Update on that New York Times article on Circle Lenses...

10:55 PM

So I had mentioned before that I was interviewed and photographed for an article for the New York Times a couple weeks ago and the interview finally came out. I wasn't sure if I was going to post on it because I had just gotten an e-mail from the reporter, Catherine Saint Louis, on Saturday letting me know that my quotes had been cut for space. She was not sure if or if not any of my photos would be published. Much to my surprise, one actually did get used.


It's focused on the lens and not my face so you can't even tell it's me, plus I got no credit on it whatsoever. Ha! And check out the main photo they used. Not trying to be biased, but I guess Caucasians with circle lenses make for a more riveting story, eh? What can I say, she looks adorable in those violet lenses.



As I always say, I hope for the best and expect the worst. I suppose my preaching of positivity and feeling good with a small change didn't fit in with the whole illegal and you could go blind messages that were subtly put in the article. Oh well, still a pretty cool experience considering not everyone gets their photo printed in the New York Times, right?

And I mean, my Sally Hansen pink chrome polish looks SPOT ON. ;D

To check out the full article, visit the Sunday July 4th edition of the New York Times in the Fashion & Style section here. For your own sanity, you may want to avoid reading the super harsh comments. Just warning you.

PS. Happy 4th of July, Americans! It's a beautiful thing to have the freedom to say what you want to say, post what you'd like to post, and be who you want to be. Word up to having liberty and peace out, girlscout!

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47 comments

  1. wow! that's amazing that you were on the new york times :) although that is kind of weird that the cover was someone else, I was hoping it would be youu! xD the lens picture of you is pretty cool thoughh. ^^

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  2. i read that article today! i thought i saw you on the side hehe but i thought it was just a coincidence. i think they're blowing the whole thing out of proportion. they comment on circle lenses and going blind when people inject botox into their face all the time? that is POISON right there. i understand there are risks but like any contacts, they must be worn with care. don't be ignorant. and we're not.

    they're silly. i'm sad your quotes got cut :( they would have been great and let everyone see an unskewed argument.

    congrats on having your photo used by the new york times though! that is a pretty big honour :)

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  3. Your picture definitely deserves credit! I can't believe they didn't give you credit. You can ask for them to revise. It is so wrong they cut your quotes! I consider you the expert on circle lens--you of all girls should have been in the article! When I was in a newspaper article I asked them to spell my name correctly and they did so without hesitation--hopefully you can get them to mention your name. I wish you all a happy happy fun and safe 4th!

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  4. They are probably more concerned about the economy and how buying circle lenses doesn't benefit it (since you can only get circle lenses online) than the health risks... Besides, I don't see why someone would order a random prescription, instead of the one their doctor assigned them (and if so, why would it even be dangerous or ill-fitting?)
    Why do they target circle lenses only? The risks are the same with regular contacts <_<

    I can't believe they cut all of your parts except that one blurred photo though :o

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  5. I totally agree with Shiro-san. I'd like to think MOST people have the common sense to visit their eye doctor, be knowledgable about contact lenses, and do their research about where they're buying their circle lenses from BEFORE they start using them. It's "buyer beware" but I don't think that should mean eye doctors automatically start labeling circle lenses as "dangerous." There are the same risks with regular contacts!

    Everyone commenting the article so negatively is not taking the "bigger picture" into consideration... what about all the other products we have in America that were made in Asia??? What about our own "FDA approved" products, like Hydroxycut; that end up killing people?! -_-;

    And totally unfair that you got no credit! Makes them seem so biased! >:(

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  6. so sad that ur quotes got cut and they didn't even publish a clear picture of u, despite u making efforts for this. :(
    I know u said that u're expecting worst.. But i guess it's still a bit too much.. U'll still have us readers supporting u..
    xx

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  7. Yes you did warn us not to read the comments but yet I still sifted through all 100+ of them. Man oh man. The article was biased but I did find it to be informative...I did not know it was illegal to sell contacts w/o a prescription here but I guess it makes sense. Personally I wouldn't wear these, but it irks me how people in the comments jump to such quick conclusions about those who do and make such ignorant comments about it!

    And yes I agree you definitely should have been credited for your photo. Such a large publication shouldn't make a mistake like that...bleh!

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  8. Hey Jen.
    After reading the WHOLE article. I'm just blown away... [referring to the author]-like are you serious!? I actually thought that the author would write something NICE about circle lenses. But instead he or she is trying to destroy them!? WTF?! That person is trying to say that Asian countries are trying to ship them here to customers who buys them. MY FIRST LENSE I bought was from my neighborhood store! AND THEY WEREN'T EVEN ASIAN TO START WITH! I feel offended because I use circle lenses also and people are calling girls who uses them "idiots"! WTF?! Gahh. sigh* But anyways on the brighter side, you were in the article, CONGRATS!

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  9. Ah, I read the article and was not too impressed really -.- I guess if your quote said something SLIGHTLY positive about circle lens, they would have cut it straight away. And to think they didn't credit you for the picture.
    Also, they are pointing fingers at us Asians for introducing something illegal and bad to the US, as if there are no non-asian webstores selling non-asian lenses without prescription needed -.- heh.

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  10. @_@ it kinda bites that they didn't put your pictures up~ but way to take it in stride ^________^ <3 ~but not to be biased you look a gajillion times better than the girl on the cover @_@ :) but cheer up* but congrats anyways :) <3 i hate the fact that you didnt get credit D:< but cheer up* We all think your great! :) so keep it up :)

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  11. It is a shame that the article seems to paint anyone who uses circle lenses as being vapid and vain. Like most things, it's a personal choice to wear them or not and whether you understand the risks associated with it.

    I've seen cosmetic lenses being sold in France on the rack next to false eyelashes. So just because the FDA does not approve, does not automatically mean the product is harmful.

    Too bad they didn't credit your photo and let in some positive quotes.

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  12. Wow, shame on Catherine Saint-Louis! I'm severely disappointed in the quality of this reporting by the NY Times, even if it's just for fashion and style. Even if she didn't find your quotes valuable, the least she could have done was to give credit where it's due. Also, I, too, am pissed about the big Caucasian face on the front of the article while you and Phan's pictures mostly hide your faces. My god, the media has gone completely backward in its racist ways.

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  13. that article, kinda annoys me lol.

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  14. By Mainstream do they mean caucasians? Cause I'm pretty sure anyone that is asian pretty much knows about these since way before Lady Gaga decided to wear them. Sad she's being credited the spread of them. And blindness? Talk about over exaggeration. They're lenses just like any other so you have to be careful.

    You totally should of been credited and on the front! You're so much prettier than that girl.

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  15. Wow. This article is ridiculous. The cut your quotes but in the ones of some little girl sounding much like a teenager saying she doesn't want them anymore because other people have them. The article has people thinking that owners of circle lenses are shallow and want to look like little girls so men will hit on them? What is the difference between putting in color contacts and dying your hair? Do they not make that connection? Obviously what you had to say didn't fit in with their agenda of making people seem vapid. <3 you!

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  16. Wow…the comments are harsh. If I was a lens wearer, I can imagine being a bit offended. The entire article is just critical of lenses though and doesn't show any other side, so I can see where the comments are coming from. The readers of NYT do have better literary skills than the average soompier that's for sure XD

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  17. Congrats on your participation in the article, although it doesn't do justice to the entire perspective on circle lenses.

    Btw, it's a good photo and you should get credit for it. Just because you're not in focus doesn't mean that you can't get credit. =)

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  18. woot for being published! haha :)

    i wish the article were a little more even-keeled and not quite so biased!

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  19. hiii

    where did you buy the nails claire mood? I'm searching but i'm not finding. Please help me because i want this very much.

    tks tks
    xoxo

    http://causaeestilo.blogspot.com/

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  20. Wow, I read this article yesterday and noticed that photo. I did NOT realize that it's you!

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  21. can't believe u didn't get credit! that's just bad publishing... :P

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  22. the article is ridiculous. the comments aren't so bad either. they're mostly ppl who are asking for more proof about the contacts OR ppl bashing women/girls in general for changing their looks. blah blah blahh. you should've gotten credit too!

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  23. I just saw that article. I hate when articles that are so bias get so much publicity. The comments too..... some were so unnecessary.
    No wonder I couldn't get my EOS package in. FDA probably raised their alerts on them. =[
    They should have given you credit too. Not cool.

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  24. That was slanted article! It seems the NTY is more concerned with their big pharma friends than helping people.

    Btw, I believe that Cosmetic lenses that have 0 power are legal to buy in the USA, barring a individual state law making them illegal in that state.

    There are FDA approved lenses from Asia but that only means they met a certain standard of safety – like the use of botox. Also your blurred picture is bad.

    Try another big newspaper next time. The NYT sucks.

    Cheryl Li

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  25. Those comments...they all jump to such quick concluding calling us idiots and saying that we are trying to copy western culture? our standards of beauty are in so many different varieties, how could our culture, almost half of the world want to copy them? Seriously, this article really made me mad and annoys me so much. And to the author, I find that rude to cut your comments and she didn't even credit you for the picture! That's clearly not fair. And also, just because some of us may wear these lenses for "beauty" doesn't mean anything, there are Botox injections, and a enormous amount of surgeries here in America that are SO much worse, and yet they make such a big deal about these lenses.

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  26. I FOUND HER! bwahahaha....... http://www.facebook.com/kurotenshi13?ref=search

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  27. Meh. The article wasn't that great to begin with, honestly. They were just trying to put a negative spin on the whole concept from the get-go and I'm not surprised that they cut you from that since your views on beauty and self esteem are so positive! The negative spin, the BRIGHT purple contact image and the ricebunny image are just for shock value so people will read it. *Huff!!*

    I'm honestly glad you're not associated with this. They put ALL circle lense buyers into a crazy, vain, and immature category of ladies and I'm not liking it.

    Keep doing what you're doing Jen! We love you for it. <3

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  28. Wow congratulations for the media coverage, this is a great experience :)

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  29. Congrats for being included, it's a bummer they didn't give you credit or include your quotes though..

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  30. Yeah so I was super excited that this article was coming out being an avid fan of circle lenses, but when i read the article I was kinda miffed that it was a completely negative article about circle lenses.

    I don't think it's right that people pick and choose what is legal and illegal. Like many of these girls have said, Hydroxcut and other diet supplements are not FDA approved yet they're isn't a big fuss about that. I mean I know it doesn't have any Phen Phen or stuff like that anymore but come on seriously?

    A customer should take the right precautions when buying any product, especially one for your eyes. That's why I feel networking is important. I would have never found legit sights had it not been for you and other gurus.

    And damn skippy ur nail polish is right on target! It is super sad that didn't credit u for the photo.

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  31. Even though they pulled out your quotes... your photo came out nicely (your camera has a great focus)& I love the nail polish! Some of the quotes, esp. later ones, were not really even relevant to the title of the story >.< Actually what I got from the article was pretty much where to locate sellers or people who knew where to find them...

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  32. LOL...i think its hilarious how the NYT's attributed the reason for this new "trend" is because of Lady Gaga when its not even a new trend. Many of the makeup gurus on youtube such as yourself have been talking about these way before the video for Bad Romance came out. It was a horrible article with no facts supporting it and plus they didnt even credit you. The NYT's really doesnt seem to have any significant and thought provoking issues to talk about.

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  33. Jen did you see this: http://gurugossip.omgforum.net/forum.htm

    There's a lot of discussion on circle lens. And there is also a rave about you in the rave section. I thought I'd share.

    Anyways I think that it wasn't right that your picture got blurred and Michelle's didn't.

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  34. I'm very disappointed in the NYT for posting something so glaringly biased, though what media isn't nowadays =/. Not giving you photo credit is unacceptable, as that is not some random stock photo. The circle lens are not just found in "Japan, Singapore, and North Korea," but definitely Taiwan and China as well. This is the abc news version: http://news.yahoo.com/video/world-15749633/worries-over-circle-contacts-trend-20734327. It's even more slanted and completely attributes the trend to Lady Gaga. What the heck! I love Lady Gaga, but tons of people were loving circle lenses before Bad Romance came out. I find it ironic that it's an Asian reporter reporting the news in the video. At least Kristin Rowland did her best to give a positive, sensible outlook on lenses, but even that had to stand to the reporter's "she consulted a doctor first and she hasn't had a problem--yet".

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  35. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  36. It is kinda sad how this reporter clearly doesn't pay attention to blogs or youtube channels of makeup gurus. Otherwise she would know better to what circle lens are. It has been around for years. And not just circle lens, regular contact lens can cause blindness too and how many reporter wants to talk about it? I think the article is very skewed. And I am sure Lady Gaga is not the first one in Hollywood wearing them! I can bet money on it !!!

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  37. Anonymous: The comments about me in the "Rave" section were hater comments, and untrue comments at that. People should actually check into what videos I have that are sponsored. Most of my reviews, especially lately, I review just because I want to share a good product and I am not connected with the company in any way! Plus, even when I review a product that was sponsored, it's not like I got paid for it. It's hurtful to say that I'm becoming fake... what the heck. :P

    I'm going to avoid that forum. Isn't there enough negativity already in the world? I think we should spread positive messages online. Why waste time bringing someone down?

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  38. Just came across your blog.

    It is lovely!

    colormenana.blogspot.com

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  39. i can kinda see your face... lookin good! xD i think the reporter was worried that if they printed your face, the newspaper would be set on FIRE! haha, ow! xDDD lolll ^^

    <3

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  40. It's pretty well known in Japan that colored lenses from dodgy companies/sites (ie. ones that aren't major brands from countries with strict regulations) are very likely a health hazard. They had this huge controversy a few years back over this; as a result, the gov't there did a major crackdown on mail-order lens companies (mostly the kind that you see in the back of gal-magazines).


    It makes sense that contact lens sources should be heavily regulated, because technically, they're highly personal medical devices. I'm all for having fun with cute anime eyes (which Jen pulls off very nicely) but given that we're only blessed with one set of eyes, I'd be super cautious. We don't have a fool-proof set of regulations here, but I would pick the FDA over a system that lets poisoned milk and toys be exported all over the world.

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  41. Hey girl, good job on keeping positive esp. considering that the article is drawing negative attention towards circle lenses. I think it's rude of the reporter to preach w/o scientific support or facts and even more rude to not give you proper credit. At least we all know it's you on the famous NYT :)

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  42. I saw this and recognised you! Interesting that you interviewed you and then went with a completely different angle. Least you look good in the photo :)

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  43. Just kinda surprised they didn't credit you for the photo used even if they did interview you and all that.

    I checked out that forum that Anonymous mentioned and like, really, don't they have better things to do with their time? :\

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  44. While it's unfortunate that the lovely Jen wasn't identified in the photo caption, the article itself isn't biased. It reports the popularity of circle lenses and describes and quotes the people who use them. But the article also quotes a credible government official. The article simply pointed out the what the law is. Too many times, I see comments from readers who immediately cry "bias" when they read articles that they don't like (for whatever reason). Worse yet is implying and inferring "racism."

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  45. Hey at least your nails look amazing!

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  46. Let me just tell you now ... LADY GAGA DID NOT START THIS TREND ! Asians already wore circle lenses before her , they're giving her credit for our creation - not cool ! They keep saying that ! I didnt start wearing them cause of LG and cause I cant afford the one just for weekly use in order to c clearly in school

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  47. I don't particularly think it is biased but being a beauty junkie myself I DO see the allure in them. So as an optometry student I wanted to comment...

    First of all, TOO BAD THEY DIDN"T CREDIT YOU!! That sucks. I would want credit.

    Second of all...there are dangers, including blindness. I mean that sounds so extreme but w/e. Think of the most extreme case as blindness - meaning not everyone will go blind if there is a complication but that will reduce your vision.

    Before someone reads this and goes "but there are dangers for all CLs". That's true but there is more risk (esp for young people trying them out for the first time) for circle lenses where the width is larger and less permeable to oxygen. Now imagine wearing this for long periods of time. Not good. I know the recommended time is only like 6 hours but again, think of how many young people comply with that. I mean some would, religiously. But some may not.

    Also they aren't fitted right to your cornea which is another source to cut off the oxygen. Also there's not guarantee you are getting an authentic pair. If it's real, great! if it's not...where are they coming from?? I mean i have friends that got them off of some random girl from facebook back then. No they didn't go blind but it just makes me wonder... even if you don't trust me, it's good to at least be wary.

    Now if you are reading this saying "Man i'm not a dumba** why would I buy them off the streets like drugs", there's also risk of other EYE related problems. You can scratch them, or get infections or corneal edema. THE POINT IS...our eyes react differently. Some people can even be allergic to the material. You also have to consider that some people's eyes aren't in the best health to begin with :/ like if you are infection prone or so.

    Obviously I just wanted to list some of the things that can happened. I'm trying not to be biased here bc I know a lot of people DO take good care of their lenses and replace them regularly. It's just that I see many people in the clinic everyday that DON'T...even with regular lenses. You tell them and they go "oh yea i do this i do that" but when you check their eyes under the slit lamp... it's obviously they haven't.

    Anyways that's all I wanted to say! THanks!

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