Coming in as the twelfth most clicked on post that Mamamia brought you in 2012, is this little video. Body image, airbrushing and the pressures on women to look a certain way is something we talk about a lot on the site. And this fabulous news anchor from Wisconsin had us jumping on the desks and pumping our fists in the air. It’s moments like these that the phrase ‘girl power’ was invented for.
Number 12: News anchor takes down man who calls her fat. By Mamamia Team.
Jennifer Livingston is a news anchor for WKBT-TV in Wisconsin. And she is awesome.
Earlier this year Jennifer received a letter from a viewer who took issue with the fact that Ms Livingston is overweight.
“Obesity is one of the worst choices a person can make and one of the most dangerous habits to maintain,” the letter said. “I leave you this note hoping that you’ll reconsider your responsibility as a local public personality to present and promote a healthy lifestyle.”
Helpful. Yup. Thanks for that.
Now there are a myriad of ways Jennifer could have responded to that email. She could have taken to her bedroom and cried, she could have laughed it off publicly and kept how hurt she was to herself… but instead Jennifer chose to be: awesome.
Take a look:
If you can’t view the video then here was our favourite part of what Jennifer said:
“The truth is I am overweight. “You can call me fat and yes, even obese on a doctor’s chart. To the person who wrote me that letter, do you think I don’t know that? Your cruel words are pointing out something I don’t see?”
“You don’t know me. You are not a friend of mine. You are not a part of my family, and you admitted that you don’t watch this show so you know nothing about me besides what you see on the outside — and I am much more than a number on a scale.”
Exactly. All of us. Each and every single one of us is so much more than a number on a scale.
Wise words from a wise woman. And a responsible public personality if we’ve ever seen one.
Do you think women on television are subjected to too much scrutiny about how they look? Do women face more scrutiny than men?
Comments
8 Comments so far
I’m just catching up with my MamiamIa emails and came across this story. I’m one of seven and last year my brother sent an email to all of us saying how “ugly” I was and could they all pitch in and buy me some hair colour – as I had let my hair go grey for various reasons. His cruel remarks about my looks did not elicit one supportive email from the other siblings. I was speechless that no-one came to my defence. So if they all agreed with my brother – have they had a look at themselves lately? Have they looked at their partners and children? What adult makes hurtful comments like that to another adult? These people claim on Sundays to have a religious base, they send their children to religious schools and even one has joined the priesthood. How shallow people are.
loading...
she is ….. AWESOMEEEE
loading...
oh! tears of admiration. Thank you Jennifer & Mamamia.
loading...
I agree with “J” – in fact I’d also like to add another feature to that “plus-sized” request………..OLDER women on TV.
All of that experience and wisdom found in most older women is not represented on our televisions nearly enough.
I really like Channel 9′s TODAY show and the female talent is terrific but older women seem to be overlooked in favour of those carefully “put together” blondes……only Ita Butrose gets a look-in on a regular basis.
I’ve always championed “The Project” for it’s presenter diversity but most of the women are “30 – Somethings”.
It’s sad that when plump women reach 50yrs – they really do become “invisible” – or maybe it’s because men in particular are a little afraid of what they’re going to say …….lol.
loading...
Two words. Bravo Jennifer. You are my new hero. The world needs more Jennifers and less bullies. Oh if only……
loading...
What an intelligent and well spoken woman.
loading...
Well, bravo. What a brave and intelligent woman.
loading...
I think this is very inspiring unfortunately the email represents many of views. The sooner people started worrying about their own backyard the better. I wish Australia had more plus size women on tv, the only way to change the views is to change the std
loading...