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2 things I hate:

1- this perception in society/media that to be beautiful you must be skinny, and people are put under a lot of pressure to meet this model of "beauty"

2- further to this, SIZE 12 is now considered PLUS SIZED!!!


If plus sizes start at size 12 now then I, as a size 14 (occasionally 16), must be a lard arse! (despite the fact I'm right in the middle of the healthy weight range for my height)

Mum's "friend" has also been pissing me off lately. Every woman he sees on TV who isn't a size 6, he says "Geez, she's a bit of a heffer" or "look at the size of that arse" or "she's piled on the weight lately" (this last comment he made of a woman who was 3 months pregnant, not accepting that as an excuse)

One thing I have found heartening though is the few fashion shows lately who have featured "real women" - these so called "plus sized" models. Still a long way to go though - not only are they still considered plus sized, but there has (unbelievably) been controversy and outcry about it!!!

Apparently this woman is plus sized: "Glamour" model

Let's go back to movie stars like Marilyn Monroe - she was a size 14-16, which is the average size of Australian women now - and who wouldn't want a figure like Marilyn?

*sigh* sorry to vent to you guys like this, but people just make me feel like screaming sometimes xp People should feel comfortable in their own bodies whatever size or shape they are. There is no single definition of what is beautiful. Everyone is beautiful in their own way, and I know how damaging this pressure to conform to a societal ideal of "beauty" can be to someone's self esteem and self image. *hugs all round!!*

I've never met most of you guys, but I know you'd all be gorgeous in your own ways. Chee and Forever, I know for a fact, are both stunning 3nodding heart hope you all feel warm and fuzzie now.

~ ^ * Smile. You're Beautiful * ^ ~

Don't Worry - Be Happy smile

...~looks down at self~
...
~looks at picture~
...
~looks at size 12 clothing~

No, see, I'm a bit chubby. The "plus size" models are what we call 'Nor-mal Peo-ple.'

Now if only the fashion industry would believe this.

Next time I come round to your place (steph and I plan to organise another movie/video game day at some stage) I shall bring day of the triffids with me (so long as I remember xp )

whee Did you watch 'The Blob' when you came round, we can dig that out lol

The Glamour model has a smaller stomach when sitting down than I do, and I'm a size 2. If she's plus-sized, then I'm obese.

The only valid thing I could see them criticizing her for is the way her skin sits on her stomach. Maybe she just had a baby or maybe she just lost a lot of weight far too quickly for her body to adapt; skin just doesn't fold over that way at age 20 without having being changed too quickly, in whatever direction.

I'm all for real beauty campaigns, but a lot of them have huge problems. I read somewhere that Dove actually airbrushes the women they use in their "real beauty" commercials... what the heck! I think we have a long way to go if the only way we can use "real" women in an advertisement is to airbrush them. D:

The saga continues.

"Two members of knitwear designer Mark Fast's team were so furious about curvier women showcasing his designs that they walked out on the project"

the supposed "plus-sized" models: 3 girls, sizes 12-14

Take a look at the photo that accompanies this article. The woman at the front of the line is *gasp* a size 12!

Does she look "plus sized"?

i don't think so!

But then again, these 2 pricks who quit over the hiring of "fuller girls" would probably call me Gigantor!

What idiots! I hope they become obese when they're elderly, so they can see what fat really means firsthand. talk2hand

there was a girl at my school who we were always trying to encourage to eat. she was sooooo skinny. there wasn't an ounce of fat on her. Her body was kind of in starvation mode, so she didn't get her period till she was 16! (nearly 17!!) because her body just wasn't healthy enough to support even her, let alone a child. She had bad skin because she was malnourished (and so wore enough makeup for three people). She came to school one day having not had time to do her makeup. She looked really ill. Her hair was really thin and dry, her nails were really brittle and thin, and she was always tired.

And you know what makes it worse? Since finishing school she has joined a modelling agency - who have hinted that she needs to lose 5-10kg (about 10-20 pounds). She doesn't have that weight to lose. The only way she could manage it is if she cut off one of her arms! Last time I saw her, she was about an australian/european size 6 (American size 4) but I've heard from mutual friends that she is now more like a size 4 (american size 2).

And the ironic part . . . she works at McDonalds and has done for about 6 years. Guess she doesn't eat there though.