One Girl's Observations and Questions About the Human Race.

Something that has been frequently on my mind for a few days now thanks to various conversations, facebook status’s and the media, is the meaning of the term “sexy”. One might say this is down to the individual’s opinion or perception, however,  I am talking about society as a whole and the perception of this word we are steered into having.

For some time now it seems that being “sexy” or “attractive” means being a maximum of UK Size 8, between medium and tall in height and having unblemished skin with near symetrical features. However, for most of us we know that life doesn’t throw those desired traits at us.

So when did all this start? Was it when Twiggy first came on the scene- being only a slight 6.5st at the start of her modelling career? Or did it start earlier with Marilyn Monroe and her slim but still curvacious figure? Or did it start later on with the likes of Kate Moss who looks more like a skeleton than a living human being from time to time?

Now there is no denying that these women were/are all attractive in their own ways, I myself would love to look anything near Marilyn Monroe! but is this really what is expected of women these days? To crave a body deemed attractive by the media? Having worked with individuals with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulima nervosa, this is the opinion and belief held by many a female*. Now, you may be thinking someone would have to be awful weak minded to take the messages of the media so seriously but the reality is many women, and sometimes men are being influenced by not only the media’s perception of the ideal but by their partners, parents and friend’s ideas about what THEY should look like.

Thankfully there seems to be a few influential individuals who celebrate the female form- be it curvy, slim or plump. Most notably the style guru Gok Wan. Thanks to him there is now an increasing number of women becoming more comfortable in their own skin, the chains are being loosend and we are being liberated- whatever shape we are, whether our skin be blemished or not, whether we be rock chicks, proper ladies, casual or have a distinctive style!

Yes, women and men alike will still have to be subject to comments and judgements about their appearence but hopefully in the future less will fall victim to the latest fad diet or trend superficial attractiveness.

So, what is my view of being “sexy” or “attractive”? As someone who is curvy (or “slim and stacked” as a friend so elloquently put it >.>) as corny as it sounds I belive that being sexy comes from within, being comfortable in your own skin (blemished or not!) and being relatively healthy.

So next time we look in that mirror, lets take a moment to appreciate the beautiful phenomena that is ourselves and celebrate being who we are- someone with our own identity, not just another clone of the airbrushed “beautiful” people.

*this is just one of the many factors that could influence people with anorexia.

P.S Check out the link “Evolution of a Model”. Thanks