By Cara Alwill
To those born between 1970 and 1985, Molly Ringwald is an icon. She was John Hughes’ muse; the quintessential girly girl, the teen queen that rocked our world in the cult classics of the 80s like "Sixteen Candles," "Pretty in Pink" and "The Breakfast Club." So when I found out Molly had written a book and was doing an in-store signing in Tribeca on Tuesday, I knew I had to be there.
I arrived 30 minutes before the appearance, to a modest crowd, which was equally composed of both women and men, dressed mainly in after-work business attire. I guess in my mind, I envisioned hundreds of 16-year-old girls in homemade dresses made of mismatched floral prints a la Andie from "Pretty in Pink" (though there was one look alike).
Sadly, Molly had pre-signed books before the event, and we were told we’d receive our copies at the end with our proof of receipt. I immediately pinned her as a diva in my head, who would rush in, read a chapter, and immediately leave without even cracking a smile. Much to my surprise, she was not only charming, she was one of the most endearing and humble celebrities I’ve ever seen.
After greeting the crowd with her warm smile and notorious fire engine red hair, Molly took to the podium and thanked everyone for coming. She admitted how nervous she was, and then began to stumble through two chapters, choppily crafting sentences and often mispronouncing words. Each mistake was cushioned with a laugh, by her, and then the crowd, who was more than forgiving.
But none of that took away from the story, which much like her iconic films of the 80s, is another coming-of-age story. This time, Molly isn’t turning 16 or dealing with a crush. She’s now 40, and a mother of three, dealing with adult issues such as feeling insecure about her looks. In "Getting The Pretty Back," Molly is comically, brutally honest about everything from her hair, to her marriage, to her friends and her body. The book is light and airy, filled with illustrations and anecdotal stories.
Though her title suggests her looks had once escaped, that could not be further than the truth. Molly shined on Tuesday night, as she always has. And although she opted for black leather as opposed to pink chiffon — she was undoubtedly very, very pretty.
Will you be picking up a copy of Molly's book? Are you a big fan of hers?
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