Size 18 "Praised for Beautiful Body"

[SpicyMoth]

I don't really want this to become a thread about whether it's "okay" or not, or about whether the body positivity movement is good or bad because it almost doesn't matter at this point - at least not in terms of what I wanted to get your opinions on, I want to ideally keep this as light-hearted as possible!

Is it just me that has noticed plus sized models you see in the main stream ALSO have unattainable bodies/characteristics?
There's always been a lot of talk about unrealistic beauty standards and unattainable physiques in older school modelling understandably, but it feels like Plus Sized models aren't talked about as much as also featuring those things.

Like... Let's be real here, the majority of size 18's will not have this type of figure.

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/real-life/size-18-model-praised-beautiful-31256311?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=star_main&fbclid=IwAR1_4e0oUBOCTYu8QL622OaP_pFhP2rp55zBCmT_mQr_kD7NW2WwjNg7uVA

Where fat decides to put itself varies from woman to woman. I've been out and about in the real world, it's SO rare to come across someone with extra weight in literally all the "right" places in real life - And that of course not to say that they don't exist, just that having an absolutely perfect hourglass figure with no lumps or bumps or extra rolls/creases is not the norm in real life!

Has anyone else noticed this?

Note; I do have to give credit to some online retailers who do a good job of getting a wide range of shapes as well as sizes!

It's a reaction to the anorexia pushing 90's though isn't it. Just as life threatening and terrible for people's mental health trying to be stick thin.

Promoting healthy is key. Not size.

It's the same for slim models though as well isn't it, their bodies invariably conform to the same standard- tall, long legs, certain proportions; its a wider issue in modelling really. Models bodies are invariably chosen to be aspirational even though they're unobtainable no matter how much someone diets/has surgery- same is the case with plus size models.

As a health care professional I’m quite uncomfortable about the body positive ‘sexy & beautiful at any size’ message promoted at the moment!

You're brave! I do think it's tricky though as of course people who are overweight shouldn't be seen as lesser and should be empowered to feel confident etc, but it shouldn't be an excuse to neglect health to the point it becomes an issue. Not sure of the answer really, most people know if they're overweight and many do try and address it even if they herald the inclusion of more visibility for overweight women- invariably there's more going on than just being able to eat less and there isn't really any support in this country.

Agree.
This woman is still being valued only for her appearance, which seems to happen much more to women than men.
How many times has a woman been told by some obnoxious, oversensitive git that they're not fanciable anyway (or some other such 'devastating' putdown), because as far as some people are concerned we are only good for decoration or entertainment.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I know a few women who have competed as bodybuilders, very strong very muscular women.

You should hear some of the repulsive things said about them.

And yes, they have unrealistic bodies- the time and work that’s gone into looking the way they do at competition time isn’t even sustainable for them.

But having moved so far from what is seen as conventionally attractive for a woman seems to allow so many people to openly call them disgusting.

Beauty standards are really narrow. If you chose to make a living fitting into them that’s up to you but I hate companies who celebrate “real women” but only by saying “it’s ok, blokes will fancy you as well! Even though you look like that!”

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be attractive but it’s not the be all and end all of being a woman.

I can’t speak for these models but definitely know people in real life who have surprisingly flat-ish stomachs despite being very plus sized and relatively slim faces like Ashley Graham.

Maintaining the look of a “regular” model definitely does not require being healthy - and very often it involves anorexia, bulimia and suppression of diet through coke and other harmful substances. Many of them also have cosmetic enhancements not sure why you’re singling out plus sized models? They’re no more artificial or airbrushed than other models.

We need to remember skinny or even slim does not equal healthy.

The problem in the 90s was pushing excessively skinny as the standard. I’d argue that fat shaming was worse then. People would put on a bit of weight and the tabloids would go wild. I knew slim girls with curvy bodies who would be slammed for having a “fat ass” in school/college. You had to be skinny and straight up and down. Even Tyra Banks (and other judges) who was quite curvy herself would make unflattering comments about slightly curvy contestants on Americas Top Model in the early noughties. Very few plus sized models back then and most shops didn’t cater for plus sized.
Yes, concerns eventually began to be raised at the sheer level of emaciated and gaunt looking models walking down the catwalk, but that was the correct thing to do IMO. I really don’t see how that can be called skinny shaming. And I say that as someone who was a size 6 -8 in the 90s/noughties. Many of these models have since spoken out to reveal how unhealthy their diet was to get to that size, so it wasn’t just a simple case of that was their natural figure. Things have surely improved since then.

I’m not necessarily advocated for everyone and all models to be plus sized but we don’t need a return to the 90s either.

The problem about going on about the health outcomes of living with obesity is that feeling ashamed and judged of our large bodies doesn't actually help us eat nourishing food and stay/get active.

As a very large person who desperately wants to go into my 40s at a healthy weight, concerned about mobility and wider health problems - trying to stay active but struggling with impulse control/habits/emotional binge eating...

Seeing larger people represented in media is not so much about celebrating the fact of being large, it's about still being seen as people rather than a before picture - not waiting to be skinny (which may never happen) to live our lives, to love and be loved. Accepting the reality of where we are, rather than hiding away from the world because we feel unacceptable and eating our feelings.

There's lots of unhealthy, self destructive behaviours and lifestyles - it just so happens that when you overeat it is so visible to other people and it is such a lagging indicator that even when you have months of eating well and being active, you can still look like someone's idea of "unhealthy" whilst the slim for now folk could be eating fast food and sweets and it just doesn't show yet.

And that's before you get to all the obesogenic environment /society stuff that is out of our control. Dr Chris van Tulleken's book on ultra processed people is good on that side of things.

Excellent post, @Fukuraptor

I'm talking about all men in public eye. Actors, etc.

Is there a female equivalent to Mick jagger?

That's a carefully posed photo. IRL those bikini bottoms would roll down under her belly fat. (Source: also have belly fat)

Kind of, in that female recording artists that established themselves can still perform and be in the public eye for decades.

In rock music, women haven't achieved as much as men.

Why does everyone, whatever their size, squeeze themselves into clothes that are clearly a size too small these days? See it all the time.
Those white knickers in particular are just too small. Bet they’re bloody uncomfortable and do t look nice at all.

Skimming is far more attractive than clinging.

More comfortable too.

But they are valid comments

I'm a UK 16/18, and she is bigger than me. A US 18 is at least 1, maybe 2 sizes bigger.

Fat is not attractive to the majority of people. It's just not, male or female. It does cause health problems. I am fat, I am trying to lose weight because I hate it

Me too. Have gone from 8 stone to over 12. I'm small boned. My knees hurt and my shoulders have lost mobility.
Carrying extra weight as you age may be big but it's not clever.

I mean it's very unhealthy to be so large and I don't think it's OK to glorify it, and clearly she looks normal not gorgeous. Weird pants!
I don't believe inclusive means lie, just accept most people look fine and very few great. Size 6 also looks bad.

Overweight women are definitely deemed to be more acceptable if they have bigger boobs / their boob to stomach ratio is larger to smaller. Weight is such a tricky one. I think we live in a time where most of us feel - rightly or wrongly - too busy / overwhelmed / exhausted to do the right things re eating and exercising. I always say it takes a lot of effort for the majority of us NOT to be overweight in this consumerist and over processed food led society.

I always say it takes a lot of effort for the majority of us NOT to be overweight in this consumerist and over processed food led society.

I'm guessing we are dealing with basically chemical addiction that is advertised to us everyday. I suspect wheat may be an addiction issue as well as refined sugar.

*Beefcurtains79 · Today 06:09

Most plus size models have lipo on certain areas, it’s all a scam. Agencies like them to have: Chin lipo - no double chins allowed. Waist lipo, upper arm lipo and often lipo round the knee area.
Its just as unrealistic and contrived as size zero models*

Dd is a US size 0 /00 (uk 2/4) and very tall

Anyone I think can be her size. They just need a job that involves walking/fast walking/running for 12-16 hours per day. Her phone has her step count as anything between 25,000 to 55,000 steps per day
Then you too can eat anything you want and be slim without dieting or starving yourself

I don’t agree that you never see women this shape IRL, I’ve seen a good few at the pool over the years. They can look good in a swimsuit and like a pile of cushions once they get dressed for the daily grind - if you don’t see them near naked you wouldn’t look twice.

Usually they are young and pre-children. I don’t think you can get back there by losing weight from a much larger size.

I also think the current trend of massive tits/bum and tiny waist is equally as damaging as unrealistic plus side models and very thin models. It's a look that is unachievable without surgery.

How old is she? This used to be me (although not tall). Now I weigh more but do more exercise , I eat the same.
Do people (without eating disorders) want to be that size? I used to think so.

@SpicyMoth It should be about health, not size or weight. Whether it’s overweight or underweight neither is healthy. Why isn’t healthy more admired and aspired to? Eating healthy, creating healthy habits, good sleep, fresh air, self care and working out. You may not lose vast amounts of weight but your insides will appreciate it.

I think it's inevitable that models will be attractive people.

I also think it's fine that models have a variety of bofy types. To me that's practical. Their job is to show what clothes look like, and if you area heavy person, or a tall skinny person, it is nice to be able to see what clothes will look like on you. Most models aren't the ones on the big catwalks, they are in advertising, catalogues, where the emphasis is trying to see what you want to purchase. That's more the case now with online shopping too.

Personally, as a culture, I think there should be a line drawn around cosmetic surgical procedures. Mainly because they are a health risk and the benefits only really exist because it becomes a sort of competition. That's an issue for all models though.

In terms of successful older women singers? Yes, I think so.

In terms of being considered a sex icon? I don't think MJ is these days really, but it would be fair to say that he probably was well into his 60s. As a young man he was quite attractive, maybe not conventionally, but he had an interesting symmetrical face and a boyish quality to his looks. There are lots of women like that.

Where you see a difference in the "middle aged" and older category. I don't think this is a socialized difference though. It's not society being "unfair" to women. I think in general, it reflects that women find different things sexually attractive than men do.

Is there a female equivalent to Mick jagger?

In what way?
Maybe Debbie Harry? Dolly Parton?