Who said big booties are not what's hot?

After class one day, one of my sociology teachers and I had a conversation about the fashion industry and weight. She said, "Patrice, you don't think fashion magazines put pressure on women to be thin?" \nAs I tried to defend the fashion industry, she interrupted me and said, "Patrice, just admit it." \nAnd so I did. Still, while many of the fashion magazines and runways are full of women that are a size 0-2, I admitted they never show what the stylists, editors, writers and designers look like. Attending many shows each year, I have to say, the only ones who are ultra-thin are the models, which brings me to my point. I recall the day my professor asked the class the average size of an American woman. Hands flew up and students guessed, "size 4," "size 5" and "size 7," and just as she was about to give up, I raised my hand and said, "size 14." I was right. \nEveryone in the class seemed to be surprised. I thought to myself, close your mouths, there is nothing wrong with a little bit, or in my case a lot, of booty. Is the general consensus that a bigger woman or a woman with a backside and curves can't be fashionable or beautiful? If it is, I am going to challenge the consensus a bit. Of course, there is nothing wrong with being naturally thin, but does that have to be the only accepted form of beauty and style?\nThere are many designers who are not ultra-thin. Look at Tracy Reese, Alice Roi, Kimora Lee, Betsey Johnson, Cynthia Steffe and Anna Sui; the list goes on and on. \nI have found that very rarely does the entire staff in any fashion company, magazine or label reflect what is on the runway. There are also many fashionable women who are not ultra-thin. Take Tyra Banks, Beyonce Knowles and Catherine Zeta-Jones. In my opinion, being ultra-thin plays second fiddle to being stylish unless you are on the runway, and, let's face it, being model-thin comes with a price. \nAlthough many Americans consider Princess Diana and Audrey Hepburn fashion icons, let's not forget there was speculation they both had eating disorders. Is that fashionable? \nNot wanting to base this column solely on my opinion of the industry and what is considered beautiful, I asked college-aged guys how they felt about the situation and I got some surprisingly consistent results. Every one of the guys I asked said they liked girls with curves.\n"Most of the negative things girls get about their bodies comes from other girls and fashion magazines," said senior Patrick Hague. "Women are the worst thing that has happened to women. Fashion magazines are horrible. I like girls with curves and hips; Mariah Carey is a perfect example."\nBeautifully voluptuous women do not populate hip-hop just to fill space. Ludacris, Bubba Sparxxx, Nelly and many other rappers have written songs about thick girls with booties and breasts. Every guy I spoke to about women's bodies expressed a fondness for the more curvaceous form.\nSo, women, who are we really dressing to impress? One of the things many of the men I interviewed brought up is that women say the nastiest things about other women. I will admit I have noticed this. I have even noticed women who are nowhere near model-thin or beautiful calling other women fat or ugly. Ironically, it is probably those women who are the least happy with themselves and have the worst body images. \nOf course being overweight causes health problems that we should all be aware of, but being overweight and being healthy are two different things. If you have a problem with what is filling the pages of fashion magazines, change it. Write letters to fashion magazines, raise hell and do not give in. Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren, Rita Hayworth and Elizabeth Taylor are remembered for a reason.