It didn’t take long for me to react to the following photos, originally published in “Curves Ahead,” an editorial from the January issue of V Magazine (also called “the size issue”).
My reaction was, in short:
Do I see back fat? Sexy back fat?
And does that mean I could have sexy back fat?
And if it does mean I could have sexy back fat, then does it mean I could convince others that their love handles can be sexy*, or that their breasts sag like a womans and less like a farm animals? (You have no idea how often I hear older women compare their breasts to udders. What is wrong with you, ladies?)
Yeah, some of these photos are a little overly edited, with extra smooth skin, no rolls overlapping the garments (which, if you’re heavy yourself, you know that blue swimsuit below must have done). Despite that, and despite my fear that this shoot will cause people to start saying that fat equals “a real woman” – which makes skinny equal what, exactly? – I still love this shoot.
Because this shoot inspired me to get up, strip out of my clothes, and look in the mirror…and appreciate what I saw.
Back fat and all.
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Here are a few more shots from the editorial.
When you look at these, what’s the first thing you see?
Is it back fat, big hips, pretty small breasts, or are you more focused on the styling of these models?
What do you think about this shoot, and V Magazine’s decision to use “big, little, pint-size [and] plus-size” models in their January 2010 issue?
*One thing I’ve noticed: “skinny girls” are way more likely to complain about love handles. I’m not discounting you, beauties! I know you’ve got your insecurities, too.
Images via Refinery29.com.
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rt @TheDemoiselles @ The Demoiselles :: Curves Ahead2026and Behind: http://bit.ly/6lYhkn
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Posted by Beth Taylor | January 20, 2010, 1:24 pmBACK FAT. RT @thedemoiselles Curves Ahead…and Behind http://bit.ly/6lYhkn
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Posted by Jen | January 20, 2010, 3:32 pmI love that they used models of all sizes! And the photoshopping wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be – so glad they left some back fat in.
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Posted by Michelle | January 20, 2010, 4:28 pmI like the shoot, these woman are gorgeous. I would like it to be more of a regular thing though, not treated as a novelty.
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Posted by eyeliah | January 20, 2010, 5:41 pmHello, I just found your website and I just wanted to say: THANK YOU!
I read the whole thing the other night, and then I got inspired, got up, got really ready and then spent the entire day thinking about how nice my ass looks in that particular pair of jeans, not how I am one of the few (very few) big ladies in Lithuania.
It made my day. and my week.
Oh, and it made me want to shop really, really badly.
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Posted by charissa | January 20, 2010, 7:46 pmThink it’s a beautiful shoot but I hate the whole “real women” comment that people make. Also don’t like it when people say that these women are not BIG enough or are too pretty. Basically, I hate people but like this shoot.
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Posted by WendyB | January 20, 2010, 8:55 pmAmazing blog post and photo shoot: http://thedemoiselles.com/archives/curves-ahead-and-behind
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Posted by Mary Richert | January 21, 2010, 2:26 ami loved the whole mag. it was great what they did. mags should do this more often.
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Posted by thefatandskinny | January 26, 2010, 3:16 pmOne of the models in this is a friend of mine, and I am so proud of her for getting naked like this. In person she’s just as beautiful, but also so smart and funny and nice, and I think it’s crazy that people could think she’s “too big” to be a famous model. She’s totally inspiring–they all are.
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Posted by samantha | January 27, 2010, 2:51 pmthis was suuuuch a beautiful post, and thank you for posting it. I love this blog and am glad I came across it. this does indeed inspire me to love every inch of myself and my body
.-= sui´s last blog ..the man who didn’t believe in love. =-.
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Posted by sui | February 5, 2010, 12:05 amFrom a guy’s perspective, I think girls are more attractive if they have more curves. I think curvy girls look more feminine. The western media encourages girls to have the body shape of a twelve year old boys, but really I think a lot of guys, myself included, would much prefer to see more girls like these.
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Posted by Ted | February 5, 2010, 1:22 amRT @TheDemoiselles Curves Ahead…and Behind http://bit.ly/6lYhkn <– beautiful post. love your body.
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Posted by sui solitaire | February 5, 2010, 5:03 amTruly interesting posts.I enjoyed reading this. I need to read more on this topic..Many thanks for sharing the pleasant info…
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Posted by Learn To Read DVD | May 24, 2010, 4:46 amEt vous ? Que pensez-vous de cette pub basée sur les rondeurs plutôt que sur les slim girls de l'empire de la mode ? http://bit.ly/blmMtO
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Posted by Raoul BINIGA | June 17, 2010, 11:38 pmthank god these modlels are so skiny and ugly
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Posted by loleeez | August 4, 2010, 6:25 pmThis is great girls who look like me!!!!! Love it!!!
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Posted by Zoe | August 9, 2010, 5:38 pm