M. Lopez

I came across an interesting article today, which pertains to recent discussions on this forum. The article notes that mothers in Britain increasingly want their daughters to be influenced by curvier celebrities, so that they can improve their self-esteem.

The article points out that negative body image is a serious problem among young girls in the U.K., and it's heartbreaking to read about the impact that this is having on young girls, who should be perfectly happy with themselves, rather than facing crippling self-doubt about their naturally healthy appetites and figures.

The article cites three supposedly "curvy" stars as better influences than waif models, but all three are still very thin (although I do applaud Charlotte Church for the size-positive statements that she has made during her career).

I just wish that young women today had more genuinely full-figured role models, especially plus-size goddesses like Barbara and Christina Schmidt, who, with their exciting careers, could really capture girls' imaginations. (If only the media gave them more attention!) Hopefully, when Charlotte Coyle's TV special airs in Britain, it will do some good, and help show young girls that, yes, supermodels can be size 16, 18, etc.

Here's the link:

http://news.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=482182006

and a chunk of the most important text:


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Fuller figures that show skinny models do [no] good for girls' self-image

The Scotsman
Wed 29 Mar 2006

MOTHERS want their daughters to look like curvy stars such as Joss Stone, Charlotte Church and Billie Piper, rather than stick-thin fashion models.

Positive body role models will help to combat an increasing feeling of low self-esteem among young girls, according to research released yesterday. By rejecting thin role models, such as Kate Moss, in favour of curvier idols, mothers hope to encourage their daughters to be happy with their natural shape.

The call comes on the back of research which shows that girls in Britain suffer some of the lowest levels of self-esteem in the world...

Some 96 per cent of mothers wanted celebrities to set a better example on body image and 92 per cent of young girls wanted to see role models who looked like them in the public eye.

The mothers and the young girls have the backing of teachers, who believe that more positive celebrity role models would help to raise body-related self-esteem in the classroom.