Mo'Nique's 'Fat Chance' on Oxygen

[Dvyne Evolushun]

Originally posted by ladylike
The premise of the show (celebrating women and their size) was a great idea. However, the execution left a little to be desired.
The women appeared to be extremely stiff when it came to walking the runway (maybe I'm biased but the sistas WORKED IT!).

Some of the clothing was HORRIBLE. The blue curtain they put on the one blond haired woman was atrocious! However, this was all balanced by the amazing aura that Sharon gave off. She was class personified and she had her STRUT down!

CT4 & Dvyne: What is your definition of "fat" and what is your definition of "thick"?

I wondered if I was the only one that saw that blue outfit. Her arms were pinned down to her sides - she needed a more flattering outfit because she really was beautiful.

I'm not really comfortable with calling anyone fat - I think that word is hateful and derrogatory. I think - 16 -20 is thick, but as long as you're healthy - hey. Monique says in Baby Boy that she's an 18 I believe, but she looks bigger than that to me. But - she looks good because she has some muscle tone and she seems healthy. So, after 20 I think it's a little on the bigger side, but you have to be sure that you are healthy. Again - disclaimer* I'm not thin - so I'm not criticizing anyone.

[treblk]

Thank you ladies for the great re-cap. I'on have the Oxygen channel (damn Comcast) so I can't see it.
They did a special on Mo'Nique's FAT Chance and how with folks like her, plus size stores are doing GREAT nation wide. Stores like Lane Bryant, Ashley S. and Torrid (which I LOVE).

[ladylike]

I wondered if I was the only one that saw that blue outfit. Her arms were pinned down to her sides - she needed a more flattering outfit because she really was beautiful.

Dvyne--I truly believe someone took a curtain and made a top for that woman. It was an ill-fitting travesty!

One definition for fat that I found: "Abounding in desirable elements." Mo'nique should roll with that.

When I think of "thick" the word draws up images of a woman who has "big" breasts, a big butt and thighs. More along the lines of a "Tocarra" from America's Next Top Model. When I think of "fat" I envision a woman who is shaped more like Mo'Nique.

It is quite intersting that Mo'Nique will become almost rabid in her efforts to uplift women who are more statuesque at the expense of women who are not.

It's always "skinny b!tches" this and "skinny b!tches" that.
Stop comparing yourself to other women. It is counterproductive. If you do this all the time you will never be truly happy and confident within yourself.

[aopirose]

Originally posted by ladylike
Stop comparing yourself to other women. It is counterproductive. If you do this all the time you will never be truly happy and confident within yourself.

AMEN!!!! I am a small person (5'3" with a small frame) and have always been so. I remember the day I moved from children's clothes to petite junior's clothes at a size 0. Do you know how hard it is to find sizes 0 and 2? I didn't care. I was so excited but I wished that I could fill out clothing like my more curvacous (sp?) friends. "Skinny" people get harrassed too. There were always "helpful" people coming to talk to me about eating disorders and such. I never had an eating disorder. I am just little with a high metabolism. One day, I realized that if "people" had a problem with my weight/appearance then that was their problem and not mine. My life is filled with more important things then to worry about others.

[AKA2D '91]

Originally posted by jitterbug13
I really enjoyed the show. I thought it was going to be like American Idol where they show the people who tried out to be Ms. F.A.T. and would narrow down to the finalists through the weeks. I also cried hearing some of the ladies' stories...they really inspired a skinny, evil woman like myself.

I thought the same thing!

Did the lady (with head only, no hair) win?

[jitterbug13]

^^^
No, Joanna, the girl who could sing, won.

[Conskeeted7]

Originally posted by Dvyne Evolushun
I'm not really comfortable with calling anyone fat - I think that word is hateful and derrogatory. I think - 16 -20 is thick, but as long as you're healthy - hey. Monique says in Baby Boy that she's an 18 I believe, but she looks bigger than that to me. But - she looks good because she has some muscle tone and she seems healthy. So, after 20 I think it's a little on the bigger side, but you have to be sure that you are healthy. Again - disclaimer* I'm not thin - so I'm not criticizing anyone.

I don't believe that Monique is a size 18 unless she is very short. She just has too much tummy for that. I think she's about a size 22, at least.

I know Monique is trying to help big girls with her ranting about skinny people and empowerment of using the word fat. However, I don't think fat has a positive connotation and I would never be comfortable using that word to describe someone. I definitely wouldn't want to be 'Miss FAT' no matter what it stood for. What if someone had a Black beauty pageant called 'Ms. National Intelligent, Generous, Gifted, and Exceptionally Remarkable woman', but they used the acronym instead? It's still not a nice word and we can think of other ways to empower ourselves.

Just my huble opinion.

[ATLien]

I agree I dont know ANY female who would want to be called Miss. FAT unless she was of Asian decent and that was her natural name.

[Pearls4Life]

Well, now thick is good and hey fat may be in depending on the beholder. I personally don't like my thick thighs one bit and to have them called FAT....lol and act like that's a good thing....UMMMM I don't think so...but who am I..?

Different STROKS for DIFFERNT FOLKS....LOL

[skywalker20_99]

Originally posted by aopirose
AMEN!!!! I am a small person (5'3" with a small frame) and have always been so. I remember the day I moved from children's clothes to petite junior's clothes at a size 0. Do you know how hard it is to find sizes 0 and 2? I didn't care. I was so excited but I wished that I could fill out clothing like my more curvacous (sp?) friends. "Skinny" people get harrassed too. There were always "helpful" people coming to talk to me about eating disorders and such. I never had an eating disorder. I am just little with a high metabolism. One day, I realized that if "people" had a problem with my weight/appearance then that was their problem and not mine. My life is filled with more important things then to worry about others.

I totally agree with you. No matter your size, the important thing is to have a self-confidence. Thin women are frequently the victims of harrassment, but for whatever reason, people think this is okay. In high school, my weight ranged from 95-98 pounds. At nearly 5'7'', I was extremely thin. Unfortunately, I was often teased and ridiculed and was on the receiving end of comments ranging from "Are you anorexic? Do you have AIDS? Do you have cancer?" The crazy part is that I could and still can eat about as much as a full grown man. As a teenager, it was very hurtful to be on the receiving end of that kind of foolishness. However, eventually I decided that II was okay with the way that I looked and I would no longer allow others to determine the way that I felt about myself. As women, I think we should focus on being healthy and happy rather than trying to live up to someone else's standards.

[ATLien]

yea be happy being you and dont let society or anyone else for that matter put restraints on your life. Also live life how you choose to because you have to look at yourself in the mirror everyday and live with the chocies you have made.

[Marie]

I do appreciate what Monique and others like her are trying to do. Not everyone is going to be 'skinny', and I don't think that anyone should kill/sicken themselves to try to get there. I am 5'11'' and wear a 14, so while I'm not fat and am a long way from the size 2 or 4 that the top models can rock, and I'm cool w/that.

My issue w/her 'campaign' is the health piece. I'm not a doctor so I could be way off base, but I just can't fathom a 300+ lb. woman pushing a size 24 or better being healthy. I could be wrong, and these sistahs could be in peak physical condition w/o any negative repercussions from their added weight. However, it just seems so unlikely. If they are all healthy, then more power too you. Please do your thing. However, I don't know that I'm a fan of sacrificing a healthy lifestyle in exchange for strong self-esteem. It just seems like it'll come back to bite you in the end.

Marie

[Steeltrap]

^^
I read an interesting article in the Washington City Paper a couple of years ago about black women and weight. It made an interesting point: if you want to appeal to us about weight loss, emphasize health, not appearance because basically, you can't tell a large AfAm woman that she doesn't look good.

Now I know I need to get moving with exercise again (because I'm not giving up my cocktails, LOL). I am "thick," but if I don't pick it up, that flesh will become loose.

[Conskeeted7]

I honestly think that weight has very little to do with health. There are plenty of thick women who are very healthy and plenty of smaller women who are not. To be healthy to me means they don't smoke, they eat a good combo of foods (not fast food and fried foods everyday), they are active, etc. There was a woman who lead aerobics classes at the gym I used to go to who was a BIG woman. She was probably right around 260 or above. She was very active, had classes everyday. She could move better than any of us in the class, but she was a big girl. So, it's very possible.

[btb87]

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