Here is a trick question for you. Which of these women looks healthy? Who does not? Take your time, there is no rush ...There has been a whole lot of furor lately ... (don't you just love that word ... furor ... a: furious or hectic activity b: an outburst of public excitement or indignation) ... about Jessica Simpson's weight gain. What am I missing? I think she looks healthy, curvaceous and feminine. The woman in the middle looks as if she has been very ill for a long time. The gold standard for feminine beauty was -- and still is -- Marilyn Monroe. The standard for beauty now seems to be Keira Knightley, and every woman is starving herself to look like that. Why? How did that happen? Is that what men like?
I watched a TV documentary recently about a 28 year-old woman who undertook an experiment in starving herself and over-exercising, to see how she would feel, and how it affected her skin, hair and internal organs. In just four weeks she made herself extremely ill and her doctor was concerned. Her skin became sallow and her hair started to fall out. Her fingernails cracked and split. Her internal organs worked at less than capacity. Her doctor told her if she did not stop, the damage would be irreversible. It took six weeks to get her health back. During the time of her experiment she was tired, listless, bad tempered and generally out of sorts with everyone.
I fail to see the beauty in the picture of the woman in the middle photograph (Keira Knightley) but the beauty of Marilyn Monroe and Jessica Simpson is obvious. I hope Jessica Simpson does not starve herself back to improbable proportions. Perhaps she might even set a new gold standard for women everywhere, by retaining her feminine curves, glowing skin and shiny hair.
45 comments:
Very nice article. My daughter is a model, 5 foot 11, size 2 and beautiful, and her Paris agents were complaining she was too fat! Too fat? The industry is crazy. They will moan about "the skinny model," write artiles in magazines about anorexia, yet who do they plaster over the pages? You got it, super-skinny models. Fashion is fun and thin is healthy, not anorexia.
Curves are a sign of a happy woman. : )
Jessica is perfect...she might not be as thin as she was in her famous movie where she wore those short denium shorts and cowboy hat...But personally think she is perfect - I suppose a size 10!
Marilyn looks the best! That is how a woman should look, Hollywood just has it all wrong, and it makes it hard on the "normal"women. Kiera looks like Skeletor!
Interesting... first off, Keira Knightley does NOT look, in any way, shape or form, sexy or sensual. She looks like she needs to be rushed to an eating disorders clinic NOW!
I am not much of a Jessica Simpson fan but, then again, women under 45 look like children to me and, well, that's that. I cannot understand these old guys who want to date or get married to some woman in her 20s - to me that is just sick. I don't get it.
Marilyn Monroe is, by far, the most sexy woman of the three you pictured. No question about that.
What makes a person - man or woman - sexy is their overall persona. Dressing well helps a great deal, being well groomed, having a sense of confidence is critical, maintaining a positive overall outlook on life, being secure with themselves, and having a good sense of humor is many more times attractive than, well, anything else.
I think a lot of this fascination with being overly thin can be traced to Barbie dolls. If Barbie were a real person she would be about 5'9" (some say taller) with exagerrated measurements and would weigh in at about 110 lbs if that. She would be so thin she would not have enough body fat to, well, get pregnant if she wanted to (according to what I have read from what appear to be credible sources).
I know, I know. Men are supposed to be tall, dark, strong and handsome and women are supposed to be, well, whatever... But real life is not quite like that. I am a man who is in his 50s and, well, if a person does not like me for my personality they are not going to like me! Heh!!
But, then again, that is their choice not mine. I am quite happy with who I am, what I do and how I think.
Take care.
PS You are MUCH better looking than any of those three - but you should know that!! We do!
Hollywoodites (or the people who write about them) are insane! End of statement. They will blast Jessica for being 'fat', but they'd turn right around and say Kiera is too skinny.... it's amazing anyone lives in that system and comes out somewhat functional on the other side. And too bad we - especially our young daughters - have to see this crud all the time.
Josie: I liked being thin in the 60s and I certainly don't want to be fat! But there has to be a healthy in between. So, no more super skinny for me, but staying away from obese. I like me just the way I am and healthy. People tell me I look younger since being very ill going on 2 years ago--and gaining over 10 pounds subsequently. Who wants a skinny Granny! D
I have to agree with Russell on all counts, except to add that even Barbie has more curves than Kiera. Someone needs to get that girl a piece of cheese and a cracker!
I have to agree with you as well. I don't know why women feel the need to starve themselves to look apealing. Kiera, is a whole other story. It think if she turned sideways, she'd disappear! She may even snap in half if you bumped into her, lol.
I have 6 children. Although I complain that I am no longer the size 3 I was in high school, I am greatful to be as thin as I am. I wear a size 9, sometimes a 10 depending on the "fit" of the outfit. I know I could be more careful with what I eat, but what is the fun in that?
Hollywood, which is an hour from my house, has been DYSfunctional for a looooong time, on what is healthy physically and emotionally. The fashion industry adds to it, by having those idiotic proportions for their models and expect us to wear it. Glad for this article,
more women need to stand up for this,because it fits in the category of "abuse to the body." It takes some convincing before most of the abused even see that they are abused,or abuse themselves.
There is such a thing as a skinny woman that doesn't starve herself. I happen to be one. And my husband thinks I'm beautiful.
That is a pretty disturbing photo of Keira. She has a beautiful face, but she looks like she's the poster child for a third-world country. In my next life, maybe I can be one of those people blessed with a naturally thin body. I've certainly had to battle with my weight throughout this one.
It's crazy. I personally have never been an acceptable size, or atleast by society's standards. But really, why so skinny??? I'm healthy, but I sure as heck am not a size 0.
I say pish posh. Girls grow up with self loathing and self deprivating attitudes because of this stupid standard to be skinny.. and I don't know about everywhere else, but in the US it's skinny, blonde, tan and big boobs.
I just blogged about this a few days ago- set your own standards! I set mine by accepting my mom-belly, stretch marks and all.
TheChicGeek, oh, goodness, 5 foot 11, size 2 is definitely not fat. The woman in the documentary I watched dieted and exercised herself down to size 0. She made herself ill.
Starlene, yes, and a sexy woman.
Marcelle, in a recent interview Jessica talked about how hard she had to starve herself to get into those shorts for that movie. She says she is happy now. And I agree, she is perfect.
Jadecarmella, Marilyn was actually quite small by the standards of her day, but she would be considered fat now. Can you even believe it?? I think she is perfect too.
Russell, thank you! :::blush::: But I agree, the overall confidence and persona is very important. Keira Knightley seems to be saying in that picture, "Do you like me? Do I look okay?" No!
Ann, during the recent Screen Actors Guilt awards, they actually had exercise equipment on the red carpet, and trainers were showing what various people did to get their "good bodies"! This was right on the red carpet. I was shocked!
Donnetta, I'm glad you're feeling better now, and you probably feel stronger, too, gaining ten pounds. And I agree, in the photos I have seen of you, you look waaaaaay younger than you are!
Karly, oh, goodness, someone needs to get that girl a big bowl of beef stew with potatoes, carrots, peas, onions, parsnips, cheese biscuits with real butter! *heh*
Arley, size 9 is perfect, as far as I am concerned. You probably have curves in all the right places!
Jeanette, yes! It is abuse to the body. And someone does need to stand up and say enough is enough! Goodness, who sets these standards???
Kathy, you are very fortunate that you can eat whatever you want. That is unusual. *sigh* :-)
Leah, I think most people have to battle their weight, because most people live more sedentary lives than their ancestors. People need to be more active and eat less. (I should talk...!) *heh*
MadredeEzekiel, "Girls grow up with self loathing and self deprivating attitudes because of this stupid standard to be skinny." Oh, gosh, yes! It frightens me.
Well, if I had to switch over, whose body would I want to have? Jessica Simson's. Whose face? Marilyn Monroe's?
But if I could lose 50 pounds I would rather stay me. :-)
Lorna
There is nothing beautiful about a skeleton, and that is what Kiera reminds me of. Jessica shouldn't put on any more weight, but she's fine as she is.
Lorna, oh, yes. I wouldn't want to be either of them... I would want to stay me too. It's so easy to put on weight, and so hard to lose it, isn't it?
Kenju, Keira is a skeleton. I wonder if she ever looks in a mirror and sees how she really is.
I'm in total agreement with you. I'm a BBW and proud of it. As a matter of fact, when I just started taking it in stride that THIS IS WHO I AM, I had guys coming out of the woodwork to date me. It's incredible!!
Jessica Simpson....OK. But Marilyn Monroe.......OWWWWWWWWW....YEAH!!!!
The emphasis has to be redirected towards health and not size.
Unfortunately we are living in tabloid times.
Junk news seems to be trumping sane advice.
Teach your children well.
Peace - Rene
Yeah, Keira is a bone. I don't know how much further women will go. When she turns sideways, she all but disappears, except for her head, which looks abnormally large on that body.
I'm not a huge fan of Jessica Simpson (no pun intended) but that is not the most flattering outfit on her. It looks as though she's wearing mom jeans! Honestly, I don't care what size any of them are, but I would rather see a woman with some meat on her bones, someone who looks vital and healthy. Otherwise, what kind of example is it setting for young girls?
Peace = D
Kiera Knightley?
I thought it was Anna Rexic.
To even the voting, Jessica and Marilyn should both be in the same outfit, but Marilyn wins it it hand down in my opinion also!
Teri and the cats of Furrydance
good topic. I get so mad when perfectly normal girls like scarlett johanson apologize for their build. Your normal why are you the one apologizing. The freakishly skinny ones should be saying sorry. Hey girl with the ribs have a sandwich! your freaking me out!
The pressure is already bad enough for girls and then they have to see that. I dont want the word fat in my childrens vocab if i can help it.
In my opinion Marilyn has the perfect Body between the 3 of them. Jessica is ok, looking human. Keira on the other side just scares the hell out of me. I imagine her grabbing the next street light if the winds in London get too harsh in Autumn, and even then, her Body waving comically like a Flag. D:
You are right.
Keira looks almost ugly with her waif thin body, If only the girl wasnt so thin she would have looked like a stunner. Its another thing that Hollywood already brands her a stunner with her current statistics. Jessica and Marilyn look healthy, good/ great.
I have heard the name Kiera Knightly but I have no idea what she has been in as far as movies. She looks absolutely ill and completely unattractive here.
Jessica looks beautiful and happy. Keira has never been beautiful, in my opinion. Having two daughters, I have struggled for many years to have them love their bodies, just the way they are. My oldest, as a ballet dancer, was the hardest on herself. She is still obsessed with watching her weight, but in a more healthy way. I just hope Jessica doesn't cave to the strange affectation of this generation to starve themselves into utter devastation.
jessica finally saw the light !!! LOL ive been shining brightly since birth. Born healthy and have never lost the baby fat lol... great writing!!
Wouldn't a size "0" be nudity or at least no more than a well designed shoe string?
About 5'8" 140-150 lbs, no booby sag beyond a tad, a nice round butt and a decent cook sounds abou...Oh wait yeah, that's my old lady. Yeah that sounds about right.
Heh, heh. Seems like Mark is saving his own bacon. okay, I am not a fan of Jessica Simpson. Keira is not at all appealing. Marilyn is okay but Sophia Loren is the peak of curvaceous beauty.
Taking a leaf from Mark's book, my all time favorite is my wife, of course. .......Natalie Wood would be a close second!
I embrace my curves.
I grew up with my grandfather who was a semi-well known artist, a very passionate and perceptive man, who taught me to see beauty almost everywhere. I love the female body in all its aspects of weight, age, stature,health...and despite the natural tendency of my gender, I usually look first at the...eyes.
SweetPeaSurry, yes! As Russell commented, it's all about confidence, and overall persona, and that is probably what is shining out of you now.
TheManOfNotts, *heh* I'm glad you didn't choose Keira Knightley!
NotTheRockefellers, precisely! Skinny is not healthy. Keira Knightley looks very ill. It should be all about health.
RiverPoet, *heh* I know a few Moms who would be happy to look that good in their Mom jeans. I'm not a big fan of Jessica Simpson either, but I think she looks great.
Ivan, LOL! How do you come up with this stuff? :-)
Teri, yes, but they look about the same size, whereas Keira looks frighteningly unattractive. *shudder*
Flowrgirl1, yes, Scarlett Johansson is spectacularly beautiful, and she knows it, thank goodness. I don't think we will see her dieting herself down to skin and bone!
PinkPanthress, LOL. That's a great image. And that dress looks as if it's about to fall off her in a good wind too.
Budh.aaah, Keira Knightley does have a gorgeous face, but even her face and hair look dreadful, she has starved herself so much!
Charles, she was in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies with Johnny Depp, amongst other things. She is pretty, but very ill-looking.
LoverofLife, I think Jessica looks better now than when she was thinner. She doesn't look so angular. And yes, I hope she keeps her curves, as an example for other women.
Leilani, you probably look great as you are. Women should embrace their curves. :-)
Mark, LOL! *heh* It sounds like you have the right attitude about your wife. Yay!
LGS, *heh* it sounds as if you are saving your bacon too. :-) Yes, Natalie Wood was exquisitely beautiful, wasn't she? And Sophia Loren too. She attributed her curves to all the pasta she ate (eats). That is what women should look like.
Loretta, oh yes, fat, happy and eating chocolate. I think there is a correlation between food and love, isn't there? Hopefully men will love the women who love chocolate. :-)
CountryGirl, yes! Good for you. I'll bet your husband loves embracing your curves too. :-)
Butler and Bagman, you know -- I always look at a person's eyes too. That's funny, hey? The eyes are the window to the soul. All the rest is just the package it's housed in. Your grandfather was a semi-well known artist? Wow!
Bravo!
I don't get the industry too. It's either you're too skinny or you're too fat. and i culdn;t agree more to you... jess looks much healthier and shines more than when she were too skinny i reckon..
I kind of can't stand Jessica Simpson but maybe with the sound off she's not so bad.
Marilyn was a goddess, as is Sophia Loren. And Keira Knightly resembles a sparrow in winter, one which won't live until spring brings seeds and worms to eat. Such body image issues are shocking, sad and dangerous to impressionable young girls.
This comment is for your post above, the bereaved bird pictures, because there is a large gray square over the latter part of that post.
I had not seen those pictures before but I have seen birds stay by their fallen partners for days, scaring off aggressors and starving themselves in their grief.
Many humans could learn loyalty from these creatures.
I'm sure you've heard this, but Kiera says she's told she's too 'big' for some parts. Amazing.
Jessica annoys me so I have nothing to say about her.
We watched all of Marilyn Monroe's movies once and her weight really fluxuated. In some, she's literally skin and bone.
I think she gained weight for the publicity. She was starting to fade.
http://racheteapaintersdiary.blogspot.com/
It must have been back in the 1970s that I went to see The Seven-Year Itch with a woman friend; it was her choice, though I enjoyed it. But when Monroe appeared on the screen, my friend blurted, "She's fat!" Which I guess she was, by 1970s American standards, but not by human ones.
As horrifying as I find that pic of Keira Knightley, I have to remind myself that women have done horrible things to themselves to make themselves 'attractive' for centuries, in many cultures, not just the US (corsets, lead-based makeup, belladonna, foot-binding, etc.) As messed up as my country is, it's not unique. (Though I spend a lot of energy criticizing my country and culture, I still try to be fair about it. It's interesting to me how many people who denounce others for Blaming America First in certain foreign-policy areas will not hesitate to Blame America First in other areas.)
Glad to see someone discuss this issue. I think Jessica looks great! What I want to know is where is the outrage about how fat Bruce Springsteen was at the SuperBowl? He was bigger than Garth Brooks and certainly bigger than Jessica Simpson.
Jessica Simpson is smart... she's taking over where Kirstie Alley left off and is thus poised to make a ton of money advertising for the weight loss industry
For the most part, I avoid "Fat Talk". A lesson I learned from my lover.
Too skinny women look great with clothes on, there is no debate, but
I prefer a woman who looks good naked. Take the clothes off these women and everything goes downhill...
can I just say... as a man meself, I don't find rediculously skinny women attractive, they just look unhealthy :/.... hmm I may follow this blog it's pretty interesting :)
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