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Our first thought when we saw this photo of plus-size model Lizzi Miller from Glamour magazine was, Wow, that girl looks real, she looks sexy, she looks confident despite not having washboard abs. Most importantly, she looks like we look in our undies (click the pic to see full-size). And apparently a lot of women had the same reaction -- the response to the 20-year-old's natural-looking belly pooch has been overwhelmingly positive, says Glamour's editor-in-chief, Cindi Leive. One reader called the shot "the most amazing photograph I've ever seen in any women's magazine." Another says, "I wanted to shout from the rooftops!"
The now-famous "page 194 photo" was commissioned for an article on feeling comfortable in your skin, which can be tricky when surrounded by stick-thin cover girls and seemingly perfect, Photoshopped arms. Even though we know the modeling world is a crazy alternate reality, it's hard not to feel a little self-conscious when Adriana Lima is staring at us from the coffee table.
But photos like this one do help, so kudos to Glamour for featuring a chick who looks happy and healthy, like she actually eats chicken fingers for dinner sometimes. We're not naïve enough to think this is the end of airbrushing and size zeros in women's mags, but with a real-girl response like that, we hope the media will take heed.
More heroes on Lemondrop:
Limbless dancer performs at Juilliard.
Breast-feeding moms take over NYC subways.
Newlywed survives annoying husband.
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Friday 21 August
By Desb
AMEN!!!!!!!!!
Friday 21 August
By midwest mom
I love your minus size idea. Real women do come in all sizes but you mostly see the minus size ones in the mag and on TV so its no wonder self estem issues are at an all time high. I would love to see more of this kind of stuff in the mag and on TV. It is sad that my children are growing up in a world that only accepts one size of body I say this becouse you do not see hardly aney mag or tv with somthing other then the minus size, or if you do they are labeled as Plus size and they make a big deal as to how the plus size need to be smaller.
Saturday 22 August
By kate
I would like to double that AMEN!!!
Friday 21 August
By pattitabor
Some people are dillusional. This women has not "let herself go". She is relatively thin actually. I imagine she has had a child. She looks like a real women whose life probably does not revolve around herself exclusively. I have a daughter with and eating disorder and the more comments I read makes me understand why more and more. People think women should acheive the impossible. My daughter is still fighting against the fact that she cannot live without digesting food. She would rather be dead than fat.....I wonder why.
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Saturday 22 August
By Ron
I always say.....'what are these women doing?" My wite has hazel eyes, lovely red hair, small feet, sexy legs and is a size 14. I love her....did I mention sexy>
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Friday 21 August
By LeslieO
I think its great to publish a woman with a normal belly and flaws. A great amount of women have cellulite or flaws that they just do not like about themselves which is totally normal and yes its true; no matter how much you exercise some people will not get the results they think they're supposed to get according to cater-to-celeb trainers who publish their diet secrets. I, for one, am a size 3 at 5'0 wieghing 115 pounds and I have this belly buldge that doesnt want to go away and I hit the gym 3-4 times a wk! and I also have cellulite. Its normal and thanks to this ad, im sure most women will start to feel a little better about themselves. The more they publish normal looking women without the photoshop, the more women will start feeling sexier and have more confidence! KUDOS TO YOU GLAMOUR! ITS ABOUT FREAKIN' TIME!
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Friday 21 August
By Kim
I can't believe some of society classifies this young woman as Plus-Size/chubby/letting herself go. She is probably a size 8 or 10. I don't think we should criticize anyone for their choices as long as they don't hurt anyone! Sadly, I don't think we should have to comment about how "different" this picture is from the other models/magazines: EVERY WOMAN is different. Some work out and their genetics allow them to be perfectly fit. Other women can work out and eat healthy the exact same way and may never be thin! I am glad this picture was posted, and hopefully more magazines will show EVERY type of woman. Maybe one day we won't have to point out the different sizes and looks of people.
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Friday 21 August
By Mindy
LOVE IT!!!!!
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Friday 21 August
By Hannah
This is suppose to be a plus sized model? She doesn't look any bigger than any other woman I see everyday on the street.
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Friday 21 August
By chrissy
she's beautiful and im glad they're putting pictures of real women up, HOWEVER, how can they call her plus-size? unless she has to buy all her clothes at Lane Bryant (like i do!), then she doesnt qualify as plus size!! she's beautiful and shame on society for labeling her plus size! anything more than emaciated should not count as plus size. WRONG!!! shame shame shame! but YAY for putting an image of an actual LIVE woman in a magazine! so much better to see than these lifeless corpses staggering on the runways.
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Friday 21 August
By Lizzo
I think it is good that this kind of photo can help women in embracing their body and owning their sexiness. Of course I still think it is important for women (and men, at that) to stay fit and healthy, but as some have mentioned, not everyone can achieve a "model" figure, even if hitting the gym three times a week. It's called genes. In no way to I think it's acceptable to encourage women to be unhealthy, but I don't think that's what this kind of photo or the related article intended.
I am 22 years old, 4'11'' and weigh 93 lbs. I am relatively thin and toned, as I dance, and am borderline of being classified as underweight. I have also had a child and dropped the weight without a problem and it was nearly effortless. Let's face it, bodies are different. That's part of the beauty of what makes people diverse and unique. However, despite my being thin, I am also still very uncomfortable in my body (especially my stomache and thighs). I stopped buying magazines a long time ago because it kills me to see all the beautiful women in the magazines and makes me feel like I will never be thin or beautiful enough. I am stuck in the mentality that these thin models are what beauty consists of. Seeing how happy and comfortable this woman looks in this photo almost makes me a little envious. I wish I could feel that way. I'm still working on it.
So kudos to mags that connect to and encourage women to strive to be healthy and to also feel comfortable and happy in their bodies. :)
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Friday 21 August
By CrazyDiamond
That's depressing. The woman is NOT PLUS SIZED AT ALL! What are you teaching us? She's HEALTHY. THIS is what plus sized is now a days???? The only thing she is missing is a toned stomach, other than that, she's a RAIL. Show me a plus woman with curves, there is the real beauty and confidence. She can drop 10 pounds and walk a runway with anyone else. FAIL.
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Friday 21 August
By Nightshade
I gladly support the message that women of all shapes and sizes are beautiful, but I have to say some of the attitudes on this board are hypocritical and even rather offensive. As one of the naturally lithe, athletic types who has little trouble maintaining washboard abs, it's grating to hear what 'real' women should look like. Fact of the matter is, real women come in all shapes and sizes. Seriously, ladies, we can be voluptuous, thin, athletic, or somewhere in between and still be gorgeous, as long as we're maintaining those figures in a healthy way. Let's stop the cattiness and support ALL healthy female bodies, not just the ones that mirror your own!
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Sunday 23 August
By vampress1012
I have to agree with Nighshade. The main point of this article is to promote BEING COMFORTABLE IN YOUR OWN SKIN. And saying that as long as your eating healthy, and excersising regularly, it doesnt matter what size you are, you're beautiful and stunning in your own way.
The comments about "real women" are a little offensive in saying that skinnier women are all unhealthy and fake. I completely agree with, and understand, some of these comments stating about how society has brainwashed us all into thinking only anorexic is beatiful, but we dont need to be spiteful or bitter about it.
We need to just accept ourselves and everone else REGARDLESS of what size we are, and just strive to be HEALTHY. :]
Friday 21 August
By momof3
She's beautiful..... This almost a perfect match to my body. Seeing this has made me feel like a real woman, and made me feel sexy too. I am so proud of Glamour. Keep it real, that is what readers want to see. God Bless.
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Saturday 22 August
By ken
ya she looks good but only 20 it said damn what she going to look like at 25 or 30 ya 3 kids you have im sure you look good if thats how you look. but at 20 I dont think so! dont say if shes had kids looks like she did. but i know bad thing to say
Friday 21 August
By gtschev
That chick is effin hot! What is plus sized about her?
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Friday 21 August
By Nikki
I can't believe they consider her a "plus" size model! Thats ridiculous! She looks healthy since when is anorexic sexy! Who wants to look at a bag a bones! I am a size 1 and look healthy not at all overweight or under. I am 5ft so look proportioned, to me thats attractive not seeing someones hip bones and chest bones sticking out! This lady is a gorgeous model not near what I consider plus size!
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Friday 21 August
By MissZ
Nice try Glamour. But this is not plus-sized. She looks to be about a size 10 or 12. That hardly counts for plus-sized.
This is nothing to get excited about. Instead maybe they should focus on ALL kinds of women. The skinny-fat girls (the ones who don't lift a finger, are skinny, eat whatever they want but are totally out of shape). The thin girl who works hard and eats well to look and feel good. The crazy muscular one that looks like she can take on 10 guys. The middle-aged one who's had 3 kids and can only fit one workout a week into her schedule. The obese one who likes her chunk-a-dunk. The fat one who admittingly hates her extra pounds. Put all these in the magazine and do not provide stylists, makeup, or good lighting. Then we'll see what real women look like. Or......try looking around at your own friends, mothers, sisters, daughters, co-workers, etc. We are real women and we are everywhere. Why should it matter that the only place we are not is on the front cover of a stupid mag???
Rachel S had it right. What's the big deal. SHE IS NOT PLUS SIZED!
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Friday 21 August
By jhs1976
Not that there's anything wrong with the way this woman looks, and i know how hard it is to lose weight, but I think a lot of people make excuses for being fat. 30 years ago less than 10% of the population was overweight. Now everyone even teenagers seems to be at least 15 pounds overweight. Human genes haven't changed any yet we have an obesity epidemic. No wonder 40 years ago at MCDonald's the adult meal was the size of a happy meal. People don't get enough excercise they eat crap and their fat, end of story. The truth is people make excuses for a lack of discipline, and expect miracle pills and machines to do the work for them. Get off your ass America.
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