Beauty: Is Thin Really Still In?

There was recently a popular post on a blog that I came across about a stunning Pakistani model. You can see her here. I'm not going to argue: this girl is beautiful, unique and very attractive. Some of the comments left on the blog, however, really disgusted me. One reader wrote that they "prefer not to see size 13 women" because they are "not inspiring." Not inspiring for whom, may I ask? Anorexics and bulimics?

I'm writing this post because it disturbs me that the obsession with extreme thinness is still so prevalent-not just in the fashion industry but in the popular opinion in general.

The most popular dress size in North America is a size 14. And let's face it; a lot of these women are beautiful. They're your mother, your sister, your wife, maybe even your daughter. Why support an unhealthy and (for most) unattainable image of beauty?

Luckily, there's a countermovement in the works. The majority may not know it, but there is a burgeoning "plus" (read: normal) sized fashion and modeling industry growing around the world, and particularly in the United States. Even major modeling agencies like Ford are establishing Plus divisions throughout the country. Some people are beginning to realize that what is defined as "beautiful" is subject to change. It can change, it has changed, and it will continue to change. A case in point can be seen in the paintings of Rubens and Botticelli. They favored voluptuous, full-figured women in their paintings, and masterfully portrayed the popular definition of beauty for their age. It just so happens that at the current time, we are on the absolute opposite end of the spectrum, and it's not projecting a healthy ideal to women of all ages.

www.walkthecatwalk.com offers insight into the fashion industry and their demand for size 0-4 models, and puts forward a challenge to print magazines and designers to begin to subvert this. Turn on your speakers-there's an introductory interview with Liis Windischmann and Diane Pellini, both phenomenally beautiful models that challenge the current standard definition of beauty.

If you have any doubt that normal sized women can be both stunning and beautiful, I suggest you check out the Fenomenal Calendar online. Click the corner of the calendar to turn the pages and see a year's worth of beautiful, average-sized women.

Plus models are also beginning to be featured occasionally on the covers of prominent fashion magazines. A handful are starting even make a name for themselves. Fluvia is a perfect example. Check out this stunning Latina model's website here. Just so you know, she's a U.S. size 16.

Here are two other websites that feature curvy beauty:

http://www.suzlyons.com/
A professional plus-size model.

a photographer who does a lot of plus work
You'll notice how alarming the occasional "straight size model" looks when thrown into the mix on this website.

Clearly, beauty can be manifested in an amazing variety of sizes, shapes and nationalities. Isn't it time that beauty of all varieties is acknowledged equally, particularly in the fashion industry and in popular opinion? Make your opinion heard, and parents, try to make sure that your daughters get to see examples of beautiful women that weigh more than a handful of feathers.