Catherine Deveny doesn't have a problem with her body
Yesterday we received an email from Catherine Deveny. It was a photo of her in bathers. She was miffed. WHEN, she asked, are women going to stop worrying? She’d read this post on Mamamia and she wanted to stage a coup on dissatisfaction. We asked her a few questions.
Q: You’re sick of the constant portrayal as skinny as the ‘only’ desirable body type. You wanted to say something about female bodies?
A: There will always be men who love big, voluptuous, buxom, ba-boom ba-boom women. They always have and always will and they will NEVER go out of fashion despite what media would have the gullible believe.
Any suggestion otherwise is people manipulating the world to make women feel NOT GOOD ENOUGH. I was watching the ARIAs the other night and every single one of the women looked exactly the same. Skinny, manicured, fake tan, fake teeth, fake tits. Same, same, same, same, same with the exception of Clare Bowditch. She was stunning, glowing and gorgeous.
I was in a supermarket once and I saw this skinny, withered old woman, maybe 75, flicking through at a magazine called Slimmers or something and I wanted to tap her on the shoulder and say “When are you going to stop worrying? You are good enough.”
If women look at any of the stats or any of the scientific research about sexual attraction, men will always find the slightly overweight woman more attractive than the slightly underweight woman.
Q: So bigger can also be sexy then.
A: It’s not all about sexual attraction. It’s about health and confidence and enjoyment of life! I was perved at by two women the other day. I went into Babka’s the other day and a woman I sort of knew came up and said hello. Then another woman I sort of knew joined us. The both admitted they were checking out my ‘awesome curves’ and then realised it was me.
Even today I have ridden 20km, ran 6km and had a shag before I got up and I’m looking forward to having a Mars Bar mud cake for dessert tonight.
It’s only about health to me. Women today never heard anything positive said by other women about their bodies when they were growing up. And even now that’s the case, it’s just constant negativity. This mantra of NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
Q: Do you think women feel they constantly need to apologise for the way they look?
A: Well I am not apologetic. I LOVE and constantly flaunt my 80 kilo size 16 bod. Tight dresses, short skirts and tits out on a daily basis. I love my 80kilo size 16 bod! I run, cycle, swim, strip off and shag whenever I have the opportunity.
Q: You’re not a fan of bullshit. Where does all this body image ‘bullshit’ come from?
A: I don’t have any daughters to encourage a healthy body image with and the only thing you can do really is set a good example. But I see little girls all the time, constantly told they are ‘pretty’ or ‘isn’t she beautiful’ or alternatively a ‘big girl’ or ‘not much to look at.’ But never the boys. I have sons and their looks are rarely mentioned. Yet it’s all I hear about girls. Let me make one thing really clear. Never ever, ever, ever, ever comment on a little girl’s looks. Tell her anything else. Tell her that she is resilient, that she has a good brain, that she has a strong sense of social justice, she’s strong, brave, a good tryer, has great business skills, fantastic critical thinking but NEVER comment on her looks.
You are not good enough. That’s the only message girls get from the media.
Here’s the message little girls need. It doesn’t matter what people think about how you look. It only matters how you feel about yourself.
Q: But have you felt just as happy when you were thinner?
A: Twice in my life I have lost a lot of weight. When I suffered depression and when I had cancer. I looked sick, like a cadaver. Yet strangers would tell me how amazing I looked when I was at my most unwell.
You are never going to know the happiest we are to your eye. You are never going to know the best we are to your eye. It is not about that. It is about being healthy.
I see people look back on photos of themselves and say “Look how skinny I was and to think I thought I was fat.”
Guess what people, that might be today. How you look today you may look back on and wish you hadn’t spent all that time worrying because another you, an older, fatter, skinnier, more secure you may think the way you look today is perfect.
Q: Right, let’s talk advertising and media then. What’s up with the fetishism around women’s bodies?
A: Advertising and media industries sell dissatisfaction. They need to say ‘you are not good enough’ in order to make you buy stuff. They have a vested interest in making sure this happens. It is disease-mongering. That’s what it is.
Choose love. Choose satisfaction. Choose you. You are gorgeous. Someone out there would KILL to look like you.
Ricki-Lee on the cover of Maxim - heavily air-brushed
Q: Having said all of this, does this make the case of Ricki-Lee’s weight loss a tragedy of pressure? Or is she just doing what she wants?
A; Look I’m not a fan. But I’m not not a fan. I think she’s a gutsy girl and I liked the look of her. From what I’ve read in magazines in doctor’s surgery waiting rooms she hasn’t had it easy and pulled through. Then I saw the photos of her after she lost all that weight and she looks unrecognisable … but she looked just like everyone else. I’m glad she’s happy, if she is, but I just wish it was a different kind of happy for her. We liked her so much because she was NOT like them but had the confidence to be herself not to subscribe to some unattainable, cookie cutter image dreamed up by people who want women to hate themselves and each other. Never thin, blonde or tanned enough. Hungry, grumpy and worried. No thanks.
Just. Say. No.
Me? I like my body to be like a statue. Like architecture. Majestic, recognisable, sturdy and healthy. I have never wanted a cookie-cutter body.
Women who are trying to live up to the warped media construction of ‘perfect’ cooked up solely to breed and fertilize dissatisfaction in order to sell stuff are hungry, cranky and worried all the time. There are millions of different shapes and sizes and they are all beautiful. There is no one perfect size. Let’s celebrate that.
Q; And the people who called Lara Bingle fat?
A: The whole Lara Bingle thing, I saw this happy, healthy bird on this poster and something like ‘Lara upset by fat taunts’ and I thought ‘who are these people and why are they calling her fat’? What’s in it for them? They should be stripped down and photographed.
Lara Bingle on the cover of Who magazine
Q: So, what’s the message then? What does it all come down to for you?
A: I find it sad bordering on offensive women who are size 10 or 12 saying they are fat. Why do you by this dissatisfaction?
I don’t want women to feel like they are trapped in a body they don’t want. And that goes both ways. If you want to be less hungry and grumpier get curvier, eat a little more and exercise less, if you want to be thinner than what you are now, do the opposite. If you are not happy, change. And don’t blame anyone else for it. Own your body. That goes for addiction too. Own what you put into it and what you want it to be. Do you want it to wobble? Do you want it to be hungry? Your choice.
Sometimes I think “There are people out there and if they had my body they’d think they were too fat and others who would be rapt and think they were skinny. It’s all a matter of perspective.” I LOVE that new campaign ‘healthy is the new skinny.” I was so sad to hear the number one thing women and girls want is to lose weight.
Have a pie, go for a walk and look around at the world. You are good enough. And there are plenty of more interesting, fun, valuable and life affirming things you can be doing than being a slave to dissatisfaction.
There have been people who have been very vocal about my body confidence. Basically saying I didn’t have the right to feel as confident with my body as I am. Not playing the game is very threatening for people. I don’t lie down in the chalk outline drawn for me.
Women with body shapes like mine are rarely seen in the media, but when they are people make a big fizz (Adele, Kate Cebrano, Mad Men’s, Christina Hendricks, Marilyn Monroe). I’ll let you in on a secret, we’re never hungry and we never short of lovers.
Ever.
Just to illustrate how times have changed, attitudes about what society says is ‘sexy’ have done a complete reversal as these old weight-gain advertisements show:
What do you LOVE about your body? Are you willing to show it off? Catherine’s asking readers to send in a photo – in your bathers if you want – to show the world. Ready to take the dare?
Catherine Deveny is a writer, comedian and social commentator. Her novel The Happiness Show will be published in 2012 by Black Inc Books. The photo of Catherine was taken by photographer Carla Gottgens and she is wearing Esther Williams bathers, which you can find here.
Comments
690 Comments so far
I think this is so wrong. This is unhealthy. This is part of the image battle as well as it furthers excuses to not exercise and live a healthy lifestyle. Fat percentage, body weight ratios and overall weight matters whether it is over or under the BMI standards set forth. This is by no means disrespect but this is teaching women that it is acceptable to have high body fat to make a statement. Personally I find it disgusting and a self fulfilling prophecy that enables women to live unhealthy lives telling themselves that they are making a statement that large women are attractive as well. The point is ridiculous and weak. This pushes the rate of heart disease and obesity related diseases higher and that by no means is a positive thing. It’s sad that these extremes exist but the truth is that this is obesity, and it’s wrong. This has nothing to do with attraction. There are men out there attracted to women who resemble children, does that bring an argument that women should strive to reflect their age in all they do to avoid this? Both are irrational. Women need to stop making excuses and being so extreme on both ends.
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Ooooh I’m just not brave enough to send in a swimsuit pikky! Partly because that’s not what my mind’s relationship with my body is about, at all! but mostly ‘cos I’m just shy. But I did enjoy the article, though some of the comments have made me sad. What I loved about Catherine’s comments was how she loves her body mainly because of what she can do with it! It allows her to do things she enjoys – cycling, sex, jogging, self expression through clothing etc. How sad that so many judge their bodies mostly by how it looks from the outside, or even whether other people find it attractive / acceptable! I am nearly 50 and I love my body for similar reasons. I can open doors. I can drive a car and ride a bike, and walk about feeling the wind on my skin and sun on my face. I can hear through my ears, yay! I can read interesting things on the internet with my eyes (!). I can breathe easily, my heart beats all by itself, and any pain is low level, transient, and there for a reason. I can travel anywhere in the world and do anything I have a mind to. So maybe it’s about low expectations; when I was a young size 8 I dieted and fretted over trifles and did not enjoy my body at all. I look back now and shake my head. I now think that my body is absolutely gorgeous because it is – compared with what it will be like 20 years from now!
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excuse me, but in these ads for gaining weight they are still portraying that its what men want. in all of them. its about pleasing/attracting a dude. you cant say look its ok to be size 12 coz once upon a time it was popular. youre completely missing the point – look how you want to look, not what society is cramming down your throat. eat the biscuit. or not. its up to YOU
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I’ll take the challenge and post a photo of myself. Fit, healthy and definitely not starving. I am very particular about what I eat. If it doesn’t fuel my body in the best possible way, I won’t eat it. (unless it is my treat meal once or twice a week). I work out five to six days a week. Heavy weights and cardio. A year and a half ago I was struggling with depression and thus ate too much food (both healthy and unhealthy) and found myself overweight for the first time in my life. I changed that around and have never felt better. Eat healthy, work out and you will be healthier and you will NOT be a size 16. Ps: the photo of Catherine does not say body confident to me. She seems to be hiding most of her body. Hunched over and legs covering stomach.
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Healthy and happy. http://thefitandhappylife.blogspot.com.au/
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You look hot!
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As an image consultant I am constantly dealing with women in particular who are unhappy with their body shape. One of the first questions I ask my clients is “what is your favourite thing about your body?”, it saddens me that about 90% of women are unable to come up with one thing! Its amazing just how quickly someones inner critic can be silenced once they learn to accept their body shape and dress to accentuate positive elements. Focus less on your negatives and more on your positives. Congratulations Catherine, you have got this down pat!
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Nice work Catherine, keep it up. Thank you from another ‘real woman’: no fake eyelashes, fake hair, fake boobs, fake eye colour (contact lenses), fake bikini waxing, fake nails. I live on the Gold Coast, and sadly, so many young women are taken in by the ‘glamour’ that they think makes them look better. It doesn’t. They just look exactly what they are: fake. Sad.
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Well I was really inspired until I started reading all the coments. I think it was a really wonderful inspiring piece and just wish everyone would stop judging each other. There is some real nastiness in those comments and I think it is about time we all just stop! Congratulations Catherine, I admire and respect you.
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Good on Catherine for loving her body – sounds like she’s got a great attitude and knows what works for her and what makes her happy. Maybe if I had Catherine’s body shape I wouldn’t be so unhappy about being a size 18, but I don’t have curves, I just have fat. I am an overweight apple shape with boobs as big as my tummy. I have to endure constant & humiliating enquiries as to whether I’m pregnant. Clothes are a nightmare with my shape and I have pretty much zero self confidence. I worry constantly about the health effects of being overweight. I hate it, but am hamstrung by mental health issues. I use food as both comfort and as a weapon against myself. I’m just starting treatment to address these issues, but it’s a long road ahead. I look forward to the day when I can emulate Catherine’s acceptance of her body, but that’s a long way off for me.
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Where can I a pair of those bathers?!?!?!
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I don’t care if she’s ridden 20 kms, she still shouldn’t be promoting eating marsbars and cheesecake all in the same sitting. moderation = health, not compensating ridiculous amounts of exercise with equally ridiculous amounts of food.
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Why, oh why is obesity being promoted as being ok. It’s not, never will be.
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Where is obesity mentioned?
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Size 16 is obese. No one is naturally or healthily a size 16.
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lol, please go read some things.
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Yeah go and read a diet book !
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HAHA size 16 is obese? ur kidding right? wow…….maybe by BMI. But as a women myself who likes women, u know in that kinda way
gotta love a REAL Woman with curves.
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Catherine I think you look absolutely sensational, long live the woman with the matronly body. I’m salivating over you. I wish I could find a woman with your physical profile, your husband is a very, very lucky man.
Regards
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Steve are you for real, maybe just being politically correct – much? I wouldn’t call Deveney ‘absolutely sensational’ , maybe just a fat pompous woman.
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It seems to me that alot of people these days are in denial. There is a difference between being healthy and being overweight. Dont use the excuse that you are curvy when in reality if you had to run 1km you’d probably have a heart attack. By all means i dont think women should be stick thin/gaunt, however they also shouldnt be fooling themselves that the weight they are is ‘normal’ if they are infact overweight. The world is getting fatter. obesity is a serious problem. Overweight people need to stop digging their heads into the sand.
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Did you not read the article Candice where it said that she’d ridden 20km and run 6km that morning?
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The skinny is better myth is largely perpetuated in the modelling world which is dictated to by men who are attracted to men. Silly right? No? Should you ask men what they are attracted to your answer would be a healthy and active woman. And let me take this opportunity to state that skinny chicks with big fake breasts is akin to the 80kg overweight woman in the article above. Neither is attractive or justifiable imo.
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Exactly MD & Bek – like these shows like ‘The Biggest Loser’ etc where they never ever say how tall the people on there are – it pisses me off as they are probably 4’8 tall or something and the men look like giants. How tall are you Catherine? Good on her though for writing a story for us normal people – all that she says is very very true. I joined a gym to lose weight and even got a PT and have put on 4 kilos – so to hell with it – and no I can’t give up my savvy Tim! So go figure….these thin birds just don’t eat and all they do is worry about how fat they are all the time – gosh honestly there is more to life than worrying about what you look like like running a household with kids, etc as it’s not about us anymore it’s about the little ones and getting that balance – if I am going to chew on carrot and celery sticks all day then there is going to be a cranky mummy all the time but if Mummy has a couple of glasses of wine at night then Mummy feels relaxed and everything runs a bit smoother. These thin models need a good bloody steak into them and stop all this no eating or ‘I’m a vegetarian’ bullshit – honestly imagine trying to be their boyfriend or girlfriend – stuff that!
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I hear ya (about the busy mum part and there being more to life!) but watch out, raw honest to God truth like that will get you crucified on this comments board by the looks of things!
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Nah, you don’t get crucified for stating fact; people are just happy to call others out for being rude, offensive or otherwise making gross generalisations but presenting them incorrectly as fact/universal truth
Like saying “thin birds just don’t eat and all they do is worry about being fat”…because I know – for a fact – that that isn’t a fact. Just as saying all larger women overeat and are lazy isn’t a fact. It might make some people feel better about themselves or give them some self-satisfaction to think and say it is true, but that doesn’t make it true.
So suggesting otherwise is just unnecessarily inflammatory, which seems to be the intention. And being intentionally inflammatory isn’t very nice at a dinner party!
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Just had a read through the comments and I’m shocked that so many women seem pissed at Catherine. :O
Pretty sure MM team posted this because it’s refreshing to see a woman proud of her body (especially a woman who isn’t an emaciated size 0/teeny tiny bony super model/starving herself/succumbed to society’s pressure that beauty only comes in the form of tiny). Can’t you all see it for what it is? That’s all. There is no hidden meaning. Stop reading between the lines.
Stop paying her out for loving her body. Jesus!! Us women are our own worst enemies. Not only do we hate ourselves & our own bodies, but we can’t stop criticising everyone’s else’s body either. So sad really.
I for one, am genuinely happy for Catherine. I think she’s gorgeous & a fantastic role model for women. (I’m pretty sure she didn’t say anything about “bigger is healthier”).
Why do you have such a problem with Catherine? Are you jealous of her self confidence? Do you prefer to see women size ZERO instead? What’s better for young girl’s self esteem – a woman like Catherine Deveny or Victoria Beckham?
Everyone writing “she’s so fat/unhealthy/overweight” in the comments; what does that achieve? Aren’t you overweight yourself??? If YOU are so goddam gorgeous then i double dare you to post a photo of yourself. Nope you won’t.
*rolls eyes*
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And what does criticizing size 0 (i.e. Aus size 6) women as being emaciated, bony, starving and succumbing to pressure to be thin achieve? You say criticizing other women’s bodies is “so sad” and yet do it yourself. You seem to not understand the inherent hypocrisy in your comment, which I find quite interesting. One rule for you, another for everyone else?
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Youre wrong, a size 0 in the US is a size 4 in Australia (you can google it and find multiple sites that corroborate this too). I can’t imagine how sorry I’d feel for a girl walking down the street being that emaciated….both of the extreme ends of the ‘normal’ or ‘healthy’ weight range are not good…can’t people agree with that?
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Well, once upon a time it was the equivalent of a 6, so I guess if it’s now the equivalent of a 4 either Australian vanity sizing is getting worse, or size 0s are getting smaller. As with anything, though, different brands have different sizes so take Google/Yahoo answers with a grain of salt.
In fact, Target Australia’s size 8 (82-63-88) is only marginally bigger than a Gap size 0.
To reference Wikipedia (also not a perfect source, but somewhat more reliable than Yahoo answers):
“Modern size 0 clothing, depending on brand and style, will fit measurements of chest-stomach-hips from 30-22-32 inches (76-56-81 cm) to 33-25-35 inches (84-64-89 cm)”
So when I shop online I go by measurements, and more often than not I need a US size 0 or an Aus size 6. There are, of course, some places where I may need a size 1 or 2, or where the size 0 measurements equate to an Aus size 8-10.
Don’t feel sorry for me if you saw me, though; my doctor says I’m just fine according to all of my tests, so if he’s not worried, you shouldn’t be, either. My mother was just as small if not smaller at my age. I would feel sorry for you being so ignorant and presumptive.
So no, I can’t agree with saying that people at both ends of the “normal” or “healthy” weight range are not good, because you don’t know anything about them to judge good or bad.
I’m perfectly healthy at 32-24-35 inches/82-61-88cm, and I don’t appreciate having my body type (or size) criticized because many other women harm their bodies to get to this size. I don’t like the assumption that I’m emaciated.
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That’s great that you are so happy with you’re healthy size 0 (au size 4) body but here’s the thing, if you calculated you’re BMI I’m quite sure you’d find that you are underweight. That’s ok though, you sound like you’d be quite proud of that…
I don’t care if you agree with me or not but both EXTREMES of the normal weight range are not good, I’m meaning obese/morbidly obese or size zero, both have negative implications on you’re health over the LONG TERM.
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Why shouldn’t I be proud of my *size 6*
(and sometimes 8 ) body when this is the body nature gave me? I tried all through my teen years to gain weight, to no avail. I suffered depression due to incredibly low self esteem caused by people like YOU.
But I’m not a size 4. I know the clothes that fit me and I wear a 6 or an 8. And my measurements match that. As well as match many size 0s. So stop correcting me, it’s really bloody annoying.
My size has no implications for my health over the long term because I’m perfectly healthy. I eat plenty, rarely consume alcohol, don’t smoke and get a bit of exercise.
BMI isn’t the be all and end all, contrary to popular belief. So I’m going to believe my doctor who has been practising for many years and has a doctorate in medicine, as well as the 3 doctors I saw before him, than you who sound like a judgmental…individual.
I also don’t appreciate your tone which suggests that you think I shouldn’t be proud of or comfortable in my body, and that I would be “quite proud” of being underweight. I find that incredibly offensive.
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Shannon, I love you. I often feel like skinny girls get the rough end of the stick. Pfft, must e anorexic. Pfft, not a real woman if she doesn’t have curves. If you are naturally, healthily slim and tiny then GO YOU. Just wanted to let you know
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I always thought size 0 referred to a 0 in designer clothes where the sizes are 0,1,2,3,4, 0 being a size 6.
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Well VB is one royal pain in the arse that earns far too much money for not doing much and always looks miserable because she doesn’t bloody eat anything – imagine being poor Becks – now he is hot!
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Men are kinda lucky in that they don’t have the pressure we women have to be a certain size/shape.
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“If women look at any of the stats or any of the scientific research about sexual attraction, men will always find the slightly overweight woman more attractive than the slightly underweight woman.”
But that’s just the thing – to say that the curvier among us ought to be more highly valued than women with other body types simply perpetuates the root problem behind this discussion: the establishment of a woman’s worth through appearance. It is neither here nor there that men may approve or disapprove of a certain body type! Rather it is the concept of finding acceptance of your body within yourself, and on your own terms, rather than continuing the age-old tradition of women seeking the approval or others in terms of their bodies. And if in fact, this article is meant to promote respect for other women and their bodies, then why is it so unnecessarily unpleasant to the “hungry and grumpy” among us? The complete denigration of women who are “slightly underweight” in this article does nothing for the cause of body acceptance, if anything it undermines it completely.
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Well said Alex with regard to all body shapes being accepted not just those who are curvy.
What bothers me about this article though is that Australians are now the fattest people in the world. We are now even fatter than Americans. We have major health issues in this country caused by obesity and excess weight such as Diabetes, Heart Disease, Stroke and various Cancers.
I’d rather have a bit of control now in order to minimise the risk of ending up with one of these preventable diseases.
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Totally agree with you Alex. While it is a good article in general, it upsets me that once again girls like me are told we’re not as attractive as curvier women. I am naturally slightly underweight. I’m 30 years old, 5’6″ and have been between 48-53kg since i was 16. I eat like a horse, more than most girls and many guys I know. I exercise, but not excessively. I have never had an eating disorder. But despite being a little bit skinny, this is ‘normal’ for me. I too am very healthy and confident. I enjoy life to the fullest and am not dissatisfied. I am never hungry either, and I do eat pies! I love my body too and have plenty of people who find me attractive. I am not grumpy or worried, thanks very much for asking. Oh, and since being single this year for the first time in a decade, I haven’t had any shortage of lovers either. So for goodness sake, accept and love your body whether it’s a curvy size 16+ or a thin size 8. Neither is better or worse, both can be attractive. Both can be ‘normal’ and healthy and live a fulfilling life. Work with what you’ve got, take care of yourself, respect yourself and others. That’s what it boils down to.
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i love lara bingle – sexy ++
ricky lee – she is a victim of media ? am i happy ? am i fat ? how much will media pay for non talent???
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I prefer Rikki Lee over Lara Bingle even though I think Lara Bingle is a lot prettier.
The reason why is because Lara comes across as full of herself – yes she’s got a stunning face but she is SO IN LOVE with herself it’s just off putting.
Rikki-Lee however comes across as A LOT more down to earth – she seems more human than Lara Bingle, more like us mere mortals – someone we can relate to – girl next door.
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Yeah I agree Lara is full of herself a bit but I also feel she is quite shy too and she is just very young – she looks a lot healthier with a bit of weight on her and she did look stunning on the cover of that magazine – Ricki also looks incredible now but think she has gone a little to far as she has bones sticking out of her shoulders which I have never liked – hate that look – yeah Ricki needs to put on about a stone and she would look better. She seems a lovely down to earth girl though – I think Lara really is too – she just has a confidence issue.
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i love your body too and mine too – release us from skinny rules and let us be free and live
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Catherine,you cannot be healthy at that weight, it is a cop out. You can’t shovel food into your gob whenever you feel like it and say, “Oh, but I ran this morning so it’s ok, I’m healthy”. Overall health is exercising and eating a healthy balanced diet. If you were really watching what you ate and making sure that it was healthy food, you would not be that heavy. Drives me nuts when people claim to be fat and healthy. Oh and I find you to be a s#@t stirring vulgar woman.
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you are hung up
catherine is free
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who says – i think she looks fab (nno no not leso just think womens bodies fab any size)
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WOW. Take a chill pill already! Lol
Breeeeeeathe!
Who gives a shit if she is healthy or not. The whole premise of the article is that this is a woman who actually has – god forbid – a bit of flesh on her bones, and yet she isn’t depressed & sitting at home sobbing herself to sleep. On the contrary, she is flaunting her figure (YOU GO GIRL!!) and proud of her body. She loves herself and her body.
You seem hell bent on ranting that Catherine is SOOOOO unhealthy, yet you’re probably sitting there on your sofa with your laptop eating a packet of Tim Tams, am I right??
CHILL.
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Catherine and Clementine Ford did a great podcast about this interview/article:
http://www.catherinedeveny.com/
I was a bit apprehensive at first, but it has a very positive message by the end.
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My POV: I don’t really freakin’ care if you’re curvy, skinny, have one weird boob, pointy ears and a 3rd nipple. Why don’t we all just give ourselves all a f*&!king break.. Seriously, do we really care that much and if we do, then no wonder i prefer the company of guys..no cr*pping on about absolute self indulgence.
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Amid the plague of obesity sending people across the country to an early grave, we get Deveny’s nonsense trotted out as some kind of rebel stand.
Catherine Deveny is dangerously overweight, not healthy. See how happy you are once the diabetes kicks in.
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One very hungry, grumpy and worried woman above!
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I take it you have no point to make about my argument?
Didn’t think so.
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Saer, give me a break!!!
Who gives a crap. The POINT of the whole article is that SHE LOVES HER BODY – regardless of her size.
Isn’t that refreshing? So her GP might say “lose a few pounds” if he was anal, but again, who cares – the article isn’t about “How to prevent diabetes”. No. The article is about a women who is EIGHTY KILOS and LOVES HERSELF – she is proud, beautiful & willing to flaunt it.
This is RARE and should be showcased to the world – especially young, vulnerable teen girls.
Personally, I adore this article. Power to MM!
I love your stance Mia against the pressure on women to be size 0. There really should be more articles and more women out there.
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Sorry diabetes is also generic – I should know my hubby has it and he’s not overweight so you need to grow a brain Saer
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Anonymous there are 2 kinds of diabetes. Your husband would probably have type 1 diabetes. My dad has had it for 30 years and he has never been overweight. Type 1 isn’t preventable and if you are going to get it you are going to get it.
Type 2 diabetes is caused by being overweight and you can prevent that one with a healthy diet and exercise. Even if you do get that from being overweight it is possible to get rid of it by losing the excess weight.
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‘diabetes is also generic’ you say.. wow. I’d learn the difference between ‘generic’ and ‘genetic’ before telling anyone else to ‘grow a brain’. Although maybe illiteracy is ‘generic’ too so it’s probably not really your fault.
As for the debate, curves can be lovely. Being massively overweight is never lovely and should not be called ‘being curvy’. How far in denial do you have to be to think that being overweight is healthy so long as you’re happy with your body? It’s sad really …
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On the “men prefer curvy women” comment – I have a friend who’s partner loves a thin toned physique – my man loves some curves. She is thin an toned, I have curves. Either way, they love us as PEOPLE most of all, and we love them back – the bodies thing just seems to be part of the attraction equation, which is why we all have partners that we are attracted to and love.
I guess I’m just saying, men don’t fit one mould, just as we don’t, big OR small, doesn’t matter.
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but lets not try and control whats sexy or whats ok
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So, here’s what I find to be the most perturbing aspect in discussions of women’s bodies: the fact that we feel that we’re entitled to talk about women’s bodies AT ALL, and the way the debate is nearly always framed around how sexually attractive a women’s body is to men. Not only is it heterocentric, it’s just incredibly offensive to presume that the determinant of a woman’s satisfaction with her body is tied up with the value attributed to it by men. A woman’s body is her own, and she can inhabit it however she pleases; she shouldn’t have to worry about it being policed by others.
How about we all stop treating all bodies, but especially women’s bodies like public property.
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Well said!
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Thank you!!
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Your story is shallow Catherine and reeks of a desire to be accepted, if your happy with your body then why feel the need to tell the world? ANSWER: because your helping fat girls feel comfortable in accepting they will never fit the stereotype that you are reinforcing indirectly. Fail.
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Golly! As the great Dev would say ‘Someone’s got relevance deprivation.’ Cheer up sunshine. I’m sure you are good at something.
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are you happy?
can you form relationships? that what’s important- fuck how you look
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Well I only feel good when I am below 56 kilos (I am 5 foot 4). I feel light and energetic, and clothes only look good on me when I am that weight. I think most women feel the same way. I would not be happy as a size 16, and wherever that characteristic comes from, I’m not going to fight it. And I find that if I am tempted to eat a big slab of mudcake, I’m not well emotionally.
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I’m kinda starting to be able to look at myself in the mirror. I know it’s pretty stupid that I can’t. My body looks quite a lot like that French Elle plus size model which is linked in the article mentioned here – but I have backfat. Arrrrrgh I hate it so much; I see women literally TWICE the size of me and they don’t have it and it really pisses me off.
But my mum once said I looked like a Borticelli painting. I wear maxi dresses a lot, and my friend who’s very athletic and skinny (I thinks he’s beautiful) always says I look like a goddess – it’s just bizarre how people’s perceptions of what beauty is is so different – it’s almost like hair, people with straight want curly and vice versa. People who are curvy want to be skinny and people who’re skinny desperately crave curves etc etc it’s enough to do your head in.
This is Ruben’s “Three Graces” – from the 17th Century – pretty amazing, huh?
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Those curvy women without back fat are in shape wear! Seriously, can’t live without it!
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Yes Catherine tell little girls they are smart and capable and then tweet something vulgar about them…. that will increase their self esteem no end.
Oops that was the OTHER Catherine Deveny who wasnt sacked and didnt have a book flog.
Sorry you cant it both ways.
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Clearly she can. And she is.
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its amazing that a woman saying she’s happy in her body has attracted 587 comments so far… take a look at yourselves people…
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While this article is fantastic, I do take issue with the line “if you want to be less hungry and grumpier eat more” – it’s not always that simple. I’m 5’2” and tiny (size 4 – 6, and 4 doesn’t even exist here), and that won’t change no matter how much I eat. Genetics, for me at least, plays the biggest part in my body shape. Society seems to think that if you’re small you’ve obviously got an eating disorder, or are a gym junkie or something, and it’s really quite disheartening to have people tell you to eat more or put on a few kgs. I’m happy with the way I look, yes I’m genetically blessed, but I do do lots of dance and pilates to stay toned. I love my body, and I know many women would kill to have my shape. And good on you Catherine for speaking out, you look amazing!
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reading this post and some of the comments here has woken me up to how many women really despise breast implants (fake tits) and I’m a little surprised. I have breast implants but I dont fit the typical stereotype (read: thin, blonde, tanned with huge melons) Im 5’4 75k, fit into a size 12 and have an E cup size. My reason for getting implants was due to the fact my breasts were very obviously uneven (different sizes and shapes) and to correct this my implants are also different sizes. I hated my breasts before surgery. But Im going off topic, my point is that breast implants totally changed my self image. My partner made a comment post surgery that he never saw my pre surgery breasts unless I’d had a few drinks, any time we were intimate I wore a top or bra and only did positions where my breasts were hidden. but since surgery i love letting my partner see my breasts and our sexlife has changed for the better too!! My point is that we dont all get fake tits to aspire to be in Playboy, sometimes our reasons for changing our appearance are more personal. (NB my partner always said he loved my breasts both before and after surgery and never encouraged me to change anything about myself)
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I loved reading this……..none of my friends know that I also have breast implants….and they often make the ‘fake tits’ comments about women who obviously do have them……I am similar to you in that I was disproportionate beforehand and NOTHING fit me properly! It sounds soooo shallow, but it was impossible to find clothing other than in kids sections that fit me, but now I am just a regular size 8, D cup and I have a healthy body image which I never had a hope of before! I wish I could sometimes be bothered arguing my point (and yours) about why not everyone who has breast implants fits the ‘stereotype’…..or is some airhead bimbo, which is usually the tone in which ‘oh check out her fake tits’ is said! Good on you, Jess88 and thank you for posting this!!
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best comment. I agree. I wish women would lay off with the dismissive ‘fake tits’ comments. There’s one thing that upsets me more than men policing women’s bodies, and that’s women policing other women’s bodies! We all should be there for each other! I couldn’t care less what someone does with their body, so long as they are healthy & happy! If breast implants make a woman feel more confident than who am I to judge? I wear make-up, certain clothes, etc because it makes me feel comfortable and confident. How is that different to having breast implants? It’s altering how you look. Straighten your hair? Get a tan? What is the difference?
Personally, I find the modern preoccupation with ‘natural’ beauty ( a total farce) to be more stifling than any pressure to have breast implants. Ironically, I find it more false. Had to laugh at Miranda’s Kerr’s books about natural beauty – easy stuff for a supermodel to say! Obsession with the natural/unadultered is arguably attached to notions of purity. The digs about breast implants are only a stone throws away from slut shaming and everything that goes with it.
And you know what? sure natural breasts can be beautiful. But implants can be too. It isn’t about the breasts, it’s about the woman attached to them and how SHE feels.
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Well said LL!!
xx
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I think Catherine has oversimplified the “own your body… Your choice” thing. From a psychological perspective, disordered eating behaviours can be quite complex and challenging to change. For some people, it’s not just a simple matter of deciding that they’ll eat more/less because eating habits are part of a network other cognitive, emotional and behavioural factors. Although they might be a minority, I think it’s important that we acknowledge the experiences of such people when we have these kinds of conversations . I guess I see it like topics like depression: it’s great to talk about positive thinking and exchange hilarious pictures of cats to cheer people up, but obviously it’s important to acknowledge that for some people it’s not that easy to “chin up” and “get over the blues”.
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to be fair to catherine i don’t think she was trying to encompass everyone. not every article can include every possible spectrum.
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Possibly the thing that frustrates me the most about this article is the idea that we should all be able to eat chocolate cake when we feel like it. Junk food is exactly that – junk, and should not be seen as a ‘feel-good food’. I made a butter cake yesterday because I was stressed out and baking makes me feel better. But I’m not going to have a slice everyday because that wouldn’t be helping my ass, my cholesterol or my self-esteem. These foods are occasional and showing restraint with them should be applauded, not seen as denial of the ‘good’ things in life.
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I get what you’re saying – but some people (like me, ahem), realllly reeeaaally enjoy cake and chocolate and other ‘junk’.
I know health is important, etc. But I really do believe you can eat junk food as part of your normal diet, as long as it is balanced.
I have at least one piece of junk a day, and thinking that I couldn’t – well that would be just plain depressing. I get joy out of it – really a lot of pleasure! As do lots of people who love making rich meals, desserts, etc.
I think it is fine to think of ‘treat’s as a regular part of life.
If you have your 7 a day, and your protein and whatever other science-y requirements it seems to be believed we need – what is wrong with having a piece of cake (or a biscuit, or some chips, or a bit of chocolate) every single day? What is wrong with that?
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I can tell you! A lot of people find it hard to stop at just a few! Me included. I think it’s important to have a reasonable and realistic diet – I definitely agree there is room for treats. But many overweight people have issues that need to be resolved – eg comfort eating, or an addiction to sugar, which make things much more complicated.
I am trying (and succeeding so far!) to combat my sugar addiction. I have switched to dark chocolate: 85% – the blocks are smaller, the calories are fewer and I can’t eat more than 4 pieces (40g) in one go – it’s just too rich. I’m more than half way to losing 20kg to be the right size for me, and I am totally against deprivation, or even labelling food “bad” because I think it leads to binging. I think *most* people are the size they are because of their choices, and in order to lose or gain weight healthily and for the long term, you really need to change your LIFESTYLE permanently.
If anyone is interested my blog is here: http://lighterhealthierhappier.blogspot.com
I haven’t been updating it much over the last few months, but uni is almost over now so I should be able to get back on track!!
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I think it comes down to knowing your body and how it works – you need junk food in your diet, even if it’s something once a month. Maybe you know you have a very slow metabolism, you you can only really splurge once a month. Maybe you exercise like hell and therefore allow yourself something once a week. There are no rules. If you’re doing something wrong, it’ll show on your body and how you feel about it.
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noone NEEDS junk food ever actually. We just want it cos it’s yummy and it’s easy to get.There’s little nutritional value in anything we consider junk, that’s why it’s called junk. Most people could both survive and be at optimal health if they ate significantly less than they do. Most of our cravings and hunger pangs are totally psychological and nothing to do with out bodies physical needs.
Most of us just choose to over indulge because we can. And that’s ok, it’s exactly that. A choice. But let’s not pretend it is anything but.
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I am trying a new theory about food. So ar it is working and I have lost 3 kg. It is to stop worrying about it. To eat when 8 feel hungry and eat what I crave. I do ‘t always crave junk, but whe. I deprive myself I end up eating to much of something else or thinking about food all the time hence eating anything about the house.
So I have stopped. I don’t eat as much as I am not thinking about it all the time and I actually like and prefer healthy food so it is win win.
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Splendid….you read my mind. I was actually just reflecting on the same topic this week. The man in my life is turned on by my curves and I feel sexier having accepted my body shape as beautiful (and dismissed the relentless negative messages about women’s looks through the media). My focus is on being healthy (eating right etc.) and enjoying life. I’m attractive because I’m exuberant and vibrant (according to my man), not because I have the perfect barbie doll body. Don’t we want happiness? How many of those in the media spotlight who have ‘perfect’ bodies are actually happy? If your partner doesn’t love your body, than does he /she really love you?
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Having Polycystic Ovaries I have always been a curvy girl. I started ballet at age 5 and continued for 11 years despite comments from other girls mothers that I was too big for ballet. I loved it and that was all that mattered.
I did suffer from low self esteem for quite a while from my teens to early 20s but then I discovered burlesque. A performance style where I get to whatever act I want, to the music that I want and wear what I want.
Originally I never dreamt that I would ever remove my tightly laced corset or bra on stage and reveal myself to an audience of people (90% women btw), surely I would be laughed off the stage and be humiliated.
Then I saw a performer who was bigger than me onstage twirling her tassles and she was amazing. And if she could do, why couldn’t I?!
Now when I perform it’s not uncommon for women to come up to me after a show and hug and thank me for having the confidence they lack. And then ask me where they can learn to do what I do!
When I started burlesque, it was the lure of the feathers and sequins, now it turns out I am an inspiration! And that’s pretty darned cool!
Oh, and in April I happened to beat 7 gorgeous and talented girls (all of a smaller dress size than myself) to become Miss Burlesque NZ 2011!
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Congratulations on your title, you look fabulous!
I’ve done a little burlesque myself – I performed at one particular launch party at Bondi Beach (notorious for it’s skinny tanned babes) with a friend of similar size and shape to me and it was amazing how many women came up afterwards and say how wonderful it was to see curvier girls up there!
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Yay! How awesome to win, doing something you love! You look great, and I love your pink feather skirt – I want one!
Side note – not all women with PCOS are curvy. Both my Godmother and a friend of mine have it, and both have very slight builds, and find it impossible to gain weight. BUT they both have uncomfortably large boobs, and the associated back problems. And they both sleep in their bras, purely because it’s more comfortable for them. Not to mention the unwanted male attention they’ve received over the years.
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love it!
thanks so much for sharing!
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I’m agreeing with a lot of the comments that call for a celebration of diversity rather than making any kind of woman – size, shape, colour – feel any less than another.
This is the thing about body confidence: it often can’t occur by itself. The reason this entire argument has happened in the first place is because women have started judging each other; comparing each other; and TELLING EACH OTHER that they are not what they SHOULD be (if there even is such a thing).
I struggled with Anorexia for years and the only thing that saw me out of it was surrounding myself with friends and family who appreciated me, no matter how I looked. They loved me and supported me and reminded me of all the amazing qualities that are more important to me than my body, such as my intelligence, my humour, my compassion, etc. I’m 5’11″ and I haven’t weighed myself in a very long time (because I no longer find it necessary), but I’d say I’m roughly 85-90kg. I’m incredibly proud of the way I look. I remember when I was at the worst of my illness (50kg) and walking in public, I’d get glances from worried parents that made me feel monstrous. But now, I feel fabulous. Confidence, in my opinion, makes a woman sexier than almost anything else she can have.
If we really want to tackle this problem, we need to create an environment where women STOP judging, STOP comparing, STOP suggesting what a woman SHOULD be. We should encourage women to be what they WANT, and what they CAN be. Fat, thin, tall, short, wobbly, streamlined; it’s all absolutely beautiful, and so much time is wasted worrying about how you look doing something, rather than focusing on what it is you’re actually doing.
The moral of this article is not praising fat women or demonising thin ones, it’s about a woman who is happy with herself, who isn’t daunted by advertising or the opinions of others, and who is encouraging that same kind of positive attitude through a medium that has a large reach. Sure, you might not enjoy yourself if you were Catherine’s weight, but YOU AREN’T CATHERINE. You are you. Be happy with you, and be happy for other people who are happy with themselves. We need to do this together.
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Agree x 1000!
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So much hate for other women’s bodies here! I developed an eating disorder at 14 (bulimia) which I suffered from for over 20 years. I tried many treatments over the years, most of which have limited success: in patient hospital, support groups, CBT, therapy, medication, out patients clinics, diet programs, hypnotherapy etc for most of these years. But hey I was thin and therefore healthy in many people’s eyes. My eyes used to bled, I had long term dental complications and had all my back teeth removed, my vocal cords were damaged. In short, the public purse paid for a lot of medical treatment.
Today, I’m 36. I’m 30-40 kilos overweight and a size 18. I have been this size for three years since developing an underactive thyroid. My eating is far from perfect but I no longer spend a period of each day with my head over the toilet. I have normal cholesterol and blood pressure. I still hate exercise to be honest, but I have enough brain capacity these days to run my own not for profit organisation, be happily married and maintain a household and lifestyle which does not place my worth solely around what I eat and my appearance.
But if you saw me, no doubt your first thought would be how fat I am and how I should lose weight. Losing weight is not easy when you’ve struggled with abnormal eating for many years. I can’t just go to Jenny Craig or WW (both of which I engaged which at my most bulimic-how many points are lost in a purge?). I’ve been to support groups with women my age and older, we’re considered ‘cured’ by the medical fraternity but to the general public we’re just fat.
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I’m sick and tired of hearing about who is this weight or who has lost that weight. I’m tired of seeing overweight women in womens magazines say “i love my new curves,” then 6 months later they have lost 20kg and it’s “i love my new body.” Boring and painful. It’s great this woman is happy with herself but isn’t there something more interesting to talk about. This does nothing except add to all the hooha.
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I’m 50kg, size 8. I run, cycle and have sex pretty much everyday. I have mud cake for dessert.
And I think you’re sexy.
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I have struggled with my weight for many years. Some times I would lose a bit and then I would put it back on. I never had an issue with body image, I am who I am and my partner loves my curves. However, at age 40, I have been diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes, it runs in my family and I was 97 kilos at the time of diagnoses. Now i HAVE to lose weight to help manage the diabetes and reduce my blood pressure and to avoid having to go on insulin injections and blood pressure tablets. Sometimes when a woman who is curvy loses weight, its not because they want too, but because they HAVE too. There is too much emphasis on weight, whether it be too much or too little. People are people, we are all the same on the inside. If being overweight makes you unhappy or ill… change it. If you’re happy and healthy just the way you are then stay the same. Its really that simple.
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As a woman of my word, here is a bikini picture of me. Sorry about the crap self-photography quality. Just wanted to follow through just to make sure people weren’t thinking I was all hot air. haha
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You look amazing!
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Don’t worry about the crap photography! We see you! And you are lovely!
Your body is your vehicle (spelling?), *how* do you use your body? What are your hobbies?
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Thanks guys!
How do I use my body? Well, being a single woman I don’t have NEARLY enough sex, but i do eat plenty of chocolate to compensate haha I exercise regularly but not particular strenuously. Just walking/jogging never more than 5km at a time, yoga and swimming… I’ve only just discovered how fabulous swimming is for arm and shoulder tone. Slow on the uptake I know!
Cheers guys!
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How old are you Lucinda as you only look early 20′s?
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Catherine, i am pleased that you feel so comfortable with your body, and clearly from all the activities you list, it is serving you well: I think we should all celebrate our own version of natural beauty and loveliness – that is, our non-chemically enhanced skin tone, teeth that might be crooked or not quite white, and our breasts/feet/nose/whatever in the size and shape they are. However, please don’t be deluded into thinking that because you are OK with being overweight that you are healthy – the hard fact is, that for women, having a waist = or > 80cm puts you at real risk of having a heart attack, not to mention increased risk of cancers, diabetes, infertility, arthritis…the list goes on. Feeling OK about how you look is a seperate issue to being healthy – and I think celebrating obesity is as bad as celebrating being anorexic.
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You will be thrilled to know I’m incredibly healthy, my waist is tiny, my blood pressure is ridiculously low so too my cholesterol and I have a resting heartbeat of 48. Oh and I don’t drink or smoke. I am obscenly healthy. Best you get educated that weight is no indicator of health and the BMI has been discredited and linked to eating disorders. Wouldn’t want you looking like a wally making cracks like that again! Thanks for lovely and heartfelt concern. I am sure you will rest soundly tonight. Come over before breakfast and join me for my run. Tomorrow is 10 km.
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Resting hearbeat of 48? Catherine, I love how you take the piss…..lol!
While everyone else is having a rant, allow me to have my own: I hate how people tell me not to smoke….as if other people aren’t polluting the air with their car exhaust….. carbon monoxide will kill you faster than passive smoking, folks! It’s my life! If I die, I’m not going to leave any kiddies motherless, either…..I chose not to have them….and I’m considerate enough not to smoke around others….but just don’t tell me not to smoke in an outdoor area…al-fresco wouldn’t exist in this country if smokers weren’t banished outside! OK????
If you don’t think the exclusion of smokers isn’t related to the wide variation of women’s body shapes, think again….
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Fine, if you want to smoke then do so. But please get private health insurance so my tax payer’s money doesn’t have to go on your cath lab procedures or coronary bypass grafts.
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kait, approx 70% of each packet of cigarettes sold in Australia is tax/excise. I am MORE than paying my way, thanks.
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You have a point about those taxes. I agree that we have gone too far with our intolerance for smoking. I don’t do it myself anymore but I don’t begrudge people the right to indulge if they desire, especially when they are thoughtful about their habit as Nicki is. I think we’ve become a little nasty in our intolerance. people shouldn’t be made to feel like social outcasts because they smoke.
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Actually, the tax on tobacco (around 56%, not 70%) is not the only way smoking helps the economy: a study in 2000 found that the cost of healthcare for smokers is far outweighed by the reduction in healthcare and pension costs resulting from smokers’ early deaths. If you are lucky enough to live to a ripe old age though, the taxes you’ve been paying are not going to cover your expenses.
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kait, will you also ask the person who drinks alcohol on a moderate basis to get private health insurance or the people who indulge in junk food too often and exercise not often enough to get private health insurance as well?
Unless you are living a super clean lifestyle, everyone is contributing to any health care they will need in the future, so don’t go picking on smokers because I bet my bottom dollar that you are impacting your own health in some way right now that the tax payer may have to pay to correct in the future.
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Nicki – I totally agree with you. I’m not a smoker, and I HATE smelling smoke – but if you’re not smoking in my face then what business is it of mine?
This ridiculousness of ‘get private health insurance, you’re wasting my taxes’ has got to stop – Cigarettes are taxed to the max, and there are a million other ‘lifestyle’ choices you could attack, so how about we just stop it.
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Thanks Rachael and Katey. The way I see it, both of these issues (body-shaming, habit-shaming) are related. It’s the “Us Vs Them” mentality.
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it’s becasue I am very well educated in such matters that I made the comments I did. I didn’t mention BMI because for some time it has been superceded by waist circumference (and/or waist-height ratio) – ideally <80cm for women; <90cm for men – as a more reliable predictor of health. Quite obviously, someone who has a waist circ above this is going to be overweight (from a health perspective) Looking and feeling spectacular (even when we are overweight) is a separate issue, and as you say, women especially should nobe judged on their appearance but the current trend – not just you – to endorse "big is OK" seems to be a backlash against all the years of idealising the underweight (celebs, models etc) and I just question how helpful it is for people who unlike yourself are not fit &out runing 10k and are carrying a lot of abdominal fat ..although in that very guarded pose, it's hard to tell how teeny tiny your waist really is.
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sorry but do you personally know catherine and have you measured her waist circumference?
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Maxi may not have measured Catherine’s waist, but I’d bet money it’s not under 80cm.
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Yeah but that is so pathetic anyway – 80cm is not a realy women’s waist measurement. As for the BMI index – what a load of crap that is – if I took that as gospel you wouldn’t be able to see me as I am 5’7 and 93 kilos – I have boobs so I am thinking I am probably only 83 kilos and if I took my BMI seriously I should be under 60 kilos at 5’7 – how bloody ridiculous!
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replying to anon below: i am 58kg and 5″8, its not ridiculous at all. i even have a tummy and big thighs. good luck with losing the weight you desperately need to.
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you are so obnoxious it hurts my eyes
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Ha! I wonder what Catherine’s resting heart rate was when she looked like this before she got fired from The Age then? 30? Something has definitely changed…
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Same size, same weight, same exercise. Different angle. Taken in 2010. Wore that frock last night.
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Well I stand corrected then. I apologise. It’s a sexy lil frock anyway
If your resting heart rate really is 48, I must say that’s pretty enviable! You’re an elite athlete Catherine!
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Resting Heart rate is largly down to genetics, It doesnt always indicate fitness or health
I have me relatively sedentary people with resing HR’s of 50 and people who work out intensly with a Resting HR of 70. but looking a other fitness tests the more acive people we the fitter ones
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Gee lucinda could you be any more snarky?
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I’m sure I could if I put my mind to it! I was merely asking if something had changed because Catherine looks thinner in last years promotional shots than the bather photo. Don’t get me wrong, she looks fabulous in both. I just wondered if her perspective had changed that’s all. I’d be keen for her to write another article with more emphasis on her own relationship with her body image d without positioning thin women as cookie cutter. I feel, and Catherine may correct me again if I am wrong, that the fact that she was looking at all the “bodies” at the ARIAs and comparing them to her own, and then felt compelled to write this piece screams out that she is still struggling a little bit with body image. I have suffered with body image issues and depression myself and seen and known many people have had similar issues. In my experience, and it may be a gross generalisation, people who are actually really happy with how they look don’t feel the need to talk about it at all, in either a negative or positive light. The ones who neither put themselves down, nor talk themselves up are the ones who truly don’t care what anyone else thinks. I think Catherine cares. Deeply. I’d love for her to write another piece and prove me wrong
By the way I think its quite refreshing to have the courage to put your name to your posts. Something to think about
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I really DON’T get the argument so many make on this site about putting a name to a post? After all I could tell you that my name is Maria – when for all you know it could be Frank!
Seriously what bloody difference does it make?
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There you go – so Catherine, you have a tiny waist! Any woman can be huge with a tiny waist and look fabulous. Catherine, how do you feel about women with thick waists? Still gorgeous? Be honest now.
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Thank you Catherine for mentioning the problems with the BMI.
I am a little taller than 160cm, size 12-16 (depending on what brand) and weigh about 90kg. BMI = Obese
I had a GP tell me I was very unhealthy and needed to lose weight, based on my BMI. I do personal training twice and week, and while I wouldn’t mind losing a few kg – I don’t think my body would look healthy if I was in the “healthy” BMI range. I think I’d be too skinny.
Also, I like having boobs!
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I absolutely agree. I train four times a week and eat well to stay healthy – not skinny. I am sick and tired of articles celebrating so-called
curves when obesity and unhealthy eating is a huge problem in our society today. Let’s celebrate fit and healthy bodies Catherine – not obesity! You are confusing feeling good about your curves with physical health. Running and then eating a huge mud cake dessert just cancels out any fitness effort.
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Yeah…..but. Why should anyone be made to feel bad about having a run, and then eating a “huge” mud cake, Melinda?
Maybe there’s not enough joy in day-to-day life for many, otherwise we wouldn’t be indulging in “vices”.
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You don’t seem to have anything better to do than post comments on mammamia! You’re all over the place! I notice you’re a smoker so obviously health isn’t a priority for you. I still stand by my comment – junk food is a fast track to ill health. As is smoking and obesity. People who are overweight (or smokers or generally unhealthy, try to make themselves feel better with comments like “I can’t help it, it’s my vice” Don’t be so weak – be strong, fit and own yourself. You don’t need cigarettes or mud cake to feel good. Without health you have nothing. Good luck!!
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Maybe Melinda she runs SO she can eat the mud cake? Which if that is the case that’s her choice.
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Hungry? Cookie cutter? I’m 5″10, 52kg. I can’t put weight on to save myself. I’ve been labelled waif, surf board, look like a boy…. I would never get breast implants, but I please ask everyone to consider those who choose to may have also suffered bullying, self esteem issues.
The problem here is not skinny or fat, it’s the ‘us vs them’ attitude. I envy curvy women and always have. But I’m not starving myself, not obsessed. Please stop judging thin women. Genetics is not something we can choose.
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I was gonna say, reversing the issue and vilifying super skinny ladies ain’t gonna help no one either… =/
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Absolutely true Ella. Love Catherine living the message of healthy and happy whatever the size, there needs to be more role models like her out there. I see it every day with the women in my practice, when they shift their inner perception from “not good enough”, to “worthy, loveable, good enough” then their whole lives change and their bodies find a natural balance and healthy shape & size for them.
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