Vajazzle
A vajazzle, also occasionally spelled vagazzle and sometimes nicknamed glitter pubes, is a form of genital decoration. The word is a portmanteau of vajayjay [1] (a euphemism for vagina)[2] and bedazzle. The process of creating a vajazzle is known as vajazzling. It involves the application of crystal ornaments onto the shaved mons pubis of a woman.
Vajazzling is typically carried out at beauty salons. Initially any pubic hair is removed from the mons pubis, typically by a bikini wax, after which rhinestones, Swarovski crystals or gems are glued onto the area.[3] The result can last for up to seven days. The purpose of vajazzling is the visual aesthetic. There are no benefits in terms of sexual pleasure. Bruising or cuts can occur from the crystals during sexual intercourse. If glue is applied too soon after the pubic hair removal, it can cause an allergic reaction[4] or bacterial infection.[3] Vajazzling can also increase the risks of infection if it is not properly cleaned.[5]
Vajazzling was popularized by the US actress Jennifer Love Hewitt, who devoted a chapter in her book The Day I Shot Cupid to vajazzling.[1] During a promotional interview on Lopez Tonight in 2010, she encouraged the female members of her audience "to vajazzle their vajayjays".[6] In the United Kingdom, this concept was popularized when beautician Amy Childs appeared in a television show The Only Way Is Essex in 2010.[7] By 2011, an Internet rating site for vajazzling called Rate My Vajazzle had been set up.[8][9]
References
- Jennifer Love Hewitt (23 March 2010). The Day I Shot Cupid: Hello, My Name Is Jennifer Love Hewitt and I'm a Love-aholic. Voice. ISBN 978-1-4013-4112-1.
- Vagianos, Alanna (11 December 2015). "How Shonda Rhimes Unwillingly Coined The Term 'Vajayjay'". Huffington Post.
- O'Callaghan, Tiffany (5 March 2010). "Bedazzling… below the belt?". Time.
- Greco, Alanna Lauren (13 January 2020). "Here's Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Vajazzling". Cosmopolitan.
- Rosen, Peg. "Vaginal Grooming: How Safe Are Down-There Beautification Trends?". Health. Archived from the original on 2020-11-05. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
- "Jennifer Love Hewitt Bedazzled Her Privates (VIDEO)". Huffington Post. 2010-03-18. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
- Childs, Amy (2015). Amy Childs - 100% Me. Bonnier Publishing Ltd. ISBN 9781910536483.
- "Vajazzing and Pejazzling: Tall Glass of Shame". Fierce and Nerdy. 26 May 2011. Archived from the original on 29 May 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
- Garde-Hansen, J.; Gorton, K. (2013). "Chapter 6: The Hate and Shame of Women's Bodies Online". Emotion Online: Theorizing Affect on the Internet. Springer. ISBN 9781137312877.
Other projects
- Media related to Vajazzle at Wikimedia Commons