As I walked up the theater steps on my way to watch “Trainwreck,” I was unbelievably excited to watch my favorite athlete of all time, LeBron James, act in a movie. At that point, I didn’t even know who Amy Schumer was. Little did I know that two hours and five minutes later, I would leave the theater fascinated by her bizarre yet intriguing character.
At 5-foot-7 and 155 pounds, Schumer did not strike me as a glamorous actress. Throughout the movie ”Trainwreck,” she donned minimal makeup, wore simple clothes and portrayed an outright obnoxious and man-abhorring character like herself. She does not fit the typical description of a “blonde beauty,” but she has managed to garner acclaim from people. So what is it that sets Schumer apart from other actresses?
For me, it’s her unique style of comedy. Instead of making fun of others, she cracks jokes about herself. She’s able to talk about physical “flaws,” which allows viewers to connect with her on a different level. If she can openly talk about her insecurities, why can’t they? Through her caustic humor, Schumer cuts through awkwardness and taboo nature of sex, weight gain and beauty.
Recently, Schumer published an article in Cosmopolitan called “How to be Confident like Amy Schumer.” She adopts a unique approach as she addresses her childhood struggle with the concept of true beauty. Schumer doesn’t talk about being bullied and overcoming obstacles the way a typical advice column writer would. Rather, she talks about her mother’s coddling and her realization that she needed to free herself from her mother’s gushing compliments to achieve real, lasting confidence.
“I am a hot-blooded fighter and I am fearless,” said Schumer in her Glamour interview. Following the success with her movie, Schumer has been invited to appear at numerous shows and events, including “The Jimmy Kimmel Show” and even at her old high school.
“I learned that I have a resting scowl face, and that I have a ‘at risk’ chin,” said Schumer while sitting at “The Ellen Degeneres Show.” The crowd roared into laughter as Schumer depicted herself at a Lakers game. Her ability to define characteristics in a candid and sardonic way made it easy to relate to her; she presented her flaws in a relatable and frank way, making it so easy for people to relate and accept their own flaws.
As a confident woman in the movie industry, Schumer sets an example for others. Her manner and success demonstrate that the physical characteristics associated with traditional glamour are concepts of the past, and that women of any shape and size can shine this star-studded industry.
Schumer teaches that whether you’re a composed, delicate girl or the typical definition of a “trainwreck” like her you must learn to rock with what you have.