The time is upon us again to vote for your 2011 Bloggers of the Year. And I can’t disguise my disappointment.  First off, take a look at the nominees. Look familiar?  Almost identical to the 2010 list.  But what’s really disappointing is the EXTREME lack of diversity.  A sea of affluent white girls with blogs dedicated to c/o items.  There actually isn’t a single African-American on the list, for best-style, all Caucasian {and slim, of course}, for most original – so much lack of originality {just another version of best-dressed, only slightly more avant garde “Check me out! I wear Mickey Mouse ears, I’m SO original” DERP.}! And what on earth does “International” mean?  Isn’t the internet international?

I’m sorry bloglovin’, but your standards are totally lost on me.  It isn’t for a lack of diversity in the bloglosphere, it just seems you’re not willing to step outside of the slender-rich-white-girl-blogger.  For your benefit, please take a look at these highly successful bloggers with massive followings.  And I urge you, dear readers, to voice your opinions.  Does it seem strange to anyone else to celebrate the same-old-same each and every year in an industry so stylistically diverse and dedicated to change SUCH AS FASHION? BLARGH.

Here’s who is missing off the list for me:

Nicole: I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone more chic, elegant, put-together, totally confident in her own style AND she’s a business owner!  She doesn’t ‘blog’ for a living, but instead scours vintage markets and shares her beautiful wares with her loyal following.  That’s inspirational…

Folake: Totally walks to the beat of her own drum.  Whether or not you love her style, she never follows trends instead creates her own, totally tailored to her personality.  She was also voted Style Icon of the Year by Chictopia! Her influence is far reaching!

Vintage Virgin: I absolutely adore Virgin.  All her looks are thrifted, sewn, vintaged, hunted down and again, totally her own.  One of the last few not to fall under the ‘c/o’ spell.  When she posts something, you know she ACTUALLY wore it that day.  She isn’t selling anything, a true showcase of what style can be.

Lily: A fave CANADIAN blogger with a big heart!  She’s got a youthful spark, energy and dedicates a good chunk of her blog to spreading good karma.  In between her amazing outfit posts, you’ll find pictures of her travels throughout Asia, videos of her bungee jumping, great music and so much more.

UM PS.  HOW IS LUXIRARE NOT IN THE MOST ORIGINAL CATEGORY??? Do I even have to explain this one? She makes everything! Those darling little food blogs you love that do hipster-detail shots of salad? Yeah.  She started that. YEARS AGO. Those DIY projects you love? She started that. YEARS AGO. And she’s got more talent in her pinky finger that I can even begin to describe.  Just look at all the stuff she made!

Nicolette: Incredible photos? Check. Incredible style? Check. Kick ass taste? Check.  Slim body? Nope, this girl loves and adores each and every curve on her god-given body.  That’s style you just can’t buy.

Karen: How did Karen not make it on the list?  You know she was in Vogue, right?

Zanita: An incredibly stylish photographer, you just can’t deny it.  Every day IS an editorial, because somehow, she manages to shoot 3 incredible editorials a week.  Her photographic style is so unique, you can see a ‘Zanita’ from a mile away!  Whatever happened to nominating bloggers with talent that goes beyond picking out a pair of pants?

StyleLikeU: A completely unique video blog that showcase the style and individualism of those the creators find inspiring.  One glimpse and you’ll be hooked.  StyleLikeU has been turned into a book and the creators have traveled all over the (from NYC to Paris and beyond) to capture the style of everyday individuals (that aren’t paid by companies to wear their clothes). Below: Coury Combs from a StyleLikeU video post.

Nadia:  How do you even begin to describe a girl with taste so eclectic?  She’s a total individual, borrowing her style from history and yet creating something brand new.  The loveliest little video on her, featured a belt she bought as a child in DisneyLand and wears to this day.  Plus, she’s an amazing photographer.

I really REALLY could go on forever and ever, and quite frankly doubt anyone at Bloglovin’ will ready this but I hope they do.  When you champion the same-old-same over and over again, you lose relevance.  All of the blogs I’ve listed have  THOUSANDS of followers, subscribers and supporters.  What do they lack? C/O’s? It makes me think who actually came up with this list, bloglovin? It *almost*, dare I say, seems like your sponsors picked the nominees….

For something like the fashion industry, you’re risking quite a lot. And to be fair, the nominees all have great successful blogs, but hasn’t everyone noticed the overflux of ‘c/o’ items? Sure the blogging scene has changed.  What started out as a democractic, open reflection of ones style has morphed into yet another marketing vehicle for the big guys upstairs.  There’s nothing wrong with c/o. Getting a freebie here and there is great, but when every other item in your outfit was sent to you for free {and with the amount a person is sent, it seems ridiculous to think ‘they’d still buy it’: with that money exactly?}, how much style do you lose?  A lot, I think.  Sigh. I’m done ranting for the night.

What did you think of the nominees?