Body Image and Prom

We had prom. I say we because it was an all day event but actually it was our 17 year old daughter who had prom. She was beautiful in her dress. We went to Chicago the night before to get our nails and toes done. Her hair and make-up was done by my friend Jessica. My friend Dianne took pictures in her studio. It was an event.

I was hoping it would be a fun feel good event for her. After all it’s not every day you get the star treatment.

It wasn’t fun. She was in freak out mode for about three days before prom. The worst moment came when she exclaimed, “I feel fat!”

My spouse tweeted, “Events like prom are utterly vile to me as they cast shame upon the natural beauty of people by making a size 2 girl think she's fat.”

Daughter almost in tears, “A size two is fat! I am a size zero!”

All I could think is WTF!

My size zero daughter is having a melt down because she feels fat. How did this happen? Why did this happen? When did this happen?

There is a study out there (http://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/dps/eopp/eopp17.pdf) that says if we use plus size models women would gain weight. (Keep in mind that a size 8 is considered a plus size model.) The study goes on to say that it is actually healthier for us to look skinny models because it keeps us from over eating. Really?

I can’t understand how it is healthy for a size zero to think she is fat. I can’t understand how it is healthy for a size eight to think she is a plus size. I can’t understand how it is healthy to call clothes a plus size. I can’t understand why we keep putting up with this from the fashion industry? If you want me to buy your clothes then let me see them on beautiful normal size females.

There are great campaigns out there like the Dove Real Beauty, Just My Size, and Cover Girl. They show women of all sizes. It doesn’t make me want to eat. It just makes me want to buy their products.

My daughter is a healthy size, she eats, she dances, and she is beautiful. She should never have to feel fat. She should never have to look at unhealthy images and think that, that is what beauty is. These images of super skinny models don’t keep us healthy instead they cast shame.

As a mother I try to give my daughter good self-esteem. I try to let her know that she is beautiful inside and out. It would be nice if I had a little help from the fashion industry.