I rarely watch TV, but due to the complete lack of work in my job I do read a lot of news stories.
Today this one has caught my attention, and it is a subject that has infuriated me for a while now.
A model, Ann, on the America's Next Top Model (ANTM) series has caused outrage among women around the world due to her tiny (and I mean TINY) waist. She has boasted that she does in fact have the "world's smallest waist", and in the picture you can see a man with his hands around her middle and his fingers do touch very easily.
Women's website Twirlit has condemned ANTM saying they should not have allowed Ann on their show, that having her on there is sending the wrong image to kids, also accusing her of having an eating disorder.
EXCUSE ME?
Look at the picture. Yes, her waist is unusually small, but the rest of her body looks healthy to me. Since when does an eating disorder only affect your waist?
In fact I bet my fiance could do the same with his hands around my waist and the only eating disorder you could accuse me of having is one of eating too much! ITS CALLED A METABOLISM PEOPLE.
I am absolutely sick to death of this new term "Real Women" the media keeps throwing around.
I am petite NATURALLY. I am in no way unhealthily small and many of the women in magazines aren't either. Of course I agree that stick-thin catwalk models who starve themselves almost to death should never be role-models, but there are girls in the world who are thin due to genetics and apparently this is unbelievable to a lot of people.
How are we helping young girls to feel good about themselves when all I seem to hear about is how "Real Women" have fat in unwanted places, wrinkles and big thighs.
Umm.. I don't. Apparently I am not a real woman. I have curves, but they are in proportion to my size, which I'll remind you, is SMALL.
I really am disgusted by women and magazines etc who say thin women are setting a bad example for young girls. How about being a bit more realistic and saying you won't buy or publish magazines who promote unhealthy eating instead of trying to set the world against thin models.
Saying Ann shouldn't be a part of a TV show because her waist is "too small" means that all the young girls out there who have a similar body are now going to feel like circus freaks, instead of seeing someone who has the same shape excel in her career and possibly become a great role-model for them.
You can't preach for girls to accept their bodies, then go and say that if someone's body is small there is something wrong with them.
Girls, if you are unhealthy - change it, but all shapes can be gorgeous if you know how to dress to suit yours.
