Dreamgirls...DreamBODIES

Hi Everyone -

Hope Santa or the Channukah fairy was very good to you!

Yesterday, we spent the holiday doing our family tradition of Chinese food and movies and we went to go see Dreamgirls. Wow - what a beautiful movie. And there has been a ton of hype lately over the performances, especially Jennifer Hudson's and I agree - it is worth seeing just for her number alone. But alas, this blog is not where I process through my movie reviews but rather where I bust through crazy pop culture hype to get to the truth about loving the skin we are in.

And I gotta tell you...I am loving not only Jennifer Hudson's voice but her body as well. She is deliciously curvy, unapologetically zaftig and I thought it made such a strong statement seeing her form up there on the big screen. Her character, Effie White is written as being a plus sized woman but to me Jennifer embodied healthy curves in motion. And I often found myself looking forward to seeing her body onscreen moreso than I was Beyonce's. Now I am not sure whether that was because I am very used to seeing Beyonce's body everywhere in mainstream media so that when someone like Jennifer comes along - your eyes just need to be trained on the beauty of a full figured woman? Or whether it was just because it is so entirely freeing to see someone who looks like you or someone you know in a movie (when you think about it - it's really rare this happens) because movies are built on fantasy and make believe?

I thought about how many full figured Hollywood leading ladies we have. Can you count them with me?
Queen Latifah
Jennifer Hudson
America Ferrera
Kathy Najimy
Cameron Manheim
who else? Please feel free to add to this list. And no, Jennifer Lopez at a size 4/6 does not count as a full figured woman. Only in Hollywood - where if you are not on an IV you are considered curvy! :)

It made me long for more Jayne Mansfield's, Marilyn Monroe's, Rita Hayworth's, women who at least weren't toned within an inch of their lives. Contrary to many people's preferences, I don't mind seeing a slight flaw or two (or three) in the women I see in the media. It de-mystifies the notion of beauty and intelligence and allows both to live side by side. It allows me to feel included in a visual medium that attacks my daily senses with over 20,000 images a day. It allows me to take a deep breath and feel grateful for the diverse beauty in life. Sometimes we can be so brainwashed when we see only one form that we forget there are indeed many styles, shapes, and sizes of FIERCENESS out there!

Now, I am beginning to do what I can't stand - which is categorize a woman only by what she looks like. So let me leave us with this.

I hope Jennifer Hudson doesn't change one single inch of herself.

I don't want America starving this Idol.

Comments

I just came home from watching this movie and I couldn't agree more - Jennifer Hudson is a vision. I am so happy she is making it and I hope more REAL girls follow.

You are my REAL role model Jess and I know you will also blaze the way!

I just finished watching Some Like It Hot and my goodness, Marilyn was stunning in that movie!

I am not excited to see Dreamgirls because both Jamie Foxx and Beyonce annoy me, so I'll wait for the DVD. I'm glad though, to see someone that's not the typical Hollywood starlet get some recognition!

Oh, and SOOOO glad you mentioned Queen Latifa! What a gorgeous woman!

I hate the fact that we have less than 10 really wonderful women to choose from that embody a larger view of women. And some of the people you mention aren't even that large. why are we so afraid of bigger women in this country. ?? My friends were disgusted by the Dove ads that came out a year or so ago. When they say more 'real women' up there on the ads they were turned off. They thought they looked 'fat'. I just don't get it. And at a size 8 I know I am in the minority in theis country but I don't even see anyone who has a body like mine. I signed up for the challegne, too because I want to be a part of this community and feel better about myself but not because i want to lose weight. I like my jiggly butt the way it is! LOL

has any one heard about the professor in england who wants to have warning labels put in plus size clothing? check this article out:
http://www.foxreno.com/health/10546326/detail.html
how crazy is this idea? shaming people into losing weight is not an effective way to help obesity.

Wow. Just, wow.

I understand the point, or at least I think I do. They want to help people make better choices, but clearly, their approach needs some work. People with eating disorders are not going to see this as help.

How about Kate Winslet? I think she's not the typical skinny but so, so beautiful!

And about the warning labels in clothing: I actually think it is a good idea. Those labels, btw, are meant for plus-size people (over size 16!!) whose weight is really affecting their health negatively. People with eating disorders are not going to see this as help, no, but it's not meant for them either, those people should get professional psychological/nutritional help. Unless you think ALL overweight people have an eating disorder, but I don't think so.

The actress that plays the character Callie on Grey's Anatomy. She is just beautiful and she never refers to her "size" since it is not an issue or a part of her character.

I thought of Kate Winslet too but not many consider her to be curvy. Not sure why.

At any rate, no, I don't think all overweight people have eating disorders, and didn't mean to imply that. But if we're going so far as to put labels in plus size clothing, why not put it in size Zero's as well? Anyone in a size zero who isn't genetically built that way needs just as much help as those who are overweight. I think picking on people who are on the plus size but not any other group isn't fair. But that's just my opinion.

Off topic.

Surprisingly enough, this Christmas wasn't so hard with all the fantastic food. Lactose intolerance has it's perks, really limits you! No more mashed potatoes that have milk mixed in.

nic,
i myself am a size 14 and am not even 1 pound overweight. i think it is very possible to be a size 16 and healthy. not everyone who is plus sized is obese or at risk. putting labels in clothing warning us of health hazards we do not have is an insult. maybe some people who wear plus size clothing should seek professional help, but i am sure they know that already. do they really need a reminder everytime they put clothes on?
and kerstin i agree. if they put warnings on plus size clothing they should put it in clothing that is size 0- like 4 to warn people they may have an eating disorder.

I totally agree! Women like Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield had curves and were beautiful women-and legends. They are still remembered and looked back on fondly because they didn't have to have an eating disorder to be a star. Being toned and in shape is one thing, but looking like a stick-figure is unhealthy and sends the wrong message.

The singer Pink looks pretty real to me. Her newest video shows off some size ten thighs, looks like, and she looks great. Of course, I'm a size ten and all I can think is, I must be a size 8. I must.

Anyone remember a few years back Jamie Lee Curtis' photo spread in More magazine? She requested to be photographed in her underwear (bra and briefs), and insisted on no computer touchups afterwards. This woman was not afraid to show herself as is, and not glammed up, how courageous is that? On the other hand, Has anyone noticed that on the covers of her magazine, Oprah looks thinner than she does on her show?

I am a little behind on these posts, but wanted to add something I read recently....in an interview, Elizabeth Hurley said she thought that Marilyn Monroe looked fabulous, "but it I were that fat I would kill myself". Unbelievable.

Why is it that the entire world is against people who are not a size 0 - 4. I am 5ft 10 and a size 16/18. My last check up revealed good blood pressure, sugar and other levels. I agree that warning labels should also be placed in clothing against eating disorders. People assume that because you are a certain size you overeat. NOT TRUE!! Is it healthy to look like a skeleton covered with skin, I THINK NOT!!

I don't agree with this warning label idea at all--for any clothing size. Some people are naturally small boned, what gives us the right to discriminate against them and then get upset when they do the same for larger women? One of my best friends is a size 4, and she is extremely healthy and athletic. She is a size 4 because she has a small frame, but she looks fantastic, not at all like a skeleton! In many cases clothing size does not directly correspond with health. And, by the way, many people with bulimia are average to slightly overweight, so how are we going to reach them? Should we put warning labels on size 10 clothes, too, just to make sure that we include everyone who potentially has an eating disorder?

You go Kim!!
Way to state what my mind has been grasping at trying to put into words!

Dream girls was certainly a Great movie... sizes aside. Jennifer was told to gain weight for this role, but I don't think the point was to be a plus-size advocate. We should learn to be content in the skin we are in.

I don't know who's fault it is that pencil thin has become the 'ideal' body shape... but it has set us on a dangerous path. We've got young girls who are perfectly normal in size, dieting to lose weight... and dying because of it. We've got women putting their lives on hold. Refusing to enjoy life because of their size. My daughter and I are in the fashion business. We specialize in plus-size clothing. We have customers who have said they don't want to pay good money for clothes because they won't be able to wear them when they lose weight. I feel so sorry for these girls and women. I sure do hope this obsession with thinness turns around before eating disorders reach epidemic proportions. It may already have reached that level. But, I hope not. As for the warnings in clothing labels... that's absolutely ridiculous. As someone else here pointed out... a person who is having health problems due to their weight is already aware of that fact and don't need the reminder.
- Dorez
Jahqoi.com

As a dance instructor of Ballet, Jazz and Tap and being a size 9/10 at 5 feet 4 and a half inches (I think I am in good shape), I find it revolting that society has created a such unhealthy image for teenagers and adults alike through television, movies and magazines. My students think they need to look like these stars. They don't realize there is make up, touch up, etc. I try to instill in them the importance of being happy with their talent and what God has given them. Image isn't everything. Beauty comes from within.
Personnally, I loved Dreamgirls (I've seen it twice so far). I saw the original musical in the 80's with Jennifer Holliday. I didn't look at it as a thin/fat depliction of woman. The music is fabulous, the story is wonderful and the musical/dance numbers "Step into the bad side" and "One night only" are outstanding. Very well choreographed!!

A national health promotion and disease prevention initiative bringing together many individuals and agencies to improve the health of all Americans WBR LeoP

Leo,
You are right about how the teenagers don't realize all the 'work' that's been done to make actresses and models look perfect. I work in the entertainment industry and kids would be amazed if they saw all the tricks that are employed to create that 'ideal' look. And my daughter is a fashion designer. Her line is called Jahqoi, and she makes plus-size clothing. It was very hard for her to get media attention because of all the 'fat-phobic' people running the networks etc. But recently she was featured on the KTLA Morning News in Los Angeles. I think maybe the issue of models & celebrities being too thin, is the reason plus-size women are finally getting a little more recognition. It's a shame that so much attention is focused on how we look physically, rather than the content of our character (to paraphrase the words of Dr. King). I hate to see all the damage the whole celebrity thing has done to our young people. I'm hoping things will start to turn around soon.