Name one Caucasian overweight/obese pop or country singer who has been this way for all of her career. Having a hard time? That's because there are NONE! The mammoth pressure to be slim and rock it caves the finest obesers to diet and lose weight, this side of Christendom and that side of pagendom. (See Wynonna Judd). This is especially true when one is a celebrity earning millions. Even opera stars are shedding fat skins and keeping svelt. ( Debra Voigt and Natalie Dessay) And the big hollering belters like Sophie Tucker have waifed into Sutton Foster and Christen Chenoweth.
For black women (you are my goddesses) the scene is more forgiving. However, if their career is going to take off and they are going to consistently pull down the seven figures, they, too, must bow to the gods of stickdom. Jennifer Hudson is a prime example of moving from one level in her career to the next. If you view this video (click link) of Jennifer Hudson earlier in her career and skip down to some of the comments about her weight (even the ones decrying the criticism of her being fat) you note the ostracism of FAT THINK. Appearance is our American Idol, and a FAT appearance does not preclude Harry Potter's cloak of invisibility; Celebrity Fatness will be commented upon critically or in defense.
Hudon's weight loss is apparent in these next two videos. In the first, (click link) she hasn't arrived at her targeted weight loss. But she is wearing black, a weight mitigater, for sure! And the photo angles, lighting, cut-aways and story-boarded shots enhance a thinner appearance. In this last video (click link) she is her most svelte. And the content involves a scene evoking prior intimacy; has she appeared in videos like this before, revealing more of her body when she was obese? You answer the question.
No one who has been thin for life can completely understand what an obese/overweight woman goes through in this culture; only another overweight/obese woman can understand the phenomenal oppression about fitting in, especially when one is young. It is as if the world is passing you by and you must be like your peers or you will be "obliviated." (Yes, I know this is not a word, but you do know what it means!) They will shine far ahead of you and you will never be able to compete. Hudson was/is beautiful. She was talented before her weight loss and is talented now. But her weight loss signifies and, for me, SCREAMS out that she has wanted to be thin, felt the pain of not being like those of her generation and celebrity class, and HAD to do something about it. She caved into the complexity of the emotional and psychological issues of fat self-loathing. And no matter how much the obese battler tries to eradicate this from the soul, mind, intellect, IT'S THERE, like fear, waiting to envelope and pounce like a "Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright, In the Forests of the Night!" (Blake's poem about Satan/God)
Joy Nash, I do appreciate your FAT RANTS; you have no idea how much. Where were you when I needed you 40 years ago? BUT...here comes the caveat: will you always feel this way? Or is this convenient for now? What happens if you become MEGA and I mean MEGA famous. Will you, too, be phenomenally pressured (at this point you have no idea what that is) like Jennifer Hudson to get the weight off? Right now, you are a comedian and your diatribes are refreshing in their cultural cross nailing. God knows, we all need to hear the message and I intend to do my part in being a social critic, as well. But even Roseann Barr (comedian queen of the obese and slovenly) lost weight, had Lipo and cosmetic surgery and I remember a photo shoot that revamped her into sexiness. Her weighty self was burdensome and she cried out for FAT RELEASE and lost weight. Is anyone who makes it into celebrity heaven immune from this oppressive thin appearance cult worship? And for those who do lose weight, like Jennifer Hudson, will they be able to maintain it? I do pray so!!!
Showing posts with label Fat Acceptance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fat Acceptance. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
MODELING CURRENTS: Body Images Are Morphing
The concept of modeling is changing, and I'm thrilled. You don't have to be a size 0 to be a high fashion runway model, thank you Victoria Beckam. She prevented 12 models from appearing in her September 2010 New York Fashion week show for "appearing too skinny." Currently, her fashions are being worn by models who encourage a positive, healthy and realistic body image for young girls and women. Bravo! All fashion designers and celebrity fashionistas in addition to Prada, Versace, Armani and the British Fashion Council must embrace Victoria Beckam's shining example.
Uber thinness, long a requirement of high fashion modeling is the condition that most probably contributed to the deaths of Uruguayan model Luisel Ramos and her sister model 18 year old Eliana Ramos. Luisel Ramos reportedly consumed diet coke and lettuce for three months to "make weight," her BMI 14.5 at 5'9" before she collapsed and died. She was 22 years old.
(The above picture was taken from this site. )
Eliana Ramos, her sister, died on the bathroom floor six months later, not deterred by her older sister's warning signs. Eliana died of a heart attack. See citation. For all the young women, including any young woman who is battling anorexia, her soul squashed by the idea that to be FAT or OVERWEIGHT is a veritable social death sentence, if you like, you can be a Fit Model at your size. You do not have to starve yourself to do so! Fit models come in all sizes: 4-6 7-8 9-10 and Plus sizes. The key ingredient is to be the exact measurement for the particular size, not uber thinness.
For all the MeMe Roth's out there who are opposed to the Fat Acceptance Movement which is doing its part to nullify the oppressive images that wallpaper our cultural media outlets' products, I say DUH, DUH, and DUH! It's the images that have killed emotionally, mentally, spiritually first; then the physical has followed. Health begins in the mind and soul; the body follows. Love and acceptance first; then health follows naturally. The Fat Acceptance Movement is an extreme to counteract the irrational nihilism that to be a beatific, sanctified, lovely, you must be a stick.
Yes, we know that for the female digital photographic image, still or video, to appear at "normal weight" the woman must be UNDERWEIGHT on BMI charts. DUH! SO WHAT! All of us, especially younger women must realign mentally and emotionally to think fit. Why not think Fit Model to do this? It is reassuring to know that if you have boobs and a butt you will be welcomed!!! (Boy's bodies are for boys anyway.) Do not think runway model to align your iconic image of what your body should look like. Even fashion designers are becoming more realistic and ethical. They do not want more models to drop dead on bathroom floors. Women may stop spending and design their own clothing; it's coming folks, it's coming! I can feel it vibrating in the currents.
Uber thinness, long a requirement of high fashion modeling is the condition that most probably contributed to the deaths of Uruguayan model Luisel Ramos and her sister model 18 year old Eliana Ramos. Luisel Ramos reportedly consumed diet coke and lettuce for three months to "make weight," her BMI 14.5 at 5'9" before she collapsed and died. She was 22 years old.
 |
| Luisel Ramos, 22 years old |
(The above picture was taken from this site. )
Eliana Ramos, her sister, died on the bathroom floor six months later, not deterred by her older sister's warning signs. Eliana died of a heart attack. See citation. For all the young women, including any young woman who is battling anorexia, her soul squashed by the idea that to be FAT or OVERWEIGHT is a veritable social death sentence, if you like, you can be a Fit Model at your size. You do not have to starve yourself to do so! Fit models come in all sizes: 4-6 7-8 9-10 and Plus sizes. The key ingredient is to be the exact measurement for the particular size, not uber thinness.
For all the MeMe Roth's out there who are opposed to the Fat Acceptance Movement which is doing its part to nullify the oppressive images that wallpaper our cultural media outlets' products, I say DUH, DUH, and DUH! It's the images that have killed emotionally, mentally, spiritually first; then the physical has followed. Health begins in the mind and soul; the body follows. Love and acceptance first; then health follows naturally. The Fat Acceptance Movement is an extreme to counteract the irrational nihilism that to be a beatific, sanctified, lovely, you must be a stick.
Yes, we know that for the female digital photographic image, still or video, to appear at "normal weight" the woman must be UNDERWEIGHT on BMI charts. DUH! SO WHAT! All of us, especially younger women must realign mentally and emotionally to think fit. Why not think Fit Model to do this? It is reassuring to know that if you have boobs and a butt you will be welcomed!!! (Boy's bodies are for boys anyway.) Do not think runway model to align your iconic image of what your body should look like. Even fashion designers are becoming more realistic and ethical. They do not want more models to drop dead on bathroom floors. Women may stop spending and design their own clothing; it's coming folks, it's coming! I can feel it vibrating in the currents.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)