A beauty pageant winner embraces her (slight) curves.
Apparently, I am fat. At least this would be the assessment of a writer of a major, nationally recognized news daily that provided their professional opinion revealing Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox are packing some extra pounds.No matter that at 5’ 8” and 132 pounds (+/- a few), most consider me on the smaller side. In the eyes of the journalist-I am even bigger than these women.
Incredibly beautiful ladies over forty, Aniston and Cox who are by all accounts, gorgeous, made the silly mistake of opting for healthy, toned bodies. At the event in question both women looked stunning in my eyes.
When I read the piece I wasn’t just a little bit mad, I was furious. Three things immediately came to mind: 1) I am larger than both these women; 2) I am not fat; and 3) This has got to stop.
The news article served to me as an example of the power opinions have in pushing women to the brink (recent photos of Rachel Zoe come to mind). So much so the fashion writer fell into the very abyss which women are so desperately fighting to get out of; the never ending cycle of not good enough.
Well there is one thing the writer didn’t counted on. Me. I am pushing back.
Women over forty represent the largest segment of the population in this country. We make the decisions about what to purchase and from whom. Most importantly, we wield the power to squash the “thin is always in” concept with our opinions and pocketbooks. We are in a position to put influence and change the standard.
Instead of looking in the mirror and lamenting the “flaws” (read: curves, which, in reality are the design specifications of the female form), I am embracing this body of mine. And I am speaking up against the ridiculous bias against women for looking like women.
Am I going to work out? Of course I am. Heart disease runs in my family. I want to keep myself as healthy as possible, and maintain a life of balance and harmony.
