Skinny or Not, Celebrity Women are Still Women
December 17, 2006 by gayla
Filed under Women's Health
Over the past year, celebrities have gotten skinnier and skinnier. Everyone has noticed and talked about it ad infinitum, but what’s the point? The rest of us are still just as hefty as ever even the slimmest among us. Few are as tiny as Nicole Richie who, at her arrest for drunk driving, weighed in at 85 pounds and measured 5 feet 1 inch. And Victoria Beckham is apparently a size 00 - DOUBLE zero.
Last week, Diane von Furstenberg, the president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, sent a letter to members:
…as designers, we cannot ignore the impact fashion has on body image. We share a responsibility to protect women, and very young girls in particular, within the industry, sending the message that health is beauty.
September Fashion week in Madrid limited participation in shows to models who were above a BMI of 18. and Italian fashion trade group, the Camera Nazionale della Moda, is set to follow in February.
All this attention isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I wonder how much of it is really going to impact the majority of people worldwide. Certainly, it may influence the millions of people affected with anorexia nervosa and associated disorders. For most people, however, there are far more important concerns than the size of celebrities and models. What about African women dying of AIDS, others dying of heart disease and cancer, and the many women suffering domestic abuse?
I’m glad fashionistas are trying to encourage a healthy body image in their industry. Let’s not forget, however, that health is more than just weight and height. Healthy minds, healthy hearts, and healthy all around lifestyle are critical for every woman and girl whether or not they look to the stars for guidance. And I hope there are plenty of normal, everyday, happy people who surround all women with unconditional love because I think that’s what these celebs really need.
Los Angeles Times, December 16, 2006
Tags: nicole ritchie, victoria beckham, skinny celebrities, skinny, anorexia, fashion, fashion industry, diane von furstenberg, women, womens health, health, domestic violence
Nicole Ritchie definitely looks sickly. Personally, I like the way Jennifer Aniston looked when she first appeared on Friends. She wasn’t overweight, but she had a nice shape to her. Now she looks so long and thin.
I agree with you, Hsien. There is more to health than body weight.
I find it great that fashionestas are finally listening. next we’ll be seeing a size 12 woman, and not be told she is a Plus Size. Wouldn’t that be great?
Karen: I’m sorry for the late reply! I like real looking women too not bobbleheads.
Mindy: I like thinking of myself as being a plus, though. Go me!
Thanks for the comment and sorry for being so late to bring it out of hiding.
Awesome, man
I agree… there are many other issues that deserve just as much attention as the body image issue. And I hope none of us will forget that fact. But I think we have allowed ourselves to be divided by the size issue, and it affects the way we treat each other. So it’s important that we don’t let it place a gap between us. Sometimes plus-size women are our own worst enemies too. We need to remember that we’re all sisters and that what affects one of us, affects us all. So, I hope this body-image/too-thin models situation won’t become another wall between us. If we do, we’ll find it difficult to address some of the more pressing issues together. We need to present a united front if we want to effect change in the other arenas. (I get like that when I’m hungry. Better eat now.) (smile)
I’m sort of rambling, but I hope the gist of my message is coming through.
- Dorez
Jahqoi.com
Dorez, that’s such a great comment. Women are women and people are people, and we need to deal with the same issues regardless of our dress size. Thanks for the added perspective!
Kristen
Thanks, Kristen. I just hate to see us turning against each other over this weight issue. Women have enough struggles to endure as it is. We need each other’s support.
One thing I’m glad about, though, is that at least this issue has gotten us talking. And maybe in the end it’ll bring us all closer.
- Dorez
http://www.jahqoi.com