In the dentist's waiting room last week, I picked up a copy of some un-put-downable weekly gossip mag, as you do. I was transfixed by a survey that stated that 58% of men preferred curvy girls to skinny ones, and that boobs were number one on their tick-list of female attributes, followed closely by a well-toned, peachy bum. All the usual suspects were compared, Kate Moss, Paris Hilton, Charlotte Church, Martine McCutcheon, Britney, Kylie, Nigella etc.
It was all there in black and white & skinny equals self-obsession, denial and apart from being a good clothes hanger, just doesn't cut in with Mr Average.
So why won't the majority of us we believe it, stop yo-yo dieting and trying masochistic exercise regimes and learn to celebrate our curves?!
Face it, curves combined with a devil-may-care attitude are sexy! Now take Nigella Lawson, she loves her food and she's not averse to a second helping of sticky toffee pudding. Super-skinny Victoria Beckham on the other hand, is the model of restraint. If various gossip mags are to be believed, nothing more than sushi and lettuce leaves pass her lips. Go out with her for a slap up meal and you'd have to force feed her pudding. She'd be no fun at all!
Back in the land of mere mortals, I have a friend who teaches bellydancing. She's gorgeous, a generous size 18, and boy can she move. When she dances the whole room is transfixed by her decolletage and derriere and because she has a generous helping of both, plus confidence in spades, she exudes sexiness.
As we age, skinny looks downright scrawny and curvy looks so much better.
So let's learn to cherish our love handles, value our boobs and prize our bums. Let's not get uptight about the odd pudding or two, let's keep off the scales and bin the diets. Beauty comes from within and if you're curvy and happy with yourself, like Nigella and my size 18 friend, you'll draw the opposite sex like a magnet - 58% of men can't be wrong!