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How the hell is it possible to look like this woman??

740 replies

Tangled59 · 17/06/2018 19:52

OK I qas having that Sunday sadness feeling and now I'm feeling casually pissed off and jealous because I went on FB and an ad popped up featuring this woman (Tammy Hemsomething apparently).

How is it possible to look like this?! What I mean is is this the result of just working out or what? But how can she get her body fat down so low for the waist, but not on her bum or tits?!

OP posts:
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12
theyoniwayisnorthwards · 19/06/2018 13:45

I don’t think you are jealous and I don’t think you want to look like this woman. I do think it is sad and weird and nasty to rip apart her body and say she deserves it because she’s showing her body in public. I also think it’s fucking stupid to make assumptions about her character or her intelligence because of the way she looks.

Storm4star · 19/06/2018 13:50

I don't really understand why anything that's been said as negative is seen as envy! There are many female body shapes I would love to have! Her's is not one of them. One of my immediate thoughts would be how do you find jeans to fit a tiny waist with a huge bum. Seems like a clothes shopping nightmare. But presumably she manages. Some of us are allowed to just have different tastes you know. Doesn't mean it's envy.

theyoniwayisnorthwards · 19/06/2018 13:55

I don’t think it’s envy. It’s pointless hyper critical judgement which doesn’t serve anyone.

Her body is not what you find aesthetically pleasing, so what? I can see the value in a generalised debate about unrealistic expectations for women. I cant see any value in the tearing down of a specific individual. What’s the point?

Gretol · 19/06/2018 13:58

I said I've never met an interesting narcissist. I havent ripped apart her body either. I said she has huge fake boobs (correct) a tiny waist (correct) and a large arse (correct). I have no idea if she's the cleverest woman in Australia, she might be.

Gretol · 19/06/2018 13:59

I can see the value in a generalised debate about unrealistic expectations for women

I think that's what most posters are trying to say Confused

rosesandflowers1 · 19/06/2018 14:05

sadly yes. Did I miss something?

Well, I had a scroll through when I clicked on the link and didn't get a vibe of unintelligent or vain at all. I actually started following her and had a much closer look based on my scrolling and think she seems great. Maybe I missed something, but she appears lovely and confident and happy.

She owns a fitness app and does training courses so she's making money out of her interest in fitness/health/body training. It's a career for her as well as a way for her to get the body she'd like.

She's also clearly making money off of her Instagram fame. The majority of the pictures of just her are promos. So again, her posting on social media is a means of provision, not just because she likes pictures of herself - and in all honesty, I don't really buy into the idea that liking pictures you've taken of yourself = vain.

She's got pictures of herself at fundraisers and competitions, she's part of a fitness team. She's done teacher training courses for yoga which I was considering until I remembered how hugely inflexible I am

Also, she clearly adores her children and it was a nice reminder for me to do more things with my own, even if they are a lot older.

Clearly she's got her life sorted out and she seems like a perfectly nice person.

Storm4star · 19/06/2018 14:07

I think I said in one of my pp that I'm not saying anything negative targeted towards her as an individual. I just dislike the whole current trend of people displaying these kinds of pictures on social media. For me that's the "whats the point?" question. Why are they even doing it? I have a daughter and she has no interest in taking these kinds of pictures, which I'm very glad about. Yes she's done a few pouty selfies on FB but fully clothed! I personally (and yes it's just my opinion) do not think either the practice of distorting your body shape, and/or then displaying it on social media is healthy. I just don't.

Gretol · 19/06/2018 14:13

I personally (and yes it's just my opinion) do not think either the practice of distorting your body shape, and/or then displaying it on social media is healthy. I just don't

It isn't.

rosesandflowers1 · 19/06/2018 14:20

Why are they even doing it?

Well in her case, it's making her a lot of money Grin Social media can be a big business.

As a general rule I think that firstly, people just like having pictures of themselves and their families and friends. They always have done. Personally I'd think sitting for days on end for a portrait or the original and ardous process for a photograph would be counted as more vain than a selfie. Selfies are quick and easy and you can do them yourself and the vast majority of the population have the tool for it - a phone. We're seeing a rise in accessibility and ease, not demand.

Secondly I think as a society we're beginning to reject "modesty culture." Somewhere around the 20th century it became uncool to like yourself, especially if you're a woman. The heroine of every love story doesn't know her own worth until the hero tells her. Low self esteem became an attractive character trait. "You don't know you're beautiful... that's what makes you beautiful." But now people (especially the younger generation) are beginning to value self worth and love over self depreciation. Hence a rise in selfie culture, posting your accomplishments and things that make you happy, etc. etc.

It's also just kind of a social norm. Social media is so big now. Before you would perhaps tell people these things, or show them photos. Now, you post it.

Gretol · 19/06/2018 14:34

But now people (especially the younger generation) are beginning to value self worth and love over self depreciation. Hence a rise in selfie culture

Wow. Do you have teens?

rosesandflowers1 · 19/06/2018 15:05

Do you have teens?

Yes, two. A daughter and a son.

But this isn't just based on them (though it is noticeable). Interacting with young people, especially online, will show you that much.

whywhywhywhywhyyy · 19/06/2018 15:11

Her sink is very bendy, is all I'm going to say...

IcedPurple · 19/06/2018 16:26

Secondly I think as a society we're beginning to reject "modesty culture." Somewhere around the 20th century it became uncool to like yourself, especially if you're a woman.

Huh?

It's always been acceptable for women to flaunt themselves... provided of course they were young and conventionally hot, and prepared to be photographed half-naked. What this woman is doing is entirely within traditional norms for women and is in no way shape or form challenging conventional ideas. Quite the opposite.

Not that it's her job to do so. Equally, it's not our job to say she deserves praise if we don't believe she does.

rosesandflowers1 · 19/06/2018 17:36

What this woman is doing is entirely within traditional norms for women and is in no way shape or form challenging conventional ideas. Quite the opposite.

It was always acceptable for women to look attractive as long as they didn't cross the line marked "slutty", yes - which I'd argue that in some ways, this picture does. Certainly some previous reactions from posters have suggested so.

But more importantly, women flaunting themselves in the past very rarely were doing this entirely for the reason that they liked the way they looked. Or at least, they weren't perceived as doing so.

Women are posting pictures of themselves online. A lot of the time they're not making money, these are self-taken pictures, they're in a bathroom, they're alone. These pictures are often taken for the sole reason of "I look good" and there's an increasingly outspoken number of women openly rejecting the concept that these pictures are taken for men's appreciation.

Have you seen the experiments where the women agree with compliments they're given online? The reactions are incredible. These women are not "modest", that much is clear. The women look good, and many of them are posting them simply because they like looking good and other people seeing so too. In older times, women who had similar pictures distributed in a public fashion were making money from it - an acceptable, though stigmatised reason, and it was often perceived as for the attentions of men.

They also weren't taken by the women themselves. Lots of women didn't really have a choice in the matter in a commercial context (and honestly I think modelling, films etc. is the only thing comparable to social media in this sense.) So women weren't often deciding which picture looked good or even to take them.

But as you can see from this thread, there's an increasing awareness that women are taking pictures simply because they like their bodies and want to post the photograph so other people can see. Which doesn't digest well.

rosesandflowers1 · 19/06/2018 17:43

Not that it's her job to do so.
Also I think this is really really important. It isn't this woman's job to reject expectations of women. Firstly, that's impossible. Secondly, it's ludicrous and limiting to expect women to work as a hive mind against expectations that they voluntarily - or, in some cases involuntarily, fit into.

Gretol · 19/06/2018 17:46

She hasn't taken these pics herself and she's had plastic surgery to make her body utterly conventionally sexually attractive. I'm struggling with the modern empowerment argument

Grandmaswagsbag · 19/06/2018 17:50

What are you on about? They are making money from pictures of themselves, you said so before. And if you love your body, why do you need to post pictures of it? Who are you seeking validation from? If anything the whole culture around pictures of women and portrayal of female bodies has got worse, not better, because it’s dressed up as some sort of ‘self love’ act. Bollocks, you are either making money like these instagram stars or you are seeking some sort of validation. I love my body, I think it’s totally bangin, but I’ve never felt the need to post a picture of it so everyone else can see how great it is because why would they care? I have a dd and I do really worry about the influence of Instagram and selfie culture. I was recently on holiday and we were in the pool as a family. Another family came in with 2 teen kids. The girl (guess about 14) fluffed up her hair and got in the pool and then proceeded to pose in her bikini whilst getting her younger brother to take pictures of her, obviously to upload to Instagram, then got out again. I thought why the fuck can’t you just enjoy a swim, why do you have to bring a phone to the swimming pool?!!! Jesus if that was my daughter I’d be completely mortified. That is not empowering.

IcedPurple · 19/06/2018 17:57

It was always acceptable for women to look attractive as long as they didn't cross the line marked "slutty", yes

Oh I dunno. The "sluttiness" was always pretty attractive for men. The "sluttier" the better, often.

*They also weren't taken by the women themselves."

It seems like a pretty obscure point, but do you seriously think all those online 'selfies' really are that? I suspect qutie a few of them are professional photos, but of course the "Oh here's me just taking a casual snap of myself in my knickers in the bathroom" thing sells better.

But as you can see from this thread, there's an increasing awareness that women are taking pictures simply because they like their bodies and want to post the photograph so other people can see.

They 'like their bodies' because they conform to conventional ideas of what a good female body should be. Will they 'like' their bodies when they're 50, I wonder?

  • Secondly, it's ludicrous and limiting to expect women to work as a hive mind against expectations that they voluntarily - or, in some cases involuntarily, fit into."

Eh.... I was responding to your point that there is something 'modern' about what this woman and her ilk are doing. There isn't. She's a hot young woman posing almost naked and making sure that as many people as possible see her posing almost naked. Kind of baffles me that you think this is somehow modern or groundbreaking.

IcedPurple · 19/06/2018 18:00

She hasn't taken these pics herself and she's had plastic surgery to make her body utterly conventionally sexually attractive. I'm struggling with the modern empowerment argument

Yeah me too. Young blonde woman poses in her knickers. This could be the 1970s, if not long before that.

Gretol · 19/06/2018 18:01

Maybe I'll take some selfies of my post menopausal saggy body in my m and s undies and see how many followers I get. It could be really empowering!

SluttyButty · 19/06/2018 18:02

Do you know what springs to mind Grand ?
It's the same type of pretend empowerment that you get from mlm hunbots with all their hashtags of bossing it and whatever.

As said many,many comments ago, I am fed up of what the selfie culture is doing to our young. Fortunately my 18yr old daughter had a brief dalliance with it at about 13 and then got her head together and pressed on with education. My 13 yr old son however has had food issues and thinks he's fat after seeing people on YouTube talking about weight and fad diets (this has now been dealt with and better controls put on internet access).

How can we as a nation on one hand be imploring young women to get into STEM and on the other saying it's ok to pose scantily clad for the purpose of likes, flattering comments and to make money. This is not progress for women.

Gretol · 19/06/2018 18:04

I recommend watching the movie Ingrid Goes West. Very funny on the #instatag culture #blessed #makingmemories #kalesmoothie

happinessischocolate · 19/06/2018 18:09

As a PP said it's real not photoshop, my DD follows her on Instagram, I think she's had bum implants but the rest is from going to the gym.

My DDs figure is similar actually and is all real, I think there's a lot of envy on this thread

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 19/06/2018 18:12

Why do people persist with insisting it's envy?

How difficult is it to understand that many of us just don't find this body attractive in any way.

IcedPurple · 19/06/2018 18:13

If she's had arse implants then it's not 'real' is it?

And she's hardly going to reveal what 'enhancements' she's had on her instagram, is she?

Anyway, the 'realness' or otherwise is beside the point for me anyway. If you think devoting a very high proprotion of your waking hours to achieving that particular figure is 'enviable' that's up to you. Some of us have different priorities.