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It's sad to know that there are people out there who care so much about looks and a few extra pounds. No wonder so many people feel insecure about their looks. But if anything makes shallow people look ridiculous, it's this article!

"More than 5,000 people were kicked off BeautifulPeople.com for losing their looks over the holiday season.

The online dating site, which has a strict ban on ''ugly people'', said it had thrown out more than 5,000 members from around the world who had put on weight.

Most of the ''former beauties'' were expelled from the US, UK and Canada.

According to BeautifulPeople.com, ''vigilant members'' called for drastic action after users posted photos of themselves celebrating Christmas and the New Year - revealing they had ''let themselves go''.

Managing director Greg Hodge said: ''We responded to complaints by moving the newly chubby members back to the rating stage. This is the same as having them re-apply.

''Their re-applications were reviewed by existing members and only a few hundred were voted back in. Over 5,000 were rejected.''

Robert Hintze, founder of BeautifulPeople.com, said: ''As a business, we mourn the loss of any member, but the fact remains that our members demand the high standard of beauty be upheld.

''Letting fatties roam the site is a direct threat to our business model and the very concept for which BeautifulPeople.com was founded.''

According to the site, managers have been kind in breaking the news to former members.

Each is said to have received an email encouraging them to re-apply when they are back to looking their best. They have also been sent details of recommended boot camps.

Potential applicants have to pass a rating process before they are accepted on to the site by existing members."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/relationships/6931387/Fat-people-kicked-off-dating-website.html

Thank goodness I am not the only one who found that to be ridiculous. I found this article in response to the situation:

"...Well, let me just say that the concept from which BeauitfulPeople.com was founded is shallow and self-deprecating, even dangerous. Equating thinness with beauty is a loaded metaphor that does a disservice to us all. Women and young girls are literally dying to be thin and beautiful around the world. In the U.S. today it is estimated that approximately 8 million people suffer from eating disorders, 7 million of which are women...

What if all the energy we directed at losing weight and being beautiful was directed at a different goal – say our education, careers, or families...."
http://www.care2.com/causes/womens-rights/blog/fatties-ousted-from-dating-website-5-000-members-cut-after-holiday-weight-gain/

I hate to spread the word about such an awful dating site in case anyone should actually join it. I'd hate to give them any business. But it's just too bizarre a story not to share, and it brings up some really important issues.