Described as Amazonian - is this an insult?

[bigkahunaburger]

So many times throughout my adult life I have had my figure being described as 'Amazonian' to my face. I never really understood what it meant, and it just happened again today. I actually asked the person this time what it meant, and they sort of fumbled about looked embarrassed and looked flustered and kept muttering things like, 'big' and 'strong presence'....and it all got a bit awkward. So I'm just curious - is this an insult? a compliment? Ive tried to google it and I'm none the wiser.

Does it mean I look overweight?

Deffo not a compliment, whichever way you look at it. Synonym for 'effing grenadier' in normal life, size 39 1/2 shoes, that sort of thing. Also a synonym for a bull d**e, I am afraid. I know people call me that behind my back, but I don't care.

I always thought of serena and venous as amazonian like. I thought it was a compliment.

It means to me strong, powerful, tall and beautiful. Striking and healthy. I have always been jealous of women like this because people sit up and take note. Not a dumpy wide person like me haha!

Quite agree!

I take it to mean strong, powerful, warrior woman. I think it can be meant as a real compliment, depends on the person who said it.

Tall, strong, powerful.

I wouldn't take it as an insult, not that shortarse me stands a chance of ever being called it

'effing grendier' - 😂Well jeez Im size 43 (9) so im royally fucked then. And I only wear Docs which means my feet look even bigger. I will be arsed if Im ever gonna wear heels to look more dainty and fem.

OP you've just described most men's ideal woman! I really think you see yourself a lot more negatively than everyone else does. Embrace your natural build and be proud of who you are.

I’m not sure how you can be chubby at 5ft 10 & BMI of 23?

Synonym for 'effing grenadier' in normal life, size 39 1/2 shoes, that sort of thing

How old are you because that doesn’t make sense. The average woman is a shoe size 6 😆😆

I hear you. My daughter is autistic and has zero filter (we have a LOT of conversations about unkind words etc). I think in her view my arms and legs are chunky and my boobs. So to her Im 'chubby'. Look I know Im not technically overweight but my body shape just means i have fat that goes on my thighs and arms. Its my shape. When I was 18 I was underweight and a size 6 (im now a 10) and I remember a guy in our group publicly saying how 'enormous' my arms were. Ive had people say that my legs, arms and boobs look like they belong to another person. My torso is very small in comparison Im not in proportion at all. Its a body shape thing. So I do get why someone might describe me as chubby. My best friend is a size 18, and I have fatter legs and arms than her.

I guess I just have a weird body!

Thank you you are very sweet. I feel rather ridiculous and self-absorbed even going on about this, but I am back on the dating scene again and its messing with my head!. Im 50 FFS.... I feel idiotic even angsting about this bollox. I had a massive meltdown before the date about what I was wearing as well and had to get a girlfriend round like I was a teenager which is rather cringing.
If it was anyone else I would be telling them to give their head a wobble and most men dont even have a bloody view on figures - they are just delighted to get naked with someone. So yeah, I think I just need to embrace it and start to love myself again (ex did a number on me for sure).

@EI12 I think it’s subjective.

I said upthread that I’ve described my tall DD as Amazonian and the person she resembles is Rod Stewart’s wife, Penny Lancaster. She’s not quite as tall, but same build and facially similar. Penny’s slightly older than me, but hardly unattractive! I don’t imagine she was ever considered what you describe!

It means you are tall, not overweight.

6.5 shoes isn't particularly big!

It just means tall, possibly big boobs and feet? I don’t think it’s derogatory but possibly a back handed compliment

If your natural BMI is say 19, then 23 could well look chubby. I know I would.

It's not just tall, strong, athletic IMO.
It's a certain size as well, eg as a PP says, Serena Williams. Or Olympic swimmers and rowers.

I don't think you'd call an Olympic high jumper Amazonian despite being tall, strong and athletic, as they are also very lean. Eilish McColgan - same. Tall and strong, not Amazonian IMO.

I've always seen it as meaning tall, well proportioned and attractive, so given you are tall, I'd say it's a compliment. I think my boss would fit the description well - she is tall, glamorous looking and certainly attractive.

I was called a amazonian warrior ..im 5ft lol...i think its because im forthright , strong willed, a fighter (as in for things that matter, injustuce etc) , slightly muscular...thats what i took from it.

Tall and powerful. If I've ever thought it about anyone, it's as a big compliment.

It’s about being in proportion.

So you have the elfin types- all slender and narrow and tall. Like petite but stretched to tall.
Then you have the farmer types, large framed- Broad shoulders, wide back and hips.

It sounds as though you are normally proportioned but on a larger scale. Not overweight, not skinny, totally normal, but tall and therefore wider to stay in proportion.

I’m similar but only 5’6. I’ve always looked stocky/overweight. My friend who had exactly the same waist bust and hip measurement but was an inch taller with narrower back looked like a goddess. She was more boob and less back, all on a slightly taller frame.

Subtle differences make a massive difference.

But Amazonian is a compliment. I’d lean into it and adopt a gimlet gaze and require a strong man to match.

Are you very talll and quite 'well covered '? I think it's an insult if you are as I have known it to mean stocky and tall and takes up a lot of space type way .

I hope you aren't and it isn't though

@boredybored Amazon were strong, athletic warriors though so presumably the description doesn’t mean unfit and overweight!

Tall, strong and muscular perhaps?

Yes, Hannah Waddingham popped immediately into my head.
She also has a fab attitude and takes no messing about from anyone 😁

No it’s a clumsy thing to describe anyone’s figure to them and generally should be avoided I think.
but I think it’s usually meant as a compliment, like kind of athletic / mythical Olympian sort of presence.