Super Skinny Beware! Bigger is Officially Better

People Magazine and US weekly both feature 100+ pound weight loss stories without surgery or gimmicks! I’ll talk more about People on Monday but today I want to let you all know that “size zero” models will no longer be used in advertisements for many of your favorite products. Also, People magazine just last week featured some of the biggest names in modeling right now, all who were healthy bodied and sexy, none of the waif likes.

So does this mean the size zero trend is no longer socially acceptable? There has been a huge push for saving the planet and how to prevent global warming lately, but have you really seen a change? It’s easy for celebrities to push their beliefs on us normal folk, but how often do we listen? For once, the people have spoken and bigger is better once again thanks to the social responsibility the industries have taken.

From advertisers, to gossip magazines, to even celebrities like Jennifer Hudson, Ugly Betty’s America Ferrera and Rachel Ray we are begun to see a change in how the size zero is perceived as unattractive is sickly looking (if it is unnatural and from starvation). Some may say it was never acceptable, but we’ve seen Kate Bosworth and Lindsey Lohan go from muscle, to stick skinny to healthy. At one point, admit it or not, being a size sub-zero was trendy (thanks Rachel Zoe).

Consumer goods giant Unilever chose on it’s own to no longer use models whose BMI is lower than 18.5. On the opposite end of the spectrum, they will not be using models who are above 25. The range between the two numbers is what the United Nations considers healthy.

Here is what the president of Unilever had to say, “"It's a response to growing societal concerns about the possible negative health effects that could occur should people pursue unhealthy or excessive slimness. Unilever believes in a healthy balanced diet and that both men and women have the right to feel comfortable with their bodies and not suffer from lack of self-esteem brought on by images of excessive slimness."

Can I get a “thank god”? Fashion designer are even trying so hard to make it look like they support full bodies that they’ve tried to bring back the most unflattering pants so that even Mischa Barton looks fat. See for yourself Do you guys think this trend is going to catch on anywhere else like in movies or reality tv shows? I think it’s a great idea! It can be called Nicole’s Law 

May 11, 2007

Curvy celebs, the new

Skinny stars are no longer all the rage in Hollywood. Beyonce, Tyra Banks, Jennifer and Hudson have all recently been embraced for their curvaceous bodies and are even gracing the covers of fashion bibles, like Vogue.

In USA Today, there is a great article that illustrates the recent change in attitude towards women who fall short of the size 2.
Says Reed Krakoff, Coach creative director and vice president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America: "We've gone through a period where there has been a lot of focus on women who are too thin. There was a trend toward the very thin, and now there's a trend toward more shapely. People's perception of what's beautiful and acceptable on the red carpet is evolving, and it's great that girls can see different kinds of role models with different body types."

The article also praises America Ferrera, Scarlett Johansson, Liv Tyler and Kate Winslett who earn praise for their fuller figures than the Nicole Richies. These women earn praise from magazines for defying the Hollywood pressure to be stick thin, while Kate Bosworth and Mary Kate Olson are always being questioned with eating disorders.

Jennifer Garner, Eva Mendez and Mandy Moore are also cited in the article for being positive influences in the Industry. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. Maybe we are so focused on It girls, and trying to create problems for celebrities who seem to have perfect lives that we obsess about their weight to create the illusion of imperfection. After reading this article, I realized there are a lot of famous actresses who defy the size 0 and 2 image, but why did I ever forget? Here is the link, check it out. What do you think about the article?





Stars carry curves with confidence

February 19, 2007