Inclusion of Fashion and Beauty Tips
In addition to erotic content, Cheri occasionally included sections with beauty advice, fashion trends, or grooming tips, catering to readers interested in lifestyle as well as erotica. These editorial inclusions positioned the magazine as a more rounded publication.
This blend of content reflected broader trends in adult media toward lifestyle integration. For example, magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Glamour increasingly offered advice on dating, relationships, career, and personal finance alongside their traditional beauty and fashion coverage. Similarly, cable networks like E! Entertainment Television began incorporating celebrity gossip, reality television, and pop culture into their programming, expanding beyond entertainment news and red carpet coverage. By including a variety of topics, these publications and networks were able to reach a wider audience and establish themselves as go-to sources for all aspects of contemporary life.
In terms of Cheri's approach, the inclusion of non-sexual content was likely driven by several factors. First, it may have been an attempt to appeal to a broader readership and attract new subscribers beyond those exclusively interested in sexual content. Second, it may have been a way to differentiate itself from other erotic magazines that relied solely on explicit images and stories, providing additional value for its audience. Finally, including non-erotic elements could have been seen as a way to enhance the perceived legitimacy and mainstream acceptability of the magazine, making it less stigmatized and potentially easier to sell in retail outlets.
Despite these benefits, there were potential drawbacks to this strategy. Some readers may have felt that the diversification of content detracted from the magazine's core purpose or tone, while others may have found the beauty and fashion sections superfluous or uninteresting compared to the more sensationalistic aspects of the publication. In addition, competitors may have responded by introducing similar features to stay competitive, leading to a crowded market with many publications offering similar blends of content. Ultimately, whether the inclusion of non-erotic content was successful depended on the specific audience and editorial decisions made by Cheri at the time.
Overall, the decision to include fashion and beauty tips alongside erotic content reflects broader trends toward lifestyle integration in adult media and demonstrates how publishers sought to position themselves in a changing landscape. While the approach had both advantages and disadvantages, it remains an interesting case study in the evolution of adult entertainment and publishing.