By Sarah Smith

Whoever tacked on the “th” on to the front of “inspiration” is surely mistaken. Today’s society seems to be centered around not only staying very fit…but very slim. Thin seems to be the new “in.” However, many teens and young adults take this to a new extreme. Many people suffer from anorexia, obesity and other eating disorders. The question is: why do girls insist on slimming down to kid sizes? What happened to the idolized image of the curvaceous American woman? What replaced that ideal today are pictures of emaciated models with too-thin frames, skin and bones down the runway.

Ask a group of women whether they would prefer to be size 0 or 10: most would report a desire for a size 0 frame. Our society pressures women to be skinny and model-esqe. In the past, full figures were attractive to both men and women, because it showed health and wealthy. If a woman or man was “plump” it was valued due to the money needed to afford food and drink. On the other hand, today we have a very negative outlook on obesity; all full figured individuals are characterized as “fat” or “big.”

It is possible to be curvy and fit. Celebrities like Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian have the curves of a larger woman, but the toned physique of a fit female. We should model ourselves after these celebrities. They are comfortable in their own skin and know that a little meat on our bones is healthy and looks good. Stars like Nicole Richie and the Olsen twins, however, are too skinny. Their ribs are too prominent and they lack womanly curves. Many of the dresses we spot on the runway look like curtains on the stick figures that sport them. But when worn by a voluptuous celeb, these designs come to life, folding and flowing over the natural curves of the female figure.

Men also like to see a fuller-figured woman. They love womanly assets and find it sexy when women fill out their shirts and skirts. If it were up to men, models would be twice their weight. The world would be better off if women viewed themselves and each other as men do: beautiful, shapely and feminine.

What would our world be like if size 4-8 models strutted the catwalk? Maybe more women would embrace their bodies and live healthy, happy lives. Next time you look in the mirror and think you need to trim off some pounds, rethink. Chances are if you are eating healthy and exercising, you are at the perfect size for you. Be kind to your body; don’t slip down to model size. Be confident and flaunt your figure because you wear it well!

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