Plus Size Opportunities

Hollywood Gains more than Weight!

"The ladies of "Hairspray" are a rarity in fat-phobic Hollywood, whose obsession with willowy women is so strong the idea of a corpulent heroine is almost unheard of." These harsh but true words are the opening for a wonderfully eye-opening article about the 'new' remake of Hairspray.

Honestly, when was the last time you saw a big girl save the day? Win the contest? Get the guy? Ever?

Well Hollywood is slowly changing it's image, and the commotion is being headed by the return of the movie musical. Remember the splash caused by buxom, bitchy and beautiful Effie White played by Jennifer Hudson? That plot is riddled with weight references. However, even that was a baby step; different cultures have different beauty ideals. I think that is incredible. But until we had a "good ol' fashioned American white chick" with plenty of jello to jiggle the test of our nation's preference could not be complete. Enter Nikki Blonsky. This beauty, who plays the lead role in Hairspray, is proud of her beauty and talent. She kicks serious 'A' at the local dance contest, and she knows she is hot stuff. She encourages her mother, who is so ashamed of her own weight she hasn't left the apartment in years, to embrace the world and herself. This movie screams, "Way to go, fat chicks!" in the best possible way. It teaches us not to judge simply by a look.

I applaud the return of the movie musical, and not only because I want to star in one. The more money we can throw at the box office, the clearer the message to producers: we want to see our selves, our neighbors, our friends on the screen, not just the pretty skinny girls you picked off the runway. We are women too, we are beautiful and we are talented.

And we will be represented in the world of the media.

Models

Slow but steady steps are being taken to ensure the physical health of runway models and the emotional security of young girls everywhere.

While this article focuses on the fact that London is resisting this movement, it also highlights the countries who are really making an effort.

There are decrees being set about the limitations on fashion models, rules that should have been set down ages ago. They are trying to set a minimum age, namely because young girls are more succeptable to the pressure to lose weight in an unhealthy way. They believe that the younger the girl starts in this business the more likely she will develop an eating disorder.

These commitees are also enforcing rules concerning a minimum weight. In several fashion-focused countries designers have rejected models for being 'too skinny', and it it about time! They actually have regulations based on the BMI (Body Mass Index) which has more to do with the ratio of fat and lean muscle than just a number on a scale. It means they are finally trying to be more concerned with their health than just their appeal. Imagine what a great difference this will make for many girls?

I'm going to make a confession: I have, for quite some time, secretly longed to be a runway model. My body is far from perfect, but ladies I know how to do that walk! I have always kind of laughed to myself, however, at the possibility of it. I think I have a good mix between slender and curvy, but curves do not appeal to fashion designers this season, so why bother? Slowly the concern of health is sneaking up on the desire for "perfection", and it is going to change the social concept of ideal beauty. Look throughout history - the pendulum swings to both sides with time. There was a time in our history when being skinny and tanned meant that you were lower class, worked outside and could not afford food. Now it is revered as most high in the art of appeal!

Curvy ladies, our time will come again. It is already on its way!

Unpretty

An older music video that makes a great point. It's cheesy, but they do a great job of covering a lot of ground. Any of it seem familiar?

Waris Dirie

This Somali-born super-model is an example of exotic and breathtaking beauty. She is also an absolute pillar of strength. This woman now works for the United Nations as the Special Ambassador for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation, a topic she understands first-hand.
A lot of people are either unfamiliar with the idea of female genital mutilation, or they severely underestimate its existence. "Between 100 million and 140 million women have undergone genital mutilation worldwide, and 2 million girls are at risk each year." This practice is most common in African and Middle Eastern nations and cultures. An article I read this morning, however, made me aware of the rising number of cases in Britain.

Dirie puts her career and her privacy on the line every day for millions of children and young women across the world. She is able to draw upon her own story to encourage others who have had the procedure. The process she underwent was very often fatal; it took the lives of her sister and her cousins.

Dirie believes that the best thing we, as individuals, can do to stop this is to raise awareness. She said, "It’s got to be kept in the newspapers, it’s got to be talked about - and that’s the way people can help and to know what’s going on. Because mostly they don’t know what’s going on. Most of the world doesn’t know it’s going on, and it happens."
This strong, beautiful woman is a beacon, shining light on the dark things we wish we could ignore. I applaud her strength and her mission, and I hope she continues to make the world a better place.

Invisible Women

So many of the women I have emphasized and analyzed are familiar faces; celebrities we see and read about practically every day. While I feel that it is necessary to do so, it is important that I do not neglect the Invisible Women, those who suffer away from constant watch.
I want to take a moment to give a little hope. I have become emotionally involved in the crisis in Darfur. I have tried to donate my money and my prayers to the efforts made there, and I am constantly amazed at the huge impact of a small donation. This article was featured in Oprah's magazine (and you know I love Oprah!) on how easily we can make big changes.

“Fueling Hope:
If your reaction to news of atrocities in Darfur, Sudan, is horror mixed with helplessness, it’s time to get involved. Many women living in refugee camps have no choice but to put themselves in the path of government-supported militiamen, Janjaweed, as they rape and slaughter their way across the region. “To fuel their traditional cooking fires, women spend as much as seven hours a day foraging for scarce wood, and while they’re out searching, they’re vulnerable to rape,” says Christina Galitsky, an energy analyst at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California. “The men can’t go instead because the Janjaweed kill them outright. And the women have become so desperate, they’re selling their food rations to buy wood.” Galitsky worked with her colleague, renowned scientist Ashok Gadgil, to develop a simple stove that reduces the amount of fuel consumed in cooking by up to 75%. There are 2.2 million refugees in Darfur who need about 300,000 stoves; for $30 you can donate one to a woman and help keep her and her family safe. Visit http://www.chfinternational.org/section/donate”

These women suffer violent and horrifying rape almost daily. They are physically and emotionally scarred repeatedly, and they do so to save the lives of their family. What better way to encourage another beautiful soul in this world than to save her from that merciless torture?

Mrs. Earth

I found an interesting competition, and I wanted to inform people:

MRS. TEXAS EARTH BEAUTY PAGEANT SEEKS CONTESTANTS
Reply to: mrsearth2008@gmail.com
*** ATTENTION MARRIED WOMEN FROM THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS ****
WE ARE CURRENTLY SEEKING CONTESTANTS TO COMPETE FOR THE TITLE OF MRS. TEXAS EARTH 2008 WHO WILL ADVANCE TO THE SUMMER 2008 INTERNATIONAL MRS. EARTH BEAUTY PAGEANT. DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO REPRESENT TEXAS AT MRS. EARTH?
The Mrs. Earth Pageant was created to celebrate the outstanding successes a women has achieved as a wife, mother, friend and community leader. Mrs. Earth will be the total package: beautiful, successful, confident and driven.
CONTESTANTS MUST BE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE, LEGALLY MARRIED AND A RESIDENT OF TEXAS. IF INTERESTED IN COMPETING, PLEASE CONTACT US VIA EMAIL. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME, MAILING ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, EMAIL ADDRESS AND 2 PHOTOGRAPHS.
We will forward you all the information you'll need to participate in the 2008 competition.

How fascinating that they are marketing it towards married women, and focusing not only on their physical beauty but on their successes as women. I think it is a great step forward in the pageant/competition world.

Bunnies against beatings...

Really, it is You-Tube day...

This man makes an excellent point. I'm glad I found this clip because it illustrates that there are men fighting the same fight as women. Feminism does not set out to be anti-man, and I think this guy stands strong on an important issue. I especially like his references to the famous serial killers; not everyone knows this evidence from their testimony, and it is valuable.

Suffrage

It seems to be You-Tube day...

This one might make you a little angry. Yes, this guy is definitely a jerk and a sexist. That part doesn't particularly surprise me. However, how sad is it that it works! It gives you a hint about our educational system. Also, maybe we should put a little more focus on women's studies at a younger age, especially at an all girls' school. Most of these girls think that suffrage is synonymous with suffering, so they are all for it. One girl got the voting reference, but she got it backwards.

What are we passing on to our future generations?

Women in Art

This video is fascinating and beautiful. It moves from picture to picture a little too fast for me, but the image created is incredible. Watch it once through while watching the eyes the whole time.