...Welcome to "The BodyStyle Conversation"......Come Join!

Emme and AMOENA partner together....

2011-09-15T18:04:00.000-07:00

I love Emme, always have since my days with Mode Magazine ~ What she stands for and how she lives in her body~ From her heart and soul for women ~ always including women with curves and I'm thrilled to share this new info on what Emme is getting involved next with Amoena their new spokesperson for our curves!

Check it out and see what's coming our way for foundations, lingerie and swimwear, ladies!!! - MJW

Announced - from NEW YORK,NY Sept. 8, 2011

image source: Pacific Coast News

At Fashion Week, products that combine beauty, function and "perfect fit" are sure show-stoppers. Amoena, the global leader in breast care product design and manufacturing, offers full-cup women one such show stopper with Amoena Mia and today announces that it has achieved another perfect fit. Amoena has partnered with the American supermodel, TV personality, mom and author Emme to promote the Amoena Mia lingerie collection. Together, Emme and Amoena will celebrate healthy living and feminine style that spans all sizes.

Check out their Catalogue and styles @ http://www.amoenamia.com.au/flip-book/Mia_catalog_core_collection_US/

"Emme caught our attention because of not only her iconic fashion status, but also the incredible work that she is doing to promote positive self image among women and girls. She encompasses everything we stand for as a brand," says Phillip Sporidis, President, Amoena USA.

Amoena has built its reputation as the industry leader because it understands a woman's needs and develops products that support the mind, body and soul of women worldwide. Emme is recognized globally as an advocate for positive body image and self-esteem. Through the partnership, they are sending a message to full-cup women—celebrate your curves and accentuate them with the bra collection offering support, comfort, unmatched style and perfect fit.

What's truly revolutionary about the collection is that Amoena Mia also responds to body temperature. Amoena incorporated its proprietary Comfort+ technology into each bra style. The temperature-equalizing material (placed in the center, frames and slings) absorbs excess body heat during a rise in temperature, reducing heat build-up where women tend to perspire most. Amoena originally developed its Comfort+ technology for its post-breast surgery products and has received wide acclaim for its application to products for all women.

Amoena's partnership with the supermodel comes on the heels of Emme launching EmmeNation—a new, multi-platform community created from Emme's professional and personal experiences. Emme designed the community to tap into a unique, current cultural and business opportunity—to encourage wholeness in a woman's typically stressed and segmented life through events, digital channels and other platforms.

"There is an incredible amount of synergy between the missions of Amoena and EmmeNation. I hope to awaken the magnificence inherent in every woman with EmmeNation, and Amoena celebrates that with the quality of its products," Emme says. "The construction and sophisticated style of the Amoena Mia collection is unmatched. It's obvious that the company understands what a woman truly needs and desires from her bra, as well as a trusted brand."

Available in a size range from band sizes 32-48 and up to a J cup (in certain styles), Amoena Mia is a uniquely sophisticated bra line. Each style helps accentuate a woman's curves, creating the ultimate silhouette. Accents like delicate galloon lace and finished embroidery create an elegantly sexy look, which typically is hard to find in larger cup sizes.

As brand ambassador, Emme will make appearances in key markets nationwide, appear in advertisements and consult with Amoena on current and future Amoena Mia line extensions, including Amoena Mia Swim, which launches in Spring 2012.

"Emme brings incredible value to the Amoena Mia brand, with her savvy fashion and merchandising expertise and her advocacy for women," Sporidis says. "We are honored to partner with such a reputable, trusted and genuine woman. We feel that Amoena has a revolutionary product, and Emme is a revolutionary figure."

View the new Fall 2011 Amoena Mia collection at www.AmoenaMia.com. Learn more about EmmeNation a www.EmmeNation.com.

...Welcome to "The BodyStyle Conversation"......Come Join!: BodyStyle Conversation: "Australia, Italy's Vogue ...

2011-07-27T23:01:00.000-07:00

...Welcome to "The BodyStyle Conversation"......Come Join!: BodyStyle Conversation: "Australia, Italy's Vogue ...: "Okay..here goes..... Here's a VERY 'interesting' article.... interesting.....That the writer thinks the size 10 and 12 women if considered ..."

BodyStyle Conversation: "Australia, Italy's Vogue Curvy, Stick Models & Plus-Size Models vs.The Multifaceted Model"

2011-07-27T22:08:00.000-07:00

Okay..here goes.....

Here's a VERY "interesting" article.... interesting.....That the writer thinks the size 10 and 12 women if considered a "forgotten woman" and that this category has another type of "body image issue" with the "stick" women and the "plus-size" women......Australia's journalism has written this this article for the WA Lifestyle Section....this week....There is a movement there for "The Multifaceted Model"....

Hell, I thought we were all women - But Jenna Clarke see's a "weight war" happening - In a world that creates body image issues, with more articles like this - Helpful? ....

Your thoughts??

Stuck in modelling limbo between stick-thin and plus-size

Written by Jenna Clarke for WAToday.com.au

Radio announcer Gemma Walsh is leading the 'multi-faceted-model' movement.

Over the past decade the gap between stick-thin models and their plus-sized counterparts has widened, leaving size 10 to 12 women in fashion purgatory.

Now as the weight war continues to rage in the modelling world, the forgotten women – the sizes 10 to 12 – are poised to rise from the ashes and pioneer the "multi-faceted model" movement.

According to models, agents and the fashion industry, "multi-faceted models" fit a size 10 or 12 dress and embody confidence, curves and congeniality.

They may not be as thin as their size six-to-eight colleagues or as voluptuous as their size 14 and above counterparts, but if they have charm, grace and assurance, Miss Universe crowns, catwalk shows and lucrative advertising campaigns are theirs ready for the taking.

Newly-crowned Miss Universe Australia, 20-year-old Perth model Scherri-Lee Biggs, said she struggled as a size 10 but found her niche with pageants as they encompassed more than regular modelling work.

"I'm quite 'hippy' for a model," said the 175-centimetre communications student turned beauty queen.

"For modelling I'm more of a size-10 bum. When I first started as a 17-year-old, it took me six months to get my head around it thinking 'its business and I'll find my avenue where my body image is supported rather than scrutinized' and I think I've found that now."

Perth modelling agencies have a propelled the careers of a number of multi-faceted models, including 21-year-old Sophie Sheppard, who is featured in a six-page Vogue Curvy fashion shoot in the July issue of Vogue Italia.

This was the same magazine that published a Special Size issue last month, which featured three full-figured models on the cover and maintains a website on the fashion bible's domain dedicated to raising awareness of curves and voluptuously versatile models.

The special issue increased Vogue Italia circulation figures by 20 per cent and even caught the attention of fashion designer and Louis Vuitton creative director Marc Jacobs, who attended the shoot and demanded to meet the models.

"It makes a difference when girls come to us with other skills, those who are more accomplished," Scene Model Management agent Anthony Harden said.

As well as Ms Sheppard's international portfolio, Mr Harden and the team at Scene also watch over the modelling career of radio announcer Gemma Walsh.

The agency signed the size-12 broadcasting graduate following last year's Every Body Counts parade at the Perth Fashion Festival.

"She's not just a girl that's come off the street and can photograph well, she's also got a lot of skills behind her as well," Mr Harden said.

"She also has an acting background so that was a big plus for her because of her confidence and her ability to do compere work, hosting, TV commercials and things like that she has a lot of skills in those areas.

"Girls like this can do shows, they can do compering, they can be ambassadors, they can land 'Faces of' campaigns. That is what is really happening at the moment with Gemma."

Ms. Walsh is an advocate for the multi-faceted model and, as well as hosting events around Perth, has booked a variety of modelling jobs for Myer, sass & bide and bridal boutiques.

"With a lot of modelling you have to portray a character, designers want certain looks for shows or photo shoots. They want to see different sides to your personality and different emotions and you need to tap into that," she said.

"You think of the Victoria Secret girls they are pure actresses up there, which is completely different to a designer show starring a 'coat hanger' coming down the catwalk in amazing clothes," she added.

"Australia seems to be a little behind the rest of the world, considering Italian Vogue just had three plus-size supermodels on the cover, yet we still need to have competitions and gimmicks to get the normal-sized girls out there. But at least we are doing something."

Plus SuperModel Fluvia Lacerda Sashay's Her way to the Top in Vogue Curvy - Read on....

2011-07-07T20:45:00.001-07:00

"Plus-Size Models: Move Over Gisele, Brazilian Bombshell Fluvia Lacerda Strikes a Pose for Vogue Curvy " from blogger Erica Watson for the Huffington Post

Photo Credit: Florian Sommet for Vogue Curvy

In a fashion industry that is obsessed with size, full-figured Brazilian model Fluvia Lacerdais showing the world that not only is bigger truly better, it's also marketable. 2011 has been proven to be an amazing year for Lacerda, and the plus size fashion industry as a whole. As mainstream fashion insiders argued the legitimacy of plus-sized fashion,Fluvia and her size 18 curves continue to break down the barriers of a thin-obsessed culture. Right now the Internet is buzzing about Fluvia's fashion spread with Vogue Curvy. I must say, it is one of the hottest fashion editorials that I have ever seen. She looks amazing, and it makes me proud to be a full-figured woman! Earlier this year Larceda, a native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and resident of America's fashion capital, New York City became the first (and only) plus sized model to grace the pages of Playboy Brasil.

In June, Full Figured Fashion Week celebrated those who have contributed to the plus size fashion industry and honored Fluvia as Commerical Print Model of the Year.

"The fact that I won this award is a major deal and I'm very passionate about my work, mostly because I feel that I represent the body image of many women," says Lacerda. "I'm not only a healthy woman, but one who wears a size 18 and am confident about it."

Since being featured on the cover of the 2007 Curves calendar, Fluvia has worked for an overabundance of well-known brands such as Torrid, Monif C., Igigi, Fashion Bug, Kmart, Bilka, Takko Fashions, and Eliza Parker. She has been featured in magazines such as Glamour, Latina, Bust and Plus Model Magazine.

Full-figured fashion has made significant strides over the past few years, and continues to earn much deserved credit and praise for positive body imagery for women. But I can honestly say that we still have a long way to go. Luckily, we have women like Fluvia who are willing to fight the good fight and let women like me know that we are beautiful, and we deserve the same style choices as our smaller counterparts.

I asked Fluvia how she feels about being an role model for plus size women and she said "I have an enormous passion for what I do. Being a plus size model to me means far more than just bringing a paycheck home. I love representing the women who live the same struggles as I do. Not only when it comes to dressing well but also facing criticism for been a big girl."

Thank you for representing us well Fluvia!

Check out her spread for Vogue Curvy here. Pictures Courtesy of Florian Sommet for Vogue Curvy, Playboy Brasil and Andre Schneider.

Follow Erica Watson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/EricaWatson &

http://www.ericawatson.com/

New website could boost body image in teen girls ...DailyDose.com

2011-05-16T08:22:00.000-07:00

New website could boost body image in teen girls

By Deborah Kotz, Globe Staff

Ask any teen-age girl if she's satisfied with her body, and chances are, she'll say no. Teen-age boys also experience body dissatisfaction that's probably rising with all those air-brushed abs and pecs gracing the covers of men's magazines. Researchers at Northeastern University recently evaluated a new free website for teens called BodiMojo with interactive games, diaries, and chat forums to see if it could help teens deal with body image issues.

They found the site may actually work -- at least among girls -- to boost body image. In a new study conducted on 178 male and female high school students from Boston-area high schools, the researchers found that teen girls who were randomly selected to use the website once a week for four weeks during a health class were more likely to experience better feelings about their body than those who were selected to stay in their regular health class. For the boys, though, no body image boost was seen.

"The girls who used the site generally felt better about their bodies," says study author Debra Franko, clinical psychologist at Northeastern. "These weren't enormous effects, but enough to see significant improvement."

As for the boys, they might need a different site that's less, well, girly. The Mojo Mood Cloud where teens can click on words that describe how they're feeling at the moment -- a favorite among the girls -- may not resonate with those who have a Y chromosome. Judging from the games my 13-year-old son likes, I'd say he'd rather shoot down those feeling words.

Franko says they're going to continue to tinker with the site and are working on developing a mobile app to be launched this summer.

While BodiMojo is designed to lower the risk of eating disorders, it also includes tons of information on nutrition, exercise, alcohol, sex, and drugs, since, Franko says, all of these things can play a role in a teen's self esteem, body image, and overall health.

Here's a piece from the new BodiMojo.com website ...

Your Body and You

Research shows that 8 out of 10 women will be dissatisfied with their reflection, and more than half may see a distorted image.

Speaking My Mind about Weighty Issues

By: Rebecca C., New York, 15

I’ve had some weighty thoughts on my mind lately, no pun intended. Like so many other teens, I’m inundated with images of airbrush pop divas and hunky muscle men who live flawless lives because of their perfect bodies. Today’s society is obsessed with body size, exerting enormous pressure to confirm to the ideal thinness of body weight.

But, girls, did you know that not so long ago, a skinny woman was considered unattractive, as if she didn’t take care of herself. In fact, during the Victorian era, the ideal body type for women was fleshy, pump, and full-figured.

I’m not saying that we should all sit on the couch and stuff our faces; but I am advocating for all of us to be comfortable with who we are – big, small, tall, short, dark or light. Being naturally skinny (or not) is not a better way of life, just like someone is a blond and someone is a brunette; one is not better than the other. And I’m sure that for every girl or guy who thinks of themselves too heavy, there is one who thinks themselves too light. And when you strive for a goal weight think of health, not stereotypical beauty. So there is hope for those who despair about their bodies: it’s an old saying, but true: It’s what’s on the inside that counts.

Skin and Size Differences? - Nothing - We are all the same!

2011-05-16T08:05:00.000-07:00

Meghan McCain Battles Glenn Beck Over Body Image
Updated: Friday, 13 May 2011, 11:46 AM EDT Published : Friday, 13 May 2011, 11:36 AM EDT

(EndPlay Staff Reports) - Meghan McCain, daughter of Arizona Senator John McCain, recently appeared "naked" in a PSA about skin cancer.
The ad related not wearing sunscreen to being naked and featured other well known faces such as singer Brandy, and former "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" actress Tatyana Ali – all who appear "naked" in the ad.
Watch the PSA at the bottom of the story.
The creative ad captured the attention of many, but most notably Fox TV personality, Glenn Beck; but not in a good way, The Huffington Post reported.
On Beck's show, the conservative host talked about the ad and McCain's appearance. He joked about her being "naked," and pretended to vomit every time he saw the picture of her. He did this for a full eight minutes, according to The Huffington Post.
"Put some extra clothes on. Like, lots of extra clothes … has she thought about a burqa, just to be extra safe," Beck commented.
The young McCain fired back at Beck's comments and even her mother, Cindy McCain, had something to say.
Defending her daughter, the senator's wife tweeted , "I'm so glad Glenn Beck is leaving Fox. Enough vitriol and hate. Glenn you are no rodeo clown. They are decent and nice. You aren't."
In Meghan's response to the ridicule, she took to her column for the Daily Beast , and had a few choice words to say.
The young McCain wrote, "There really is no need to make something like my participation in a skin cancer PSA into a sexist rant about my weight and physical appearance, because I'm going to let you in on a little secret, Glenn: you are the only one who looks bad in this scenario, and at the end of the day you have helped me generate publicity for my skin cancer PSA, a cause that I feel quite passionate about."
She went on to scold Beck about his comments on her weight and his negative views of body image, saying that he better be careful because he has daughters of his own. In addition, she suggested that his daughters call her when they face their own body image issues.

Watch Meghan McCain's skin cancer PSA .

Read more: http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpps/entertainment/meghan-mccain-battles-glenn-beck-over-body-image-dpgoha-20110513-fc_13180720#video#ixzz1MWntQ7bx

INSANE STUDY Claims Plus Size Models Equal Obesity Society with great BUST MAG post

2011-04-28T10:29:00.000-07:00

Ridiculous Study Claims Plus Size Models Equal Obese Society

Posted by: Kristina Uriegas-Reyes in Feminizzle on Apr 22, 2011

A new study from The London School of Economics and Political Science claims that plus-size models will increase obesity in the United States and Europe. Authors, Dr. Davide Dagone and Dr. Laura Savorelli, write that, “Given that people are on average overweight, we conclude (that using larger models) may foster the obesity epidemic.”

In a weird way, I understand where their logic came from. Yes, Obesity is a problem in the U.S. and if plus-size becomes the normal standard of beauty, anything over becomes more “ok” or attractive to society and people are less likely to try and control their weight. The study says things like, “Health is on average reduced since people depart even further from their healthy weight.” There are so many more things to take into consideration though. For one thing, they make the assumption that plus-size models are overweight and that’s not always the case. They also make the assumption that thin models help people control their weight by providing incentive, but don’t note that they may also lead to eating disorders. The founder of Hope.com says, “I would say the skinnier models provide a worse body image and unrealistic standard. Younger girls are especially subjectable to being influenced by underweight models.”

If we’re going to go in their logic direction, it could also be argued that thin models lead to obesity because the models are so far from attainable that society just “gives up” instead of using them as a weight control incentives. Both are extreme and unlikely argument results. Dr. Gregg Jantz, an eating disorder specialist says, “We need a mix of models, none of whom have extreme weights, either thin or fat, but who look great at a “normal” weight.” Sounds about right.

In my opinion, if we don’t at least try and change the standard of beauty, whether normal or plus-size, then the way women view themselves will never change. It leads to a trickle down effect of women being unhappy with themselves, which leads to a lack of life confidence, which can and does hold women back professionally and emotionally. Why would we want to keep doing that?

Either way, any researcher or statistics course taker will tell you that one study does not a fact make.

..and just because I love this picture:

Here's Crystal Renn walking Gaultier in 2005 in full plus-size model glory.

[photo/source: Hollywood Life]

Tagged in: plus size , obesity , eating disorder

The opinions expressed on the BUST blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of BUST Magazine or its staff.

Plus-Size Models Make Women Fat? Read the HuffPostStyle blog today form Hilary Moss!!!

2011-04-25T10:23:00.000-07:00

Dr. Davide Dragone & Dr. Luca Savorelli Claim Plus-Size Models Make Women Fat

The Huffington Post Hilary Moss First Posted: 04/21/11 02:58 PM ET Updated: 04/21/11 07:38 PM ET

React

Hot
Chic
Typical
Crazy
Outrageous
Amazing
Innovative
Tacky

Plus-Size , Davide Dragone Luca Savorelli , Plus-Size Models , Plus-Size Models Make Women Fat , Poll , Style News

PLEASE READ THIS BLOGPOST FROM TODAY's Huffington Post!!!!!! THIS IS OUTRAGEOUSLY INSANE - More so written and studied by doctors in Italy!

THEREFORE: We all need to go onto the Huffington Post today and VOTE!!!

What these men of medicine - Who had to take an oath "DO NO HARM" DOING?! thinking?

OR just NOT thinking at all - What does this would do for women's self-image?What would be the repercussions of a medical statement made that: "Plus Models make women fat?!" Incredible!!!

A new study out of the University of Bologna suggests that

using

plus-size models on the catwalk and in advertisements could make women fat.

In their paper "Thinness and Obesity: A Model of Food Consumption, Health Concerns, and Social Pressure," Dr. Davide Dragone and Dr. Luca Savorelli cite the relationships between Italy, Germany and Spain and their respective fashion communities to produce more plus-sized clothes and uphold a minimum size for models. They write:

When reading the content of the agreements, it is clear that both the government and the fashion industry agree that fashion is a powerful trend-setter. It not only influences what clothes, styles and colors are trendy, but also determines how a person should appear to be desirable.

Okay, so fashion is apparently super-influential. Dragone and Savorelli add:

If people are underweight and stay on a diet, increasing the ideal body weight allows both aggregate welfare and health to be improved. If people are overweight and on a diet, however, increasing the ideal body weight can improve overall utility, but it worsens health because it induces people to become even more overweight.

And, "Given that in the US and in Europe people are on average overweight, we conclude that these policies, even when are welfare improving, may foster the obesity epidemic."

The pair also said, according to the Daily Mail, in plain language, "To promote chubby fashion models when obesity is one of the major problems of industrialised countries seems to be a paradox. Everyone has to trade off in life a number of things like the pleasure of eating and going to the gym or something as a cost. So if you just fix the average healthy weight then maybe you will throw up some incentives to be thin."

Um, so far, seeing plus-size models hasn't made us any bigger. And watching size zero models lurch down the catwalk hasn't made us any skinnier, either -- if anything it's made us simultaneously revolted and ravenous.

What do you think?PLEASE GO ONTO huffpoststyle.com and VOTE VOTE VOTE!!!! Thanks - to writer and columnist Hilary Moss!!!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/21/dr-davide-dragone-dr-luca_n_852174.html

Essence.com Loves Us Curvy Girls With a New Plus Blogger - PSM!!!

2011-04-19T18:26:00.000-07:00

There is this great lifestyle blog online now @ ESSENCE.com the Anonymous PSM (Plus Size Model) writes inspiring thoughts online and I really love her voice!

Come on and read!!! Seriously! Click thru to her post on April 18th...

...She started in January....

Plus Size Model Blogger : 'I'm Committed to Being the Best Me'

Thursday, April 14, 2011 - 6:00 AM

by Plus Size Model

I made a mistake. I was out of line and it is not the first time. I have made numerous mistakes in the past. My logical mind reminds me that once something is said or done; there is no taking it back. If I deem what was said or done a mistake -- an error, all I can do is work to rectify the damage done, learn from it and not make the same mistake again...

Continue reading "Plus Size Model: 'I'm Committed to Being the Best Me'" »

Related stories:

http://www.essence.com/lifestyle/

Curvy + Model Lizzie Miller Announced as Brand Ambassador for OneStopPlus.com USA!!!!

2011-02-15T10:21:00.001-08:00

I am SOOO thrilled for Curvy Plus Model Lizzie Miller & RedCatsUSA choosing to have this dynamic curvy model as their Brand Ambassador for OneStopPlus.com! - Read on! She's a jewel! ALSO Check out this link to OneStopPlus.com's Facebook post about V Magazine and the curvy fashion spread!!! You can click thru their images from the VMag fashion spread as well by clicking this post here...ENJOY! - Michele

Lizzie Miller Appointed OneStopPlus.com Brand Ambassador

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 07:21 AM PST

OneStopPlus.com, an online destination for curvy women who demand high style in plus-size fashion, announces today influential plus-size model Lizzie Miller as the brand’s new ambassador. As the face of OneStopPlus.com, Miller will serve as an all-encompassing consumer and media liaison, through the establishment of a social networking presence on Twitter and Facebook, as well as through the OneStopPlus.com website.

Lizzie Miller is a beautiful plus size model who made international headlines and caused quite the stir back in 2009 when she appeared in an issue of Glamour magazine in the nude.

Sharing the tricks of her trade and personal style on the OneStopPlus.com website, Lizzie’s unique voice will continue to empower OneStopPlus.com customers and women throughout the world. As a brand ambassador to OneStopPlus.com, Lizzie will offer style tips and product picks in the quarterly OSP Mag published by OneStopPlus.com, video posts, Q&A’s with OneStopPlus.com customers and more, creating an interactive community for fashionable plus-size women. (WATCH THE OneStopPlus/USA FALL 2011 Fashion Show Virtually by Registering for a Front Row Seat! )

Lizzie Miller has recently become a plus-size industry staple, stemming from her famed nude photo in Glamour. The picture, which caused a stir by depicting a curvy woman exuding confidence in her body, catapulted Lizzie to the forefront of the growing plus-size movement. She furthered her position in being at the forefront of the plus-size revolution by headlining the first ever plus-size only runway show during New York Fashion Week, produced by OneStopPlus.com in September 2010.

“Lizzie Miller is a revolutionary in the plus-size industry and is a role model for women of all ages,” said Stephanie Sobel, President of OneStopPlus.com Group. “Through her grace and confidence, she has helped to revolutionize how plus-sizes are represented within the fashion industry. Lizzie is an advocate for healthy body image and positive self-esteem, much like OneStopPlus.com.”

“I am so honored to have been chosen as OneStopPlus.com’s ambassador, as they are a major player in the plus-size fashion world. I believe that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes and I admire OneStopPlus.com for being willing and able to think outside the box when it comes to women’s fashion.” said Lizzie Miller. “I dream of the day when we will be able to open a magazine and see women of all sizes and colors represented. With OneStopPlus.com, that dream will become a reality and I’m so excited to be a part of it.”

OneStopPlus.com made history last September when they hosted the first plus-size fashion show during Fashion Week in New York and they continue to be on the cutting edge of fashion with their upcoming streaming International Fashion Show during Fashion Week (February 17 at 1pm EST). For additional information, please visit: www.onestopplus.com, the OneStopPlus.com Facebook page and follow them also on Twitter as well.

----

Related posts - CLICK THRU!!!

Virtual Plus Size Fashion Week Launched by OneStopPlus
Register for the Fall 2011 Fashion Show RIGHT HERE!!! It's online - SOOOO -with your email address you can be there from anywhere for this coming Fashion Week Show on Thursday, February 17th ONLINE! Be at the tents with OSP.com!!!

"NoRightBrainLeftBehind.com/us" it's an "Innovation Challenge"!!!

2011-02-06T14:13:00.000-08:00

I am soooo excited about this social media website-READ!

"The Idea" -

No Right Brain Left Behind is a speed innovation challenge, calling on the creative industries to concept ideas that can help the creativity crisis happening in U.S. schools today.

In collaboration with Social Media Week 2011, teams from creative industries will have 5 days to concept ideas. On the last day of the week, ideas will be submitted virtually to this site, and an expert panel will pick 3 winning ideas that are to be featured by our media partners. The best ideas are to be piloted in 2011 and 2012.

We are inviting teams of various sizes from advertising agencies, innovation companies, design consultancies, and communication schools. Ideas can be in form of tools, applications, or products, or whatever else we have not thought of.

If adapted, this will be a yearly challenge where creative industries will spend one week out of the year, responding to a burning crisis.

The power of an idea can transcend wars, politics, races, and economies. We hope that this collaboration will demonstrate the ability of our leading creative minds to step up to the challenges where conventional thinking fails.

It is not about creating more artists. It’s about giving the students tools to solve 21st century problems. We must understand that creativity is a key constituent that can no longer be neglected in the school systems.

Meanwhile, below is some background on the situation:

With US school curriculums focusing more and more on testing scores and hard facts, and less and less on creative excericises, there’s little room left for development of creativity. And as the US is investing heavily in education, Torrance Creativity Tests show the creativity scores are stagnating dramatically.

“An impediment has been a No Child Left Behind educational system that is too geared to test-taking,” says Daniel Pink, author of A Whole New Mind. “What’s troubling is that our system is obsessed with standardization at the very time when the future of our economy depends on the opposite.”

A recent IBM poll of 1,500 CEOs identified creativity as the number one “leadership competency” of the future. As the US economy has historically been a beacon of innovation in the global markets, the potential consequences of this crisis will be sweeping for the US economy and the future of innovative thinking.

“It worries me that we’re not thinking big enough, that we’re not preparing our kids for a world that will be terribly different from the one we grew up in,” says Patrick Bassett, president of the National Association of Independent Schools. “We need kids to be more risktaking, more entrepreneurial,” Bassett stressed. “More than ever, we need the right brain to mix with the left.”

Our schools are not preparing students for leadership roles which will keep us competitive in the global economy. Teachers today are working in a 19th Century school system preparing students to solve problems for the 21st Century.

THIS IS WHO THEY ARE..

Who We Are

We are a collective of thinkers, dreamers, doers, creators, educators, and provocateurs in the creative industries.

David Armano, Edelman Digital / Scott Belsky, Behance / Erick Brownstein, The New Agency / Sylvia Calos, Siegel+Gale / Anibal Casso, Wieden+Kennedy / Brian Chandra, 180LA / Lee Clow, Media Arts Lab / James Colistra / Ed Cotton, BSSP / Toby Daniels, Crowdcentric / Dino Demopoulos, BBDO / Carolyn Durkalski / Piers Fawkes, PSFK / Enrique R. Grullon, co8.com / Karl Heiselman, Wolff Olins / Sloane Hoepelman, Stopp Inc. / Brad Jenkins, Business Forward / Clay Parker Jones, Undercurrent / Gareth Kay, Goodby, Silverstein & Partners / Stacey Kawahata, Deutsch / Juliette LaMontagne, TED / Julie Lasky, DesignObserver / Sean Lockhart, Deutsch / Brian Lovell, Red Interactive Agency / Andrea Michaud, Direct Partners / Thas Naseemuddeen, TBWA\Chiat\Day / Peter Novosel, 72andSunny / Jason Oke, Y&R / Jesper Palsson, Stopp Inc. / Maria Popova, Brain Pickings / Bonnie Powers / Sir Ken Robinson / Mark A. Runco, University of Georgia / Chad Seymour, F3 Ideas / Ben Scheim, Crowdcentric / Jonathan Schleyer, AFG / Pelle Sjoenell, BBH LA / Brooke Stites, 180LA / Jennifer Small-Wojtowic, Cole & Weber / Frank Striefler, 180LA / Nikki Striefler, glad.is / Angela Sun, BBH / Viktor Venson, Stopp Inc. / John Winsor, Victors & Spoils / Jeff Weiner, PSFK / Stella Wong, Wieden+Kennedy / Larry Woodward, Graham Stanley Advertising

and counting…

Grazia tp Elena Miro & RunwayRevolution.com for their posting! Spring Has Sprung in Milano!!! for Curvy Girls....

2011-01-28T13:41:00.000-08:00

WATCH THE VIDEO OF GLORIOUS CURVES!!!

VIDEO: ELENA MIRO, SPRING/SUMMER COLLECTION IN EUROPE for 2011

LOVE THIS FROM RUNWAY REVOLUTION.COM.... CLICK THRU - IT'S UTUBE.com.....

1tweet retweet

Elena Miro presented its Spring/Summer collection for 2011 in Milan on September 22, 2010 despite being shifted out of the regular opening spot of the Milano Moda Donna program for the first time in five years by officials who hope to reinvigorate Milan’s dwindling influence by spacing out the powerhouse brands to create “…calendar that is representative of the best, highest, designer ready-to-wear” (The Guardian). The new program prompted criticisms of the wrong type of exclusivity, but fashion chiefs remained steadfast.

The Elena Miro show was conducted in a new venue with a standing-room-only crowd featuring a “cafe on the boulevard” environment including real flowers, and worked the current lady-like dressing/Mad Men trend of shift dresses, full mid-length skirts with short cardigans, and cropped jackets and capri pants in a variety of retro prints and silks in delicate colors, as well as classically-cut swimwear and some very cute tap shorts.

As in the past, Elena Miro presents these videos online without music to avoid copyright issues.

Sourced from Youtube

Noticeably absent: Kate Dillon who is pregnant with her first child (He was born in December folks! His name is Lucas!!!) , and Crystal Renn who has instead been catwalking up a storm in Paris....(We are Talking all the big Couture...Chanel etc...etc.....

Additional coverage: AFP news video

H & M's + Size Collection - INCLUSIVE - Really?! - Jezebel.com reports.....

2011-01-28T13:22:00.000-08:00

Good News & Bad News About H&M's Plus-Size Collection

from Jezebel.com...GREAT ARTICLE FOLKS!!! ALSO CHECK OUT RUNWAY REVOLUTIONS COMMENTS!!! CLICK THRU BELOW>>>>> :)

Plus-size shoppers rarely hear straight-up good news — there's always a caveat or catch — and the latest dispatch from H&M is no exception.

Since we are excluded from so many stores, the report that a H&M will sell a collection — called Inclusive — is exciting. There will be Spring-y, "figure-flattering party dresses in 50's styles with large polka dots and rose patterns" and they will come in a "wider than usual range of sizes" — UK sizes 32-54. That's basically XS through XXL or size 0 through size 20; bust size 30 inches to bust size 50.5 inches; waist size 23.5 inches to waist size 44 inches. Not bad, really, considering how tough it is to find affordable plus-size clothing. Forever 21's plus size line only goes up to a 40 inch waist (and a 48 inch bust). Old Navy offers up to size 30 (pants with a 53 inch waist; tops with a 61 inch bust). Of course, Old Navy only offers its plus-size clothing online. You can't buy Old Navy plus-size clothes in stores.

Which brings us to the bad news about the H&M Inclusive collection: Yes, it's online only. And more bad news: It's a one-off collection, meaning when it's sold out, it's all over, gone forever. Even worse news: Runway Revolution reports that to get the garments, you need to live in Europe, in the delivery zone of these H&M Online stores: Austria, Denmark, Finland, Holland, Norway, Sweden and the UK. So most of us plus-size shoppers will just have to gawk at these pretty dresses knowing we can never have them. Sigh.

Crystal Renn is Popping Up all over Advertising Campaigns from Gaultier to Chanel and now Jimmy Choo!

2011-01-07T19:54:00.000-08:00

Crystal Renn Is the New Face of Jimmy Choo

from The Cut @ www.nymag.com 01/06/2011

Amber Valletta is out at Jimmy Choo. And Crystal Renn is in. Renn is doing an unprecedented amount of high-fashion work for a plus-size model, having already appeared in campaigns for Jean Paul Gaultier and Chanel, and walking in their shows along with Zac Posen's. The Choo campaign — which tends to cast an established face season to season — is another coup.

Photo: Inez & Vinoodh

Now if only the fashion industry could find, oh, maybe one more person with a more realistic figure than most models in campaigns.

Jimmy Choo S/S 11 : Crystal Renn by Inez & Vinoodh [Fashion Spot]

Some comments from the NYMag.com articles......Read on!!!! Add your own!!!!

Comments in regards to the Chanel campaign:

(BTW - U CAN CLICK THRU ABOVE & READ THE ARTICLE BLOG FROM REPORTER/EDITOR - AMY ODELL)

Report

BY HIBEAN on 08/20/2010 at 4:42pm

So, if an ad has her naked, you are all like omg why does a plus size model always have to be naked?! And now the ad shows her face, and you're like omg why can't they show her naked body?! Make up your mind, Amy. Even if you're just trying to stir up controversy you should still have some kind of position.

Report

BY ECOANDI3 on 08/20/2010 at 4:25pm

I don't think it's so bad. She has a gorgeous face. The girl brings more to the modeling world than just "that one plus sized body in the group".
The shot looks great and it shows that she doesn't necessarily always have to be pigeonholed.

Report

BY ONEPORKTACO on 08/20/2010 at 5:06pm

i totally agree wit hibean. (sometimes it feels "the cut" is just looking to complain about something.) additionally, it's a beautiful ad, and it's a beautiful thing that a "plus size" model is included, whether they show her body or no. encouraging more diversity when it comes to body types should also mean using these models in the kind of shots we see "straight size" models in.

Comments in regards to the Jean Paul Gaultier campaign:

(AGAIN - U CAN CLICK THRU ABOVE & READ THE ARTICLE BLOG FROM REPORTER/EDITOR - AMY ODELL)

BY SILENTEFFY on 07/13/2010 at 5:12pm

Crystal Renn's gorgeous, I don't see why her weight needs to become a story. Good to see JPG going with a diverse cast of models, and given that Crystal really hit the jackpot after walking for him in '05, it seems weirdly appropriate that he cast her in his campaign.

Report

BY VALVACIOUS on 07/13/2010 at 9:57pm

She is considered plus size because she is bigger than a 4-6. She looks FABULOUS! I JUST LUV IT!!

FabSugar.com has another great post with mainstream model Crystal Renn...Curvy is Curvy?! Right?! Hmmmm

2010-12-18T18:38:00.000-08:00

Crystal Renn Shows

Us What Ladylike

Gone Badass Looks Like!

[GREAT blogpost from FabSugar.com ... .MJW]

"Crystal Renn suits up in a bustier, slips in to tight jeans, and tries on a little leopard, leather, and lace for the cover shoot of Paper Planes'latest issue. She throws on a full length skirt but loses the blouse; chooses a ladylike shift, but it's skintight. It's all a little retro and completely stunning; Crystal shows us just what ladylike gone bad looks like — and it looks good."

SOOO Glad that OneStopPlus.com has hit the U.K.!!! Read this Blog Post!

2010-12-18T17:57:00.000-08:00

**********************************************************************************

REDCATS was one of the first to bring a real plus-size/curvy runway show during New York's Fashion week for this coming Spring 2011 & now has launched over in the United Kingdom! They already launched in Paris and Sweden as well as Belgium...More to Come?! Sure hope so!! Very exciting.....Check out their fashion show as well for Spring! - MJW

**********************************************************************************

RedCats launches plus size mall OneStopPlus.co.uk in the UK

Published by Angela on the 11 December 2010 in OneStopPlus, Women's Plus Size Clothing

Tags: OneStopPlus.co.uk

Finally, it is here, OneStopPlus in the UK :OneStopPlus.co.uk. First it launched in America, then France, and finally it has reached our shores.

It makes sense to me that RedCats would want to put their offers under one roof and OneStopPlus.co.uk allows them to do this whilst offering the customer a one stop solution to buying plus size fashion at a reasonable price.

OneStopPlus.co.uk [Which is also in Paris since Spring 2010, Sweden and Belgium]also brings you many other brands, in fact over 100 offering the latest styles in sizes 14 to 40. [Check out their party looks and see how the U.K. website puts things together! You'll be inspired !!! ]

The site itself is easy to use with drop down menus, categories, and filters. The colours shout OneStopPlus as they are the site used the same format as it does for all the other countries OneStopPlus sites. The images of the clothes are crisp and clear with a zoom over function so you can pick out detailing, and each has a good description.

OneStopPlus.co.uk pride themselves on good service which is reflected in the contents of the website as it covers many areas of concern such as being able to track orders, detailing how to return an item, and a FQA section. They also provide contact numbers and mailing address.

In the age of ecommerce it would be nice if they included an online help in real time. This would really set the site apart from others and allow shoppers direct access with someone to help them select the right items. [ Agreed!!!! ]

However, overall I think the site the very effective and a good addition to the plus size offering in the UK. The clothes are very trendy for women in their 20’s and up. For men the selection includes smart and casual options. There is not a lot of choice from the other brands that are not from Redcats but what is available is good and at fantastic prices. I am sure this site will go from strength to strength so add OneStopPlus.co.uk to your list of must shop at shops!

NYMag "The Cut" Blog Article: Crystal Renn Accused of Not Being Plus-Size

2010-11-22T13:13:00.000-08:00

Crystal Renn Accused of Not Being Plus-Size

11/18/10 at 09:15 AM

NYMagazine.com " THE CUT"

Photo: Paola Kudacki for Harper's Bazaar

Because a famous woman cannot gain or lose weight in this world without the fluctuation being a topic of scrutiny, Crystal Renn is being critiqued yet again after an editorial of her inHarper's Bazaar's December issue leaked. She looks thin but in a normal way instead of a freak-of-nature model way.

It's too bad models can't just be models because they're good at what they do, despite their size, whether or not they fit industry's plus-size or straight-size standards.

Her agent tells Fashionista that if Renn looks thinner, it's just because she's been working out. Harper's Bazaar surely knows better than to manipulate her shape with Photoshop — the last time that happened to Renn, she went on the Today show and completely embarrassed the photographer.

....For more info on Renn's curvy shape controversy - check out this blog from London:

26 October 2010 at 11:35

Crystal Renn Spills ALL The Details On Her Weight Loss for GraziaDaily.UK.co

Crystal Renn has just opened up to brilliant NY Magazine blog The Cut about her much-speculated weight loss, which you will undoubtedly recall was the subject of ma-HOU-ssive speculation over the summer, prompted by a ‘Fashion for Passion’ T-shirt shoot in which photographer Nicholas Routzen appeared to reduce Renn’s curve-tastic figure with a rather heavy-handed approach to airbrushing.

Fast forward to now, and Renn has finally put the rumour mill to rest by telling the world what we’d already realised: she’s lost weight. Of her size now, Crystal says she ‘s ‘an 8-to-10’ (US size, equivalent to a UK 12-14) telling The Cut that she’s lost weight after starting to exercise, although getting slimmer wasn’t necessarily her aim.

Crystal got the ball rolling with a hiking trip to Patagonia with her grandmother (eh?) and it snowballed from there, saying that she sensibly ‘wanted to take care of myself. It had been eight years since I’d worked out. I’d suffered an eating disorder and I used to exercise eight hours a day. But I’d recovered.’

Wearing a latex dominatrix outfit accessorized with a poodle at a catwalk benefit for Seven Bar Foundation, which provides finance to women in developing countries, Crystal certainly seems to have all the confidence of someone feels a new found satisfaction with their body, saying of the latex number ‘I have to say I really love this outfit and I definitely have a dark side and would absolutely wear this out. This is very me.’ Ooh, Crystal.

Ms Renn also talks about her burgeoning relationship with Karl Lagerfeld, who she walked for this season in Paris, saying ‘to hear the man talk about all his, like, adventures and his life, it’s incredible. I guess you could say that one of the reasons I do my job is to meet people just like him.’

Other snippets from Crystal’s interview include –

- She rarely wears underwear but when she does, she ‘makes sure it’s a special occasion’.

- Her off-duty wardrobe consists of ‘Rick Owens. It’s a clothes version of this’ (the latex dominatrix outfit).

- Her advice for women everywhere who feel uncomfortable in lingerie are ‘look for someone who kind of looks like you. You can be beautiful at any size, and that matters’.

LOVE her.

- Alex Butt

http://www.graziadaily.co.uk/fashion/archive/2010/10/26/crystal-renn-spills-all-the-details-on-her-weight-loss.htm

Great article on Social Media and Girls from the Girl Scouts!!! 11/5/2010

2010-11-05T20:50:00.000-07:00

Girl Scouts Research Institute releases new findings on girls and social media

By CHLOE | Published: NOVEMBER 5, 2010

Last night, the Girl Scouts Research Institute celebrated its tenth anniversary with the release of Who’s That Girl? a new study about girls and social media. I’ve written about the GSRI and the wonderful work that they do before, and I’m so glad that this study has been done. Here are a few quick numbers for you. In a study of about 1000 girls between the ages of 14 and 17:

In person, girls say they come across as smart (82%), funny (80%), kind (76%) and outgoing (55%) as well as fun, cool, a good influence and socially confident.

Online, the words girls most frequently use to describe themselves are fun, funny and social. There’s a disparity between their online personalities and their offline personalities, and they’re playing down their intelligence, confidence and kindness online.

For girls with low self-esteem, a disconnect of this kind is almost twice as common. Girls with low self-esteem are also more likely than girls with high self-esteem to construct an online image of themselves that is “sexy” or “crazy.”

Many girls understand the potential negative consequences of posting information about themselves online – 42% are concerned it could prevent them from being accepted at the college of their choice and 39% worry that it could cause friends and family members to lose respect for them. Despite this, half of the girls surveyed admitted that they weren’t always as carefully as they should be.

68% percent of girls have had a negative experience on a social networking site – like being bullied or gossiped about.

But the news isn’t all bad. The study also showed that 52% of girls have used a social networking site to become involved in a cause that they care about, and more than half agree that social networking online helps them feel closer to friends.

Last night we were treated to a panel of brilliant women – Mobilize.org CEO Maya Enista, author Peggy Orenstein, Simmons College professor Janie Victoria Ward, former supermodel Emme and MTV’s new Twitter Jockey Gabi Gregg – who covered a wide range of issues, from the premature sexualization of girls to the need for parents to model healthy body image for their daughters.

Speaking about the worrying finding that girls with low-self esteem are more likely to sex up their images online, Orenstein, a mother whose book Cinderella Ate My Daughter comes out in February, said that the trend was a result of a “performance culture” around feminine sexuality. Orenstein expressed concern about “the way that the culture is marketing and telling girls what it means to be feminine and what it means to be a girl,” which, she said, mostly means being sexy and sexual. The result is premature sexualization and rigid, restrictive definitions of femininity. It starts early, and never ends. “It starts in the womb,” Orenstein said, “when you buy your first pack of diapers with the Disney Princesses or the cars on them.”

Gabi Gregg urged parents to take an active role in their daughters’ online lives, encouraging them to check their kids’ Facebook profiles, and to talk to them about online risks. According to the study, 85% of girls have talked with their parents about social networking safety – but many of those girls still knowingly take risks. Emme, a former model and the founder of the new Body Image Council at the National Eating Disorders Association, stressed the importance of parental involvement offline, too, and of the power of the parental example. Girls are more likely to have low self-esteem, Emme said, if mothers don’t have “a strong foundation” in “how they talk about themselves and how they allow other people to talk to them.”

Finally, the women turned the mics over to the girls. A panel of four New York City girl scouts, all of them high schoolers with lofty career aspirations – nursing, anesthesiology, optometry, and research science – offered their insights into how girls think about social media. They were smart and on point and it was such a pleasure to hear young girls speak, rather than hear them spoken about or spoken to.

Speaking about what she considers the greatest challenge facing girls today, fourteen-year-old Regan Sims – who aspires to be an actress, as well as a research scientist – said that the girl panelists all drew a blank when they were asked to name women who acted as positive role models for girls. Sims said that her generation of girls needed to produce more leaders, so that the next generation of girls wouldn’t be stumped when asked the same question. The Girl Scouts say that they’re all about giving girls a voice. Last night, with this insightful and inclusive discussion, they proved that that’s more than just talk.

______________________________________________________

....I LOVE THEIR COMMITMENT AND THIS ARTICLE ATTACHED ON HEALTHY LIVING AS WELL....READ ON.... BE INSPIRED!!! INSPIRE OTHERS.....

Our Commitment
The Girl Scout Research Institute, formed in 2000, is a vital extension of Girl Scouts of the USA's commitment to addressing the complex and ever-changing needs of girls.

Comprised of a dedicated staff and advisors who are experts in child development, academia, government, business, and the not-for-profit sector, the institute conducts groundbreaking studies, releases critical facts and findings, and provides resources essential for the advancement of the well-being and safety of girls living in today's world.

The institute also informs public policy and advocacy for Girl Scouting with its research and outreach

For more info click thru here:

http://feministing.com/2010/11/05/girl-scouts-research-institute-releases-new-findings-on-girls-and-social-media/

Jezebel.com ROCKS! : If You're Fat-Phobic, You're Also An Ignorant, Bigoted Idiot

2010-10-31T07:18:00.000-07:00

If You're Fat-Phobic, You're Also An Ignorant, Bigoted Idiot

- Jezebel.com

By Dodai Stewart, Oct 28, 2010 01:32 PM

A few days before Maura Kelly, a blogger for Marie Claire, published a piece called "Should Fatties Get A Room?" we received an email asking why this site "glorifies" obesity.

The email read:

What is the Jezebel obsession with glorifying obesity? Why is being obese the only exception to body snarking? It is beyond absurd and makes no sense.

You know what? Maura and that reader are bigots. BIGOTS.

big•ot (noun): A person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance

If you think that watching a fat person walk across the room is "gross," and if you think not allowing readers to comment on a woman's weight is "glorifying" obesity, you are a bigot. You are treating a group — people who weigh more than "normal" (whatever that is) — with hatred and intolerance.

We live in a society that constantly sends messages to women, telling them they are not good enough the way they are. Advertising campaigns, women's magazines and other types of media try to cajole us into wanting to be sexier, shinier and yes, thinner. But — and this is important — THIN and HEALTHY are not the same thing. And: FAT and UNHEALTHY are also not the same thing.

Some skinny people smoke, do drugs and eat fatty foods.
Some fat people exercise regularly and eat healthy foods.

As we've mentioned before, Steven N. Blair, one of the nation's leading experts on the health benefits of exercise, is short and fat. He runs every day.

Are there are fat people who are lazy overeaters? Yes. And there are thin folks who are lazy overeaters.

To discuss a fat person as a human who deserves respect does not "glorfty" obesity. Misogynistic speech is rampant on the web; anonymous commenters delight in critiquing, nit-picking, and mocking the appearance of women. Often a woman's appearance is beyond her control. There are many reasons a person's body looks the way it does, genetics being first and foremost.

Some people gain weight because they overeat.
Some people gain weight because they don't exercise.
Some people gain weight due to depression.
Some people gain weight because of medication.
Some people gain weight because of polycystic ovary syndrome.

We could go on. Point being, you cannot LOOK at someone and make a judgment about his or her health. So you shouldn't. And really: Even if you do know why someone is thin or fat, what business is it of yours? None. If a fat person disgusts you, if you're afraid of black people, if you're grossed out by gays kissing, know this: Your intolerance says way more about you than about those who repel you. When you're judging someone by weight and not moral compass, intelligence, empathy, creativity, talent or sense of humor, what kind of person are you? If you see two people — one fat and one thin — and say that the fat one disgusts you, what happens if you find out that the fat one is a loving mother and vet and the thin one is a serial killer?

Again: You cannot judge someone based on appearance. That said, you can read someone's words and tell if they are ignorant, biased, sizeist and hateful. And Maura Kelly, the reader who sent the email, and ALL of the fatphobic fat-shamers out there are crude, insensitive, and prejudiced. Back in the day, people used to say that black people were intellectually inferior, that homosexuals were promiscuous. Today we consider this type of intolerant thought disgusting, abhorrent and politically incorrect. Someday we'll realize how bigoted and offensive we were about "fatties." Hopefully very, very soon.

What Was Marie Claire Thinking With This "Fatties" Piece?
Marie Claire Responds To "Fatties" Controversy
Marie Claire's Controversy Counterpoint
Watch the TV Clip of Two People Kissing That Has Marie Claire So Grossed Out
A Week Without Fat-Shame Is A Week Of Danger
Beth Ditto Has A Message For People Who Think Thinner Is Better
Huge And The Future Of Fat On TV

[Image via Serhat Akavci/Shutterstock.]

NewsBunny 10/29/10

Bless your heart.

I'm 5'7 and 234 lbs.

I used to be 175, the lowest I've ever been. I lost 25 lbs and was at that 175 for about six years, until four years ago, when the weight began coming.

I eat well. I exercise -- cycling and boxing. I have fablous cholesterol, blood pressure, ect.

I have an underactive thyroid. Strike one. I have epilepsy, and take anti-seizure drugs. Strike two.

Recently, I went to the doctor because of feeling 'shakey'. It appears I have been having hypoglycemic episodes for the last few years. They started around the time the weight starting coming back on. My doctor -- a new guy in the G-P's office -- starting going over my records and said to me, "A woman who is fairly healthy, who eats and exercises the way you do, should not have put on 60 lbs in four years. Low blood sugar, combined with this, tells me SOMETHING IS WRONG."

I posted this in groupthink, but it bears repeating. I almost cried in his office. I've been told by doctors to exercise more (cycling 30-40 miles a week and boxing is not enough HOW?), and to eat less. I'm between 1500 and 1800 calories a day. One said to cut back to 1200. I told her I burn between six and and one thousand calories each time I bike. Would she like me to faint?

I've been testing my sugars for a week now -- it is rare for me to get above 80. Normal, depending on your source, is 80 to 130. Quote the doc again: "That is ... ODD."

Point being, some of us fatasses can't help it.

I'm off to Lane Bryant to buy a fall coat. Seriously.

c.a.p.s. 10/29/10

Body snarking, of any way shape or form should be banned.

Just be happy.

Who gives a fuck.

Dorisaurus promoted this comment

clevernamehere 10/29/10

I'm tired of both sides of the weight debate.

I'm tired of fatness being treated as a moral failing. Like obviously anyone who is fat must be sitting around eating cheetos in front of the TV while all the good sensible people are out exercising and noshing on baby carrots. Fat has become what gay was in the 80s and what black was in the 60s- the group that bigots like to rail against.

But at the same time I am tired of obesity being presented as nothing but biological destiny by fat advocates. People are significantly heavier than they were 30 years ago. I'm particularly tired of hearing how research has shown no one can keep weight off for more than five years- that simply isn't true, the research shows most people don't keep weight off, that doesn't mean that we can't.

The truth lies somewhere in the middle. The developed world is eating more and exercising less than they did 30 years ago and as a result, people have gotten heavier. But there have always been people who are naturally heavy regardless of what they do just like there have always been people who stayed rail thin regardless of what they do. Many people could lose weight if they ate better and were more active, but that doesn't mean that everyone who is skinny is healthy and morally superior. You can't tell how healthy someone is by looking at them.

See 7 replies

Girl Sleuth 10/29/10

I love you, Dodai. Thank you for writing such a beautiful article, even if something so hateful prompted it.

Gingerlyyours promoted this comment

BetteD 10/29/10

Bravo, Dodai. This is absolutely the most plainspoken yet eloquent response I've seen yet regarding this issue. It's sort of perfect, really.

I am bookmarking it right now for future reference (ie, the next time I'm accosted by someone who thinks he/she has the right to fat shame or make blanket judgements regarding someone's appearance).

slighthyperbole 10/28/10

Why do people downthread think that it's so easy to lose weight? I'm referring to the comments about fat shaming not being bigotry because being fat is changeable and/or is a choice.

If it were easy to change one's weight, fat people would have to be putting in a LOT of work to stay fat. We'd have to be all sorts of masochists to put that much effort into ensuring stigmatization.

To say that someone can change their weight to become not fat is not always true. The truth is: some people can change their weight to become not fat. Those sentences mean very different things.

It turns out that being more active and eating more whole, "healthy" foods doesn't help reduce weight for most people. Yes, eating starvation-level calories and devoting a couple hours each day to high intensity exercise does reduce weight for most people who maintain that lifestyle for the rest of their lives, but that's not fucking easy nor even close to realistic for the majority of people in the world.

Also, who thinks being fat is a choice? Just because some of us accept it and are comfortable with our bodies doesn't mean we necessarily elected our bodies or consciously worked towards developing our body type. Some of us don't accept it and literally had no choice: if you have the option of starving or eating processed food because it was the only thing you could afford, there is no choice. If you have the option of working enough hours at your job to pay the bills or expend money and energy at a gym working out, there is no choice. Maybe I'm a minority, but I don't think anyone chooses anything about themselves...you can't choose to be nice, an asshole, a monogamist, insecure, manipulative, passive-aggressive, animated, egotistical, funny, or anything else - that's just how things happened. Same goes with consuming more calories than one expends in a day. It fucking happened. And it's going to continue to happen sometimes.

And that is why we can't fat shame.

cinnamon_sunshine promoted this comment

See 1 reply

lil gaywad 10/28/10

Time for a comment. The shit I see on these threads and in real life riles me up. I don't even know where to start!

OK here - the so-called "obsesity epidemic". My friend's father works in public health, particularly with cardio-vascular disease. He believes the "obesity epidemic" is media hype. What he told me, is that over the last 50 years or so, everyone has been getting fatter. It's not like a whole bunch of previously thin people became obese, more like those who were once in the overweight catagory have moved to obese, while those in the normal catagory have moved to overweight. So basically, every group has been slowly gaining weight, due to a number of factors. The other interesting thing, is that at the same time rates of cardio-vascular disease have dropped. So while people might be eating more, it's less of a pure meat and potatos and butter diet which is v bad for the heart, and people smoke less. I dunno, but I think it's better to be eating more and smoking less.

And come on, we've all got an example of that skinny friend who lives on KFC and red bull and that fat friend who eats an organic vegan diet. The food one eats, doesn't mean shit. We all have our individual metabolisms and eating habits, which affect us in different ways. DIFFERENT- keyword. It's very simplistic to assume all fat people are unhealthy and all skinny people are healthy, because there is a myriad of factors to take in consideration. Some outlined in the article above, PCOS particularly.

And obviously, there are some negative factors contributing to public health and obesity in children or whatever - our lifestyles have become largely sedentary, with a high caloric intake. Everything is physical demanding thanks to all our wonderful technological increases. I see obesity as a SYMPTOM of these problems, not a cause of health problems on its own. People who are do not show this symptom also have health problems as a result of this unhealthy lifestyle. You simply cannot reduce it all to obesity. It's hysterical and missing the point.

So yeah, to all of those commenters bleating "but what about the obesity epidemic! I CARE ABOUT HEALTH!" - come back when you've done some actual academic research on the subject, rather than taking at value what you hear in the media.

cinnamon_sunshine promoted this comment

ebbe 10/28/10

I really appreciated the link to the Steven Blair story. As a new public health masters student, and the only overweight person in my program, I constantly feel like a lot of the people who are concerned about obesity just don't get it. They've never struggled with their weight, and for them working out and eating healthy is just icing on their naturally thin cake.

I eat healthy, I work out a LOT (less now with grad school, admittedly), and I just don't lose weight. My dietitian told me my body was just stubborn. And so when I hear a room full of young women talking about solving obesity and childhood obesity by putting grocery stores in neighborhoods and telling people they should eat more fruits and vegetables, I want to scream.

I'm sure that many of them mean well, but I think that many people, including some of the experts, think that weight loss is as simple as choosing to do it.

cinnamon_sunshine promoted this comment

Virginia(formerly Jen)loveshercurves approved this comment

I agree that fattism is bigotry. Inexcusable bigotry. Jezebel is doing a fantastic job to promote HAES and related causes.

However, I think that it demeans victims of homophobia or racism to group such types of prejudice together. None of these things is like the other.

Give me statistics on the number of people who have been murdered because of their weight and I'll change my mind.

See 4 replies

Donovanesque 10/28/10

I honestly can't understand why someone would judge someone else on such a superficial thing as though it were a matter of morality.

The mere fact of obesity doesn't actually stop people from doing that much...from kicking ass at a career, hanging out with family and friends, having a fabulous vacation, etc. It's not really such an impairment.

Being shallow and judgmental, however--regarding others, or regarding yourself--will really ruin your enjoyment of life.

Let's just have as good a time as we can and help everyone else do the same. We're all skeletons (or ashes) in the end.

james.hogg3 10/28/10

If being overweight is a personal choice then that choice affects just one person. But making bitchy comments about overweight people in a general forum affects many many people. Which one is the more morally defensible?

I'm a 6'1 male who is overweight by about 60 pounds and I have had to put up with the following.

People leaning out of car windows and shouting "Fat C*nt" at me as I walk down the street. That's happened about 6 times in the last 5 years.

Kids following me down the street and making fun of my weight.

People throwing things out of car windows at me as they drive past. One was a half eaten McDonald's and the other was an empty drink can.

I've been laughed at many times when I ask girls on a date.

I've had a potential employer say to my face that they would not give me a job because it involved going up and down stairs all day.

People laughing at me at the Gym and the swimming pool.

That last part seems to be particularly pertinent to the "Just loose weight" argument. How are we expected to loose weight if when we try we are ridiculed.

I've tried for years to loose the extra pounds but for what ever reason I'm just stuck at this weight. This is what makes me so angry with these people tying themselves in knots trying to justify bigotry by saying it's not the same as colour or whatever because it's a choice, well fine what about religion. That's a choice so would you say that it would be OK to do the things that have happened to me to someone because they were Jewish?

This choice thing just gets me, an alcoholic has a disease, a drug addict has a disease but a fat person is a glutton who should just buck up and sort out their lives.

Oh and as for the health time bomb thing, 2.5 million Americans put themselves in hospital every year playing sports*, so does that mean I can throw coke cans at the kid in the wheelchair? No, because my capacity for compassion is greater than my need to pass judgement on someone else's lifestyle.

*Figure based on 2006 National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) data.

cinnamon_sunshine approved this comment

Bitingpika 10/28/10

Huh. Funny. I lost my star for saying pretty much the same thing.

malishka promoted this comment

See 1 reply

Bethamint 10/28/10

Thanks for writing this, it was wonderful to read. It's just to frustrating to be victim to judgements based on the size of my behind and nothing else. Hopefully things will get better soon, it's really great that articles like this are appearing this week, it's giving me optimism.

rimbaud 10/28/10

My best friend is large. His mother is skinny as a rail, she could eat whatever she wanted and not gain weight. He did the same but gained a lot of weight. She taught him to believe that fat people were terrible and basically didn't deserve to be happy, even though she raised him with the eating habits that made him fat.

On top of that, this friend grew up gay in New York City. The lookist outlook in the gay community there definitely compounded his self-loathing - he didn't think anyone *should* want to be with him. He lost a lot of weight in college, and he thought his life would change for the better, but was surprised to find himself no happier than when he was fat. Instead of being the "fat friend" who could make outrageous jokes, people thought he was an asshole. He didn't know how to be himself and be accepted as a slimmer person.

Fast forward to today, he is large again. He is the funniest, most insightful person I've ever met. He is brilliant. He's only now at the age of 31 realizing that he's someone people *should* want to be with, because his personality is more important than his size.

Seeing one of my favorite people in the world emotionally wrecked by his weight, thinking that he doesn't deserve the happiness every human deserves....the stigma around being fat is enough of a motivator to try to change. Anyone who's taken a mandatory health ed class in high school knows about eating right and exercising. People know their own bodies better than the people who condescendingly tell them what they need to do with them. You know why my friend doesn't exercise? He has two jobs. You know why he doesn't eat well? Because eating well is expensive, and when you work all the time you are going to be grabbing quick bites on the go.

It's one thing to criticize McDonald's for its role in the obesity epidemic, it's another thing to shame the people who eat there because it's super cheap. There's a way to talk about the societal and economic factors that lead to obesity without making obese people feel like they don't deserve to go out in public lest they offend Maura Kelly.

@jules321 said this: "what i have trouble understanding is why people care so much about fat people. what effect does me being overweight have on your life? NONE! it undoubtedly affects my life, and my self-esteem, but why would you take time out of your day to criticize me for weighing a few extra pounds?"

Almost every aspect of my friend's life has been affected by his size. I don't want to go to my friend's wedding because I can't find a suit that fits. I don't want to travel because I might be too fat for the seat. I'm too fat to love. He knows he's fat and trust me, there would have to be a shit ton of body acceptance to counteract the shame he's been indoctrinated with. He's never going to forget that society looks down on fat people. But he needs to be encouraged to not hate himself for failing to lose weight/keep the weight off. I think that's a reasonable request.

I'm sorry for the long post. I just love my friend and have been watching him beat himself up for too long to believe that obese people need to be "informed" by society all the time of what they're doing wrong.

MeiTai promoted this comment

See 1 reply

fishwithoutabike 10/28/10

I absolutely loved this post, and here's why: "Even if you do know why someone is thin or fat, what business is it of yours? None."

For pete's sake. Who the fuck even cares if an "overweight" (whatever the hell that means) is healthy or not? Dodai is absolutely right that you cannot tell from looking at someone what their "reason" is for being "fat" (jesus this topic needs a lot of quotation marks). But the better point is: the reason just simply does not matter. We should not be hating other people for what they look like. We should not be hating other people for who we THINK they are. We should not be hating other people! Period!

Jesus, I don't care if someone is overweight because they eat a lot of shitty food or because they have a different body type or if they have Evil OHMYGOD Fat People Disease. There is nothing wrong with being fat in the public sphere! Nothing! Even if the person is grossly unhealthy, that is that person's business. To be honest, we all have our own shit we should be worrying about. Live and let live, and get a fucking life, Marie Claire.

SarsDoesn'tSave promoted this comment.

Slatka 10/28/10

I think it's more complex than mere bigotry.

Jezebel, for example, has taught me a great deal. I now truly know how people who are overweight feel as a result of my and my society's reaction to them. I don't want to make them feel that way.

I've also learned just how conventionally attractive, by society's existing standards, people who are overweight can be. I look at Dara's video for Mami: [www.youtube.com] and I think she looks amazing, period.

But... if they announced tomorrow that McDonald's was attempting to open a location here, I'd protest it again. We banned them because we don't want to import obesity - and we don't.

There's nothing wrong with that. We don't want to have the levels of obesity that exist in America in the Balkans. It's a health crisis there, we don't want it. We want to protect what we have.

To me, that's like banning smoking. I am a smoker - I'm getting better, smoking less, but I'm still a smoker. And probably a heavy smoker by American standards. I wouldn't protest to ban smoking here, but I understand why others might.

I wouldn't try to explain it away as a result of certain biological or psychological conditions. Most of the time, people smoke because they choose to smoke. If they didn't, then America would have 7/10 people smoking as we do. If obesity was always or even mostly an uncontrollable condition, we would have the same level of obesity as in America.

But, *MOST IMPORTANTLY*, within that, of course, there are lots of factors that any given individual can't really control much. American cities are made for driving, ours are made for walking. An American in suburban Los Angeles can't just suddenly decide to walk everywhere all day. American food is processed, unhealthy food is cheaper than healthy food - it's the exact opposite for us. I could fill a shopping cart with fruit for what a bag of cookies from America costs.

So, in that way, it is uncontrollable. The level of obesity among my people in America, our diaspora, the ones who fled there in the 1990s, is closer to the level for born Americans than it is for us. And they still have the same culture, they're still eating the same things in the evenings as they did here. They're not making any choices to change how many calories they burn in an average day. Their environment is just different. They would have to make a conscious decision to exercise since they walk so much less, and that's not easy to do.

So there are a lot of conflicting emotions, a lot of different points of view, but not all of them mean bigotry. And some of the people who offend those who are overweight genuinely do have goodness in their hearts for the overweight people. It's like... Christian missionaries for me. I find it offensive, it's deeply insulting that people think I need to change to be worthy, to have value... but I know, in their hearts, they think it's best so I try not to get angry.

See 12 replies

SarsDoesn'tSave 10/28/10

A-fucking-men. This my favorite thing I have ever read on Jezebel. Thanks for this, Dodai.

macbecks 10/28/10

Dear Jezebel:

How about an article on talking to their friends about their fatty bigotry? Maybe it could be a mash up of body talk /social mindfields.

weirdette promoted this comment

See 2 replies

Rocket Queen 10/28/10

Medically, this article screams of inaccuracies.

Morally, it has a point.

Merging More Crystal Renn Curves in the Chanel Runway again!!!

2010-10-06T06:42:00.000-07:00

posted on October 5, 2010

Another amazing post from MadisonPlus.com on Ford's Supermodel - Crystal Renn - hitting the Chanel runways in Paris for S/S2011! The more and more we are merged together in media...the better the mindset for teens that beauty comes in all sizes!! - mjw

==========================

Crystal Renn walks Chanel!

By Madison Plus

Ford Model Crystal Renn walked the Spring/Summer 2011 show of Chanel looking darkly glamorous. The Chanel S/S 2011 collection by Karl Lagerfeld took place at the Grand Palais in Paris.

Check out the pictures of Crystal Renn walking the Chanel runway here:

...Welcome to "The BodyStyle Conversation"......Come Join!

Emme and AMOENA partner together....

...Welcome to "The BodyStyle Conversation"......Come Join!: BodyStyle Conversation: "Australia, Italy's Vogue ...

BodyStyle Conversation: "Australia, Italy's Vogue Curvy, Stick Models & Plus-Size Models vs.The Multifaceted Model"

Written by Jenna Clarke for WAToday.com.au

Plus SuperModel Fluvia Lacerda Sashay's Her way to the Top in Vogue Curvy - Read on....

New website could boost body image in teen girls ...DailyDose.com

Skin and Size Differences? - Nothing - We are all the same!

Meghan McCain Battles Glenn Beck Over Body Image

INSANE STUDY Claims Plus Size Models Equal Obesity Society with great BUST MAG post

Plus-Size Models Make Women Fat? Read the HuffPostStyle blog today form Hilary Moss!!!

Dr. Davide Dragone & Dr. Luca Savorelli Claim Plus-Size Models Make Women Fat

Essence.com Loves Us Curvy Girls With a New Plus Blogger - PSM!!!

Curvy + Model Lizzie Miller Announced as Brand Ambassador for OneStopPlus.com USA!!!!

"NoRightBrainLeftBehind.com/us" it's an "Innovation Challenge"!!!

I am soooo excited about this social media website-READ!

"The Idea" -

Who We Are

Grazia tp Elena Miro & RunwayRevolution.com for their posting! Spring Has Sprung in Milano!!! for Curvy Girls....

WATCH THE VIDEO OF GLORIOUS CURVES!!!

H & M's + Size Collection - INCLUSIVE - Really?! - Jezebel.com reports.....

Crystal Renn is Popping Up all over Advertising Campaigns from Gaultier to Chanel and now Jimmy Choo!

FabSugar.com has another great post with mainstream model Crystal Renn...Curvy is Curvy?! Right?! Hmmmm

[GREAT blogpost from FabSugar.com ... .MJW]

SOOO Glad that OneStopPlus.com has hit the U.K.!!! Read this Blog Post!

NYMag "The Cut" Blog Article: Crystal Renn Accused of Not Being Plus-Size

Crystal Renn Spills ALL The Details On Her Weight Loss for GraziaDaily.UK.co

Great article on Social Media and Girls from the Girl Scouts!!! 11/5/2010

Jezebel.com ROCKS! : If You're Fat-Phobic, You're Also An Ignorant, Bigoted Idiot

- Jezebel.com

Related:

Merging More Crystal Renn Curves in the Chanel Runway again!!!

Another amazing post from MadisonPlus.com on Ford's Supermodel - Crystal Renn - hitting the Chanel runways in Paris for S/S2011! The more and more we are merged together in media...the better the mindset for teens that beauty comes in all sizes!! - mjw

==========================