When Netflix rebooted the Bravo original show "Queer Eye For The Straight Guy," I initially dismissed it as nothing more than a "What Not To Wear" type show. I could not wrap my head around why my friends were sending me snapchats of their tear-soaked faces after watching the show, but then I watched the first episode, and it clicked. I managed to binge the entire two seasons in four days. Unhealthy as it may seem, the show is completely addicting.
A general overview: Someone from the state of Georgia who is generally a hot mess is nominated to have the Fab 5, a group of five fabulous gay men, who invade their life for a week and remake it. The men each have their own specialty: Antoni is all food and wine, Tan is fashion, Karamo is culture, Bobby is design, and Jonathan is grooming. Over the course of a few days, these men redo the nominees house, wardrobe, and style and teach them quite a few life lessons.
The original show, which aired from 2003 to 2007, was focused on fighting for tolerance, back when Hollywood had yet to normalize the gay culture. However, the show taught many straight men about style, having more of an affect then people realized it would have. Now, the revival is centered around acceptance. Whether you are gay or straight, male or female, these fabulous men have captured our hearts and continue to teach us important life lessons.
1. “It’s not vanity, it’s self-care.” - Jonathan
Yas, Queen! When did taking care of your skin, nails, and hair become a vain concept? We live in a judgmental society in which people often look at your outer appearance to reach a conclusion about who you are. However, taking care of yourself is not to make others happy, it is so you feel good and healthy. In every episode, after Jonathan works his magic, the men have a new sense of confidence and feel like they can take over the world.
2. “Failure isn’t the opposite of success, its part of it.” - Karamo
Raise your hand if you ever avoided something because you feared you would not be good at it. I'll be the first to admit that I am a pro at this, in fact as I write this, I am avoiding taking an exam because of this fear. Not to mention, failure is one of my greatest fears. However, we cannot avoid doing something because we might not be great at it. We have to fall and stumble a bit in order to grow.
3. “Self-care and grooming is not mutually exclusive with femininity and masculinity.” - Jonathan
Oh yes, honey. Please tell me why our culture thinks only women can "pamper" themselves? I'm not saying men need to invest money to get their nails done, because I do not even have time for that. I am talking about maintenance. Cutting your hair, nails, and shaving is proper hygiene and should not be an afterthought.
4. “Style is dressing the way that you feel confident and what is appropriate for you, your age, and body type.” - Tan
Although I do not understand why a floral shirt seems to find its way into every closet he tackles, I do love Tan (he is also my mom's favorite). Frankly, I hate shopping and avoid it at almost all costs. However, when I do leave the house, I always try to put my best foot forward. Tan is a great reminder of this. You do not have to dress in the latest fashion trend, because those change faster then I can count, but you should always dress confidently because "confidence is sexy." Yes, that was another quote from Tan.
5. “Being vulnerable is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of strength.” - Karamo
Whenever something goes wrong, I internalize the problem, trying really hard not to share my raw emotions with the world. Why is that? Emotions do not make someone weak. Any person who has overcome insurmountable obstacles will tell you there were times when they felt defeated. Being vulnerable and asking for help does not take that strength away from you, it makes you a better and stronger person. Part of the reason the Fab 5 are so fabulous is they function as a team. They know when to ask for help, which is a lesson we all need to learn: that it is okay to ask for help.
6. “Live your truth.” - someone in the show at some point
Unfortunately, I have no idea which man said this. However, I do believe these words have passed the lips of every one of the Fab 5. These three simple words could not be more accurate. Why must we put up a façade, shielding the world from who we truly are? Everyone is beautiful and special in their own way. We need to own this!
7. Bobby works seven days a week to get the houses ready.
I know this isn't a quote, but I had to throw Bobby some love. This poor guy does not get nearly enough attention. When I started watching the show, I was baffled how fast he was able to completely reconstruct the houses. I mean let's be real, the paint doesn't even dry that quickly. Apparently, Bobby is given advanced notice before the first sees the house so he can order the materials he needs. He also works seven days unlike the other men who only work about three or four days. Can we just take a moment to appreciate this man's dedication?
8. “It’s about figuring out how we can contribute to the lives of these people in a very short amount of time.” - Antoni
I struggled to find a quote from the designated hottie of the Fab 5. Yes, he is adorable in a sort of "lost puppy" sort of way and he always seems to be around, but he fails to impart wisdom like the other men. I combed the internet trying to find a quote from him. Viewers have said Antoni, the designated food and wine guy, doesn't do a lot. His recipes are fairly simple. However, "Queer Eye" isn't a cooking show, it is about giving men confidence to be their best self. Face it, most men are afraid of the kitchen, and if Antoni can leave these men with a few more skills, then he is winning in my book.
9. “You’re strong, you’re a Kelly Clarkson son, you got this.” - Jonathan
I think this quotation calls for another "Yas, Queen!" Today, many of us college students forget was we are truly capable of. If the heroes (men whom the Fab 5 have helped) can turn their life around, so can we. We just needed Jonathan, Tan, Karamo, Bobby, and Antoni to remind us of it.
