AIBU to question what people mean by calling someone (Hannah Waddingham) a real woman?

[WorldCupWillie]

A few stories about Hannah Waddingham over the last day or two. Cue a lot of real woman/all woman comments. From men and women. What do they mean? That she's not trans? That she's never had work done?

I mean, Susan Boyle, Mary Beard, Kathy Burke, Jo Brand are "all woman"/real women, as real as Hannah. But nobody would say that about them.

I wasn't 100% sure who she was so googled. I think she is what they call 'Statuesque'.

She looks good to me. I like her hair colour.

I didn't know her but on an image search in this context I'd say it means she's an hourglass figure, not skinny, with big boobs and a noticeable belly.

Yes, a way of seeking validation. It would be more positive to start a thread on different beauty types, but hurt people lash out. Just guessing.

You don’t get out much do you?

I can't say that I've seen this. Did you ask the people saying it what they meant?

Tbf I absolutely love the Warrior Woman look and also have seen it on a Pakistani friend (actor, not in the UK). She has fiery eyes, jutting cheekbones, and a jawline that could slice through a drawbridge. #swoon

I don’t know who she is, but it usually refers to someone overweight, with no visible muscular ‘tone’

That's what it means in my neck of the woods also,

I'd take it to mean curvy and statuesque- see also Christina Hendricks, Penny Mordaunt.

I always think they mean she’s a real woman , strong , forthright and takes no shit , a compliment as well as physically striking .

I can't believe we're looking at the same person. To me, she's strong, beautiful and very feminine!

She’s just been on this morning so loud and irritating I had to switch off.

I don't bother wondering about what idiots say

She’s voluptuous, tall and I would imagine gives off a very strong presence

Give over. This (photos pending) isn’t curvy? She looks amazing and I’m not calling her big. But by beauty fashion standards, she is. And that’s what people mean by it. It’s an awful phrase.

It’s an extremely annoying phrase, usually uttered by men. Essentially meaning large breasts and hips, but with a small waist.
Interestingly my mum asked me once if HW was a trans woman.

I think it means curvy but without having had surgery. Cause those of us with small boobs and hips aren’t ’real women’, obvs. 🙄

And she does have good muscle tone. First time I saw her was in Ted Lasso and I looked at her arms and shoulders and thought ‘there’s a woman who does weights and yoga’. She’s really attractive IMO.

Ronaldo thread.

I don't know.

My guess would be because she's what would once have been called 'statuesque' or 'Junoesque' - in other words, not petite and fragile (not obese either, I hasten to add) but tall, strong-looking and confident - like a goddess.

Now I don't mean I think HW is a goddess!! I just mean that's the physical type she seems to be - think 'Statue of Liberty'.

I keep seeing this. I think it’s a way for them to express their own personal preference ie that an ‘attractive woman’ is buxom, curvy, hourglass, feminine, blonde, wears makeup etc etc etc. A sort of Marilyn type. I also think they believe it sounds positive - ‘I love curves’ but it sounds like flat chested or thin women aren’t proper women to them.

I think MM was a totally different type, both physically and in image.

She was quite petite as well as curvy, but always looked soft - I think she didn't always wear a bra etc. I know there's a myth that she was a size 16, but this is not true. Also her image was ditsy (horrible word) and fluffy. HW looks tough and a bit scary.

I think the only common ground between HW and MM is that they're now blondes! Otherwise they couldn't be more different.

I don’t think we do see all shapes and sizes now. Apart from in comedic roles.

The weird thing is, the people you have listed are very much "real," strong, talented and capable women. I'd say Hannah has more in common with them that not.

I’ve just googled her. Clearly ‘all woman’ means a woman in the public eye who isn’t a very slight build.

Same, I think she’s fantastic. Looks fantastic & I love her personality.

You might be right now that I think about it.
I still think it’s better now than in the nineties/ 2000s though. I was a size fourteen at the time and the amount of stick I got for it 🙄
Remember peoples’ reaction to Sophie Dahl when she was modelling?
It’s obviously not a good thing that so many people are obese now ( including me) but it was brutal back then if you were overweight.
Clothes shops mostly stopped at size fourteen.
People were often really openly rude about it.
I remember the woman who measured me for my school skirt telling me I should lose weight.
My mum was constantly on some weird fad diet involving beetroot or cabbage water or something, joining new keep fit classes and other than that living on pro plus, slim fast and cigarettes.