To Wax or Not to Wax: Price of Beauty recap

August 23rd, 2010

Jessica Simpson and company enjoy the sun and sand of hot Rio de Janeiro. And they learn that nobody is ashamed of their bodies; as long as they can wax, shave, bleach, or just let it all hang out!

Watch the full episode right HERE

First things first: time to get Ken Paves a Brazilian wax for men (because Jessica and CaCee were…ahem…already done long before they arrived). And can I just say….my goodness! This just looks wrong! But he takes in all in good stride (and in yelps of pain) as Jessica and CaCee look on and laugh with one of them saying “now you know what we go through”.

Having a great body is all in the eye of the beholder. There are men and women who wear Speedos and bikinis that barely contain their girth. Yet they walk around with confidence and pride. That is the translation of Brazilian beauty in a nutshell. They are proud of their bodies and live in one of the hottest locations of the world; they don’t have time to be ashamed!

Brazil is known as one of the main plastic surgery hubs in the world. If you have the money to afford a nip and a tuck you will definitely spend it here. The other twist: North Americans lie about plastic surgery but in Rio they want you to know how much money they spent on that boob job.

And here’s a woman that does just that: and shows them the goods too!

Because Brazilians love their bodies so much there is a big question of whether or not they choose to wax off their hair. The “Brazilian” is complete hair removal from whatever body part turns your pages. Jessica and friends learn bleaching body hair is also common place versus shaving it all off. A few of the girls they met had very hairy legs. There are also cheap plastic surgeons specifically catering to the poorer villages in Brazil in case anyone wants to get some cosmetic surgery done but can’t dish out the big bills.

And what’s a trip to Rio without a little salsa dancing! The friends quickly learn how to salsa to prepare for a party in the evening. Well, Ken learns. The moves are too fast for Jessica and CaCee. But they all fell in love with the carnival costumes: representations of fun, inhibition and individual expression. They suited up and marched into the Brazilian Carnival party with hips swinging.

Don’t miss the season finale of Price of Beauty Thursday, August 26 on Much as Jessica takes everything she’s learned and compares it with girls in Los Angeles, U.S.A.