The Catalyst

By Rachel Magdziarz, News Editor

Jessica Simpson has always had the reputation of being beautiful, flawless and perfectly toned. However, unflattering photos recently appeared in tabloid-world, regarding Jessica Simpson and her new, fuller figure. It wasn’t too long ago that Simpson was in the tabloids for the exact opposite reason: she was too skinny. No matter how she looks, it seems that the attention focused on her is always negative. The media bashes her appearance 24/7, putting an immense amount of pressure on her. If “breaking down” means eating and looking healthy, then yes, she’s having a major meltdown.

Visiting Hollywood over Spring Break, I realized why most girls have trouble loving themselves as they are: skinny is everywhere. Everywhere I looked there were size zero waists strutting around and provocative signs hung on the sides of buildings, all of them encouraging rail-like bodies I have to admit, even I eventually started to doubt myself. It’s hard to live above the influence of the media, especially when every person around you is sporting the as-seen-on-TV body.

Simpson spoke out about America’s obsession with her weight to OK! Magazine saying, “Honestly, I am right where I’m supposed to be. I am so happy, curves are better. I don’t get the whole rail thing. It’s not good for your heart, it’s not good for your mind; it’s emotionally destructive, it really is.” With confidence, Simpson maintains her curvy, 36-24-36 frame hopping to encourage young girls to do the same. I agree with Simpson, despite the fact that I myself had trouble keeping my confidence up while visiting Tinsel Town.

If you ask me, more celebrities need to be doing what Simpson is doing: taking a stand against the media for scrutinizing women’s bodies and making it clear to younger girls that it’s okay to have curvy hips, a smaller bust, or muscular thighs. No one has the face of a glamorous Hollywood starlet simply because air brushes aren’t accessible and Photoshop can’t be used for touchups on a regular basis. Stop looking towards the media for examples of how to look, because no one can or ever will look like that…without starving and a whole lot of plastic surgery, that is. Love yourself for who you are, not for who society is pressuring you to be.