So I feel a little uneasy with the whole Susan Dell situation that's captured the internet these past few days. (And not just the "uncanny valley" kind of uneasy feelings that many folk are talking about.)
Let's speak plainly: at its core, most of the takes and posts and reactions about her and her husband's recent appearance with trump have been -- unequivocally -- poking fun at her appearance. I think we can start by at least acknowledging this fact.
In general, I tend to give side-eye to low-effort attacks that focus exclusively on someone's looks. Now, I realize there are a few factors here that are unique to this specific situation:
1. Susan Dell is a billionaire and therefore she (and her husband, and anyone else in their class of people) should be subject to pretty much near-constant public opprobrium. But for their wealth-hording, not for their physical appearance.
2. Susan Dell does not suffer from a birth defect or other innate physical deformity but rather, it would appear, she has made the choice to subject herself to an extreme amount of cosmetic surgery with results that many now find questionable.
3. The Dells are using their wealth and philanthropy efforts in an attempt to polish the image and soften the public profile of one of the most evil and hateful and harmful individuals to ever hold power in modern history. Philanthropy by the wealthy is a mixed bag, morally, even in the best of times. In this instance, it's unquestionably repugnant.
... all of that can be true, while at the same time we can still take pause when we consider all aspects of treating someone's unfortunate appearance as risible instead of pitiable.
If you look at articles like this... https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/susan-dell-then-now-photos-dell-ceo-s-wife-goes-viral-after-oval-office-appearance/ar-AA2dNWOx ...it becomes pretty apparent that Ms. Dell very likely suffers from body dysmorphia and this, coupled with her absolutely endless financial means, has possibly led her to pursue more and more extreme attempts to quell the demon in her head that tells her she must "change" her image to be "more appealing" to others.
I do not know that I have a solid conclusion to this post. I simply know that we pressure people in our society to look a certain way (some types of people more than others. hooray, patriarchy.) and that there are far more valid ways we should be tormenting billionaires. Including ways that do not make regular work-a-day women further question their own beauty or hold themselves up to impossible standards.
Having said that, I would like to now go back to an internet that existed before I ever knew of or saw this person.
