About Nicole...
This was the pic.Here's Emma's letter:
Hi Anna,
I agree that the current trend of girls wanting to be thinner at the moment is worrying, however as a naturally thin and very healthy woman and now mother I do not agree that you should be making statements about the status of Nicole Ritchie's menstrual cycle. These sort of unfounded and inflammatory remarks spark criticism of healthy but naturally slim woman.
All I want is for all woman to feel good about themselves; thin, curvy or in between. Please stop promoting the battle of the weights between women.
Regards,
Emma.
Hi Emma,
I appreciate your comment and trust me, I thought long and hard about writing that. I feel it's my job to present to young girls (who often write to me about their body image woes) the dangers of dieting. I think many of them don't realise you stop getting your period if you are underweight! This picture could easily have been glamorised by my readers if I hadn't pointed out that she looks sick.
I am also naturally slim and I understand the difference - but you've seen Nicole - not sure if you saw her before she lost weight, but she is NOT naturally that thin - in fact she is very ill and I feel it's got to be said. She's also had breast implants now... Jeez. I don't think I'll be writing about her for a while. Thanks for your concern though, maybe I should put up a story about naturally thin girls who get asked if they're anorexic cos when I lost weight due to stress I used to get that all the time and it hurt!
Anna.
Hi Anna,
Thanks for your reply; I have the same thoughts on the matter actually. I have seen Nicole's transformation and agree that she does appear to be stressed and unhealthy. I don't know how anyone would be coping with the intense scrutiny of your every move that comes with walking in her shoes.
The whole weight debate really gets to me. I find it sad that we seem so preoccupied with it now, whether you are 'too fat' or 'too thin'. The modern labelling and accusatory tone has made a debate out of what is at heart, a health issue. It has also pitted young girls, and indeed grown woman, against each other and set the tone for what a man finds attractive in a woman before men have even had a chance to speak up. Whatever variation of the female form you take, there will be someone who thinks you're hot!
You would undoubtedly know working in fashion; clothing sizes have taken a new measure not only up but out as well. It is also interesting to observe looking through older television footage and photographs the relatively svelte figures compared to many we see today. It's a show of ignorance that two woman like us (I also copped the anorexic jibe), could be verbally abused for our body shape in one era but probably not have raised a second glance in the not-so-distant past. It may well be a good idea to run a story about naturally thin and healthy girls. I have seen one before but they seem to be swamped by negative stories of people who need to lose weight or people who have lost too much. How are we ever going to love ourselves if we cannot cease the judgement as a society? A saying I once heard sums it up, 'This is the only body you have and you had better love it. Where else are you going to live?’ Our thoughts make our world.
Sincerely,
Emma.
You're so right Emma. And I feel bad now that I made that jibe - it doesn't help to judge, as you say. Check this out: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=76462
Poor girl - she needs help!
Ax
I would love to hear your thoughts: Send a response to feedback@shesaid.com.
By the way – I don’t work in fashion! I like to think I’m a bit trendy but yeah… nup. Anna x
