I distinctly remember when Sophie Dahl first burst on to the modelling scene over a decade ago. Her voluptuous size 16 figure and pale milky skin caused quite a stir, making her one of, if not the, most successful plus size model of her day. Sophie has not been modelling for a number of years now, turning her love of food and cooking into her own show and book – “The Delicious Miss Dahl.” With the debut of her show last month, Sophie has come back into the spotlight with a marked difference in her appearance. She is now a size 10. Here she is with a delicious recipe for Rhubard and Rosewater Eton Mess. (Excuse me while I digress for a moment). Yum.
I was not surprised to hear that Sophie has stated her weight loss has drawn criticism, inspection and comment to the point where some people have felt so upset about it to the point of supposed betrayal. This surprise is not because I agree with people criticising Sophie’s weight loss. Far from it. Sophie has the right to make changes to her life and body as she chooses and she has stated she has never dieted extremely or had an unhealthy relationship with food. The part that doesn’t make my eyelashes flutter is the readiness with which people have openly criticised her change in physique.
There’s no doubting we live in a world that is appearance focused. People judge others based on what they look like, including, (and in some cases especially), their weight and shape. Things have gotten to the point where it is almost a part of our everyday language to make comments about the way people look that are either downright hurtful or could easily be misconstrued as such. If that person happens to be in the public eye then it seems this concept exists in full strength and that celebrities are permitted targets for body bullying and criticism. No matter how much money they earn or how priveleged we think they are, I just don’t think that’s ok.
I think one of the things many people may forget is that over a lifetime someones body weight and shape can change quite dramatically. Sure, there are some people who maintain a similar size their whole adult life, but many people do not. This could be due to pregnancy, illness, yo-yo dieting, menopause, or many other life occurences. Many people I know, (including myself), experience weight fluctuations for a variety of reasons. It seems to be to be fairly normal.
It’s a pity this doesn’t seem to be recognised by some who think it vitally important that people stay as they are for eternity. When their body changes, it seems to draw comments and criticisms from all corners. I adore plus size model Crystal Renn and am always taken aback when I see comments about how she appears to have either put on or lost weight. She’s still considered plus size as a model, so is there really a point for the criticism? Having been very open about her experience of having an eating disorder, it is very normal that Crystal’s body will undergo changes regularly, potentially for decades to come. I don’t think she needs people highlighting that.
Another rather horrifying example of people’s seeming right to judge others in this way has surfaced this week regarding young actress Mischa Barton. Mischa has been photographed on a coffee run here and a quick scroll through of the subsequent snipes at her body and clothes choice, would surely be enough to make anyone cry. When I read things like “OMG What happened to her? Check out poor Mischa Barton being a mess and showing her extra body weight while going out to get some coffee at Starbucks” I can understand how these young starlets end up having all sorts of hellish issues. That’s alot of mud to let slide.
As Mischa herself has stated in response to criticisms about her weight – “One minute, I’m too fat, the next I’m too skinny” and I’m sure Sophie must be feeling a bit of damned if I do, damned if I don’t thought process. I know I would. Clearly, tabloid magazines are not worth the paper they’re printed on when they write this sort of trash about people. I think the same of snipey gossip blogs, style sites that are obsessed with people’s weight and shape and indeed, people like Brandon Davis, who has called Mischa “one of the fattest people on the planet.” Get some glasses and while you’re at it a brain and heart transplant Brandon. You have serious issues calling this woman fat when the image above was taken less than a month ago.
What are your thoughts Beautiful You readers? Once a plus size model should one always be a plus size model? Should, by the very nature of their profession, celebrities have to cop criticism of their appearance? Have you, yourself, been the victim of someone criticising your body?
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Have always loved Sophie and am excited to see her new stuff. Lovely at all sizes in my opinion.
I do wonder if the people who write comments such as those referenced (and yes, I read the other article, argh!) recall that there is a person behind the image they are attacking. A person with feelings, family and a life with any number of items that can cause a weight fluctuation (as you noted).
Grrr. It frustrates me these people are given a voice to comment. But hey. If i expect my right. They get theirs.
Hehe, might I take issue with the term "plus sized model"? Not attacking your lovely self at all, just the fact that its used! I think its rather crazy. I mean Sophie may be whatever size she likes, she's STILL a model (or well, was one anyway) and she is still in the public eye, and she still looks amazing… I think my sister is one of the most gorgeous girls around (and she was asked to do some very low level modelling for a fashion store) and she would definitely be classified "plus sized" but she looks amazing, to me, she's beautiful, just like Sophie and they should be spoken about in regards to the craft at hand (modelling) rather than their weight
… but then I know that we use terms like "plus sized" to categorise people for ease of use and really, numbers and sizes are little different. Still, I get a bit frustrated I guess with all the terms, "Real women" "plus sized" "average women" "curvy" etc etc etc the list is pretty endless… I don't know, but I don't want to be told I'm "just like the average woman" or too thin, too big, too this or that… I just want to be me and told that I just look "perfectly Telly!"
Okay, I think slight rant over
I actually liked what you had to write, so please know that I'm not having a go at ANYTHING you've written, more just fashion writers and how we, the public and consumers, refer to people in the public eye.
Always (perfectly) Telly xo
Telly – Fab comment! The term plus size grates on me somewhat too as clearly, the term has a very skewed meaning in the fashion and modelling world. It's ridiculous to see that photo above of Crystal Renn and know she is considered a plus size model in today's terms. To me she is not plus size at all (after all when does that size really start anyway?) – just in fact, a beautiful woman.
As for the use of the term 'real women' I have blogged and commented about that a number of times. I absolutely loathe how that term has been hijacked to supposedly refer to women of a certain size when in fact it should be about us all. All women are real women no matter what their size.
Thanks for contributing!
I just wish that everyone would open their eyes and undertake that God did not create one mold to build everyone. We are so advanced when it comes to genetic research yet people still think that there is an ideal body weight for certain heights. It just doesn't add up. Thanks for the blog.
I often have people say to me 'oh your so skinny' or 'you've lost weight' which many think are acceptable comments to make. Would it be acceptable for me to say to someone 'your so overweight' or 'youve put on so much weight'…absolutly not! It would be offensive and upsetting to that person! There are all sorts of reasons why people gain or lose weight, some personal. We should be supportive of each other and not judge. Its whats on the inside, not the outside!
I want to slap that Brandon Davis person! I wish society could reach a place where weight fluctuations go more or less unnoticed and instead, we focus on accomplishments. I'm just sick of standing in line at the grocery store and seeing pictures of celebrities who have gained a little weight and look sort of like me, being called fat instead of talented.