Rant Alert: Supermodels and VS

[raefinlay]

About a year ago, I broke up with a gentleman who felt I was too portly for his tastes. (I'm a size 6. In who's world is that portly??) I told him to go date Heidi Klum with my blessing. Since then, I've done a lot of thinking about the kind of society that produces a physical aesthetic whos daily calorie quota is 800 or less.

I just received the latest Victoria's Secret catalog, and I think I understand. There is a new model on the cover--well, one I don't recognize anyway--and she is beautiful. Big, pouty lips, long hair with enthusiasm all its own, a jaw structure to die for. But her body...she has the figure of my 7-year-old sister. I'm not making use of exaggeration here. She truly looks like a child. No hips, no breasts, no shape. There is a picture of her leaning over, elbow on her knee, and the contrast in thickness between arm and leg is almost unnoticeable.

Toward the middle of the catalog is a spread of nubile-girl in various poses of sexual bliss. It's soft porn at its finest (of course, I read the VS catalog for the articles) but with a Jon Benet look-alike as the centerfold. I felt sick to my stomach.

I wonder if femininity is on the outs. We've become so obsessed with fat count that today's "attractive" women are either breakable or bulging with muscle. I've decided that I like my curves. I like having breasts and hips and a slight softness in my thighs. I like filling out my clothes in all the right places, and I love the fact that my body is very different from my baby sister's.

And after breaking up with jerk-boy, I've decided that I'm not going to bust my butt trying to lose those last 5 pounds. No matter how beautiful the next VS cover child is.

Comments

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

Run right out and rent all of the Avengers episodes with Honor Blackman and Diana Rigg. They are both slender, yes--but their arms are round and firm, and their cheeks are filled out, and their calves are strong. They have asses and thighs and physical presence.

Those are beautiful women.

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

see?

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

I recently noticed that Netflix rents out the Avengers. It's been on my must-see list for a while now. And yes, she is beautiful!

[maac.livejournal.com]

Jerk-boy was a lovely description... Bring on the women with shape !

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

Amen! Now, I think I'm going to go make some pasta...

[greenlight711.livejournal.com]

Amen sistah! You know what's funny? I think I look so much better and sexier (can I say that about myself? :D) now at 29 than I did at 19 when I had barely a smidge of fat and was obsessed with how I looked.

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

I completely agree. Besides, there is something very sexy about people who are comfortable with themselves.

[everyonesakitty.livejournal.com]

I agree, too!!!! I'm proud of my curves!!! Marilyn Monroe was a size 14-16...

[dark-geisha.livejournal.com]

How the hell is size 6 portly?!?! My mom is a size 8 petite and everyone says she's tiny! That she's, in fact, tinier than me & I wear a smaller size. D: D: D:

[everyonesakitty.livejournal.com]

yeah, that's disturbing to me, too... a 6 portly? for crying out loud!!! I've never been lower than a 10 my whole life, and I have to work my ass off (quite literally) to stay anywhere near it.

and I *like* myself :D and my husband seems pleased :D hee hee down with evil people who think everyone has to be skinny! down with them!!! they'll get theirs... :D

[dragonmyst.livejournal.com]

I'll go sit on the jerk. I just got down to size 16, and you know what? I've got curves in all the right places. I got told by a prospective errr boyfriend a while back that he 'dislikes thin women because he's afraid he'd accidentily break them'.

Size is not important, it's all whats inside the person. If a guy is so shallow to worry about a female's size A) he's going to cause emotional problems in the woman and B) he's a shallow person and wouldn't see you for the true gem that you are. :D

ok, off my soapbox *wondering if it made sense*

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

*hugs Ester's gorgeous size 16 self*

[jmeadows.livejournal.com]

Dude. You're like, so cool. I was just complaining to my husband (who all day was so nice and kept telling me I look hot. *g*) that I'm frustrated with my clothes and that I've gained weight from writing this book. This is exactly what I needed to read, dude.

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

Good husband, Jeff! *patpat*

He is one lucky guy, you know.

[jmeadows.livejournal.com]

He is a good husband. :)

[cricketshay.livejournal.com]

Right On Rae! I knew I liked you for a reason! I'm learning to love my curves. I'm glad you told jerk boy were to get off!

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

*blushblush*
*likes Shay right back*

[aaron-mag.livejournal.com]

About a year ago, I broke up with a gentleman who felt I was too portly for his tastes.

Very poor descriptive term for him. Doesn't sound like a gentleman at all.

Dude!!! I wish that I was the slim, trim guy of my early 20s. It just ain't going to happen in the forseeable future. But physical appearance/abilities is so transitory. You could be an olympic athlete one day and get into a car accident and suddenly not be able to walk. But you're still the same person, right?

My martial arts instructor, Master Kim, has some funny comments on this subject (and probably a healthy perspective since he is closing in on 70). In his broken english he says something like: Physical strength is not long lasting. To be physically champion and mentally immature...it doesn't make sense. Mental strength and positive (pronounces it poshitive :) ) attitude. That is what is long lasting...

:D

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

I think I loff Master Kim.

[jmeadows.livejournal.com]

I do, too. :D