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Like anyone, there are certain people in the media I admire. Not admire in a she's-my-hero type of way (only mama and'nem get that honor) but in a omg-she-is-so-beautiful-and-fabulous-and-I-bet-her-life-is-great type of way. I see my favorite ladies in magazines and on blogs and I oo and ahh over their latest look or boyfriend.

I'm old enough to know that beauty and celebrity don't equal happiness. Still, over the past couple weeks I have been startled by the fast clip at which some of my favorite women have had their cracks and flaws exposed.

I've written about Kim Kardashian before. I chose her as my "thinspiration" since I think she is gorgeous and very stylish. Over the past few months I started to notice her face looked different. I didn't pay it much attention. But lately, it's hard to overlook. It's pretty clear that she is at the very least going too heavy on the botox. If she keeps it up, pretty soon she'll be a mess.

Not too long ago, Kim's divorce papers made the headlines. She accused her first husband of being controlling, forcing her to have plastic surgery, and being both verbally and physically abusive. Kim's ex husband fired back saying that Kim was herself obsessed with plastic surgery and sabotaging her sisters in the name of success. If I believe them both, which I do, Kim has some very deep issues with her self esteem and self image.

At the same time, Naomi Campbell, arguably one of the most beautiful women to ever grace a runway, appeared on "Oprah." It was painful to watch. Here's a woman who's been in the public eye for decades and known just as much for her violent run-ins with others as she is for her fabulous sense of style.

Still, after all these years of struggling with inner demons it was clear that the willowy supermodel still hasn't figured out how to deal with the pain that lies behind her graceful walk and sultry looks. Throughout the interview she seemed very confused about her own behavior...at times acknowledging that she needs help and at other times denying the very feelings that would cause her behavior to spin out of control.

All of us who watched Campbell expose as much of her personal fabric to the Oprah audience as she could stand saw right through the threads she couldn't bare to pull back. She admits to have an issue with anger and abandonment but her problems clearly go beyond that. Unfortunately, there appeared to be a lack of urgency on her part to address it.

Naomi said she wore this to community service because that's how she dresses...she didn't do it to make a point. Okay...if you say so girl.

But that won't stop us from admiring her every move and ensemble and expressing a degree of awe when she inevitably connects her cell phone or some other possession with the body of someone else who offends her sensibilities.

Speaking of beautiful women who lately willingly revealed flaws on television, Stacey Dash has been making the media rounds as of late as well. I suppose in preparation for a new television show that should be hitting the airwaves soon starring Stacey, Lauren London, and Lisa Raye.

Dash, a perennially young-looking stunner and mainstay of men and women's fantasies alike said something that I will never forget during an appearance last month on the Wendy Williams show. She said that she never thought she was beautiful unless a man told her so.

This woman who, at 40, turns heads of all ages, races, and sexes with her big smile and perfect skin.

This articulate and successful actress and mother with talent and beauty to spare.

The fact that she needs validation from anyone struck me with a sadness I'm not sure if I can explain.

To round out the bunch, Noemi Lenoir, model and one of the stars of the movie Rush Hour 3, attempted suicide last week. Rumors abound about why she took a potentially deadly combination of pills and alcohol to end her life. One rumor says that the suicide attempt was because of issues involving her current lover and another cites actions of her former lover and father of her children as the catalyst.

Whatever the cause, once again, a woman so put together on the outside has fallen apart on the inside. And that fall is taking place for the world to see.

Sure lots of celebrities (and regular people alike) struggle with self-esteem issues and substance abuse problems among other demons. Blogger Jo Nubian recently wrote about the pains many black women go through to hide feelings of sadness and depression. This phenomena doesn't start or end with glamourous celebrity women.

But there is something eye-opening about such beautiful women struggling with their looks, life, and love--especially in a society that emphasizes beauty and lifestyle as indicators of relative happiness and satisfaction.

In a moment of weakness, you almost wonder for a second, if they're not happy, who is?

I wonder if the beauty and accolades don't just hide their pain from the public for a time--but from them as well.

And if beauty is hiding hurt, it doesn't matter how much beauty you have--things will get ugly at some point.