple vanity?) reflects how phony everyone in society is. Well, maybe not everyone, but most folk are buying into the youthful look crap. On top of that, everyone is a pimp, selling themselves or something. Why did we become such a superficial society? Because we've empower the assholes:
http://fentrosphere.blogspot.com
Enjoy your wealth Mrs. Pelosi; Enjoy the face lift. But never forget the mutants who can't or chose not to go under the knife. Their beauty comes from within.
ArielAZ
...and it's still a mystery.
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n--Y--tavallaipurpleme
I'm not going to be able to afford a face lift if she keeps spending all my money !
amapola101
I don't like her, trust her and feel she is a hypocrite. She must be brilliant to have gotten to her position. But she absolutely inspires everyone that waches her to walk away feeling she is not for real. All that said, she had a very good job done.!!And no,she should not fly in a private, jet and gush all that extra fuel,HURT THE ENVIRONMENT and use a jet at 10,000 an hour. when we have to pinch our pennies. Walk the airports, all of the politicians.That would help our deficit.
mskitee
When is Pelosi going to reimburse Americans for all the private trips she took on military aircraft (did the broom break?)? She's an enemy of the state with regard to immigration. Perhaps soon she'll realize her true calling and move south of the border to bamboozle those folks. No matter what she looks like on the outside, she's still a selfish, self-serving representative that doesn't care about the American people or even California.
jenny4hill
Another female journalist reporting on female appearance. Pathetic. Cosmetic enhancement is a taboo subject in Washington? WHO THE HELL CARES? Worthless article. More of the usual snarky, divisive "reporting" posing as news.
Llplo99
I think Nancy looks great...btw, she is probably one of the wealthiest member in congress and she can afford it if she did have something done. Leave her alone. We don't know what really happens out there. Anytime there is a strong woman, she is called a b____, yet we often admire strong men.
carouzer
Can The Beast possibly get more shallow? Who cares about this dreck?! What earthly difference does it make about the way she does her job?
YARROW
WHOEVER DID NACY'S PLASTIC< SURGERY, IS MASTERFULL< SHE LOOKS GEORGOUS, SHE WAS BEFORE THE SURGERY< BUT EVEN MORE SO NOW
MTFinch
jenny4hill - "Another female journalist reporting on female appearance. " Great comment. This article reminds me of Katty Kay's article about how bad it is for her at the White House because she doesn't know anything about sports. Or Laura Ingraham referring to McCain's daughter as "plus-sized". Why do we see that stuff, especially here?
YARROW
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO BE YOUTHFUL, BUT IT WOULD BE REFRESHING, IF PEOPLE KEPT< THEIR WRINKLES, AS THOSE OF US, THAT CAN'T AFFORD PLASTIC SURGERY, MUST DO< I DOUBT THAT I WOULD, IF I WAS WEALTHY
MTFinch
YARROW - SHOULD YOU BUY A NEW KEYBOARD? JUST CURIOUS.
milkbone
We are in the 21th century. What good is it to have all these wonderful discoveries if we don't use them. Get a Lift.
Hawnzz
What exactly is the point of this article? I live in Orange County, California. Try and find a woman over 45 that hasn't had something done! Nancy looks great for her age, she doesn't look artificial. (If you dislike Nancy's politics, that's fine. But this article has nothing to do with that.)
This article isn't about substance, it's attacking a person because of their looks. Why is this article even here? Daily Beast, I expect more from you....
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