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Weighing in on the most recent body image debate, behavioural expert and life coach, Jo Bassett, is urging us not to condemn real women, whatever their size – and this includes the genetically blessed like Jennifer Hawkins, whose recent nude photo shoot for Marie Claire magazine, has attracted a lot of criticism and negative publicity for the former Miss Universe.
No matter what size she is Jennifer Hawkins is still a ‘real’ woman says Jo Bassett. “She has gone nude without air brushing and that’s not an easy thing for anyone to do. I take my hat off to women like Jennifer Hawkins she is beautiful and takes care of herself, so why not celebrate rather than condemn her for this fact.”
In an attempt to help women feel better about their bodies, Jennifer Hawkins agreed to appear nude without airbrushing in the February issue of Maria Claire magazine. Jennifer also signed the cover shot from the photo shoot so it could be auctioned on ebay to raise funds for the Butterfly Foundation, a charity that helps Australians who are suffering from eating disorders.
Heavily criticised in the media for having the near perfect body and therefore, ineligible to act as a role model for ‘real’ women, all of Jennifer’s good intentions for the Marie Claire photo shoot were quickly forgotten, as competing women’s magazines rushed to capitalise on the ‘scandal’ by offering up their own versions of what a ‘real’ woman looks like – namely, the curvy Bianca Dye and Ricki-lee Coulter (both size 14).
While some have commented on how brave it was of Hawkins to appear nude with no airbrushing, radio personality Bianca Dye, who bared all for Madison magazine, dismissed the photo spread in Marie Claire, telling Channel Nine’s Today show: “how brave is it for her to take her clothes off? You don’t need airbrushing love, look at you.”
Appearing in the latest issue of Woman’s Day under the headline: Hey girls, this is what a real woman looks like!, Ricki-lee Coulter declared she believes the average sized woman can’t relate to Hawkins’ small frame.
Jo Bassett says statements like these are counter productive when we are supposed to be trying to encourage all women to love their body.
“I think Ricki-Lee looks great as well, as does Bianca Dye in her pictures, it takes a lot of guts for women to be so exposed and I believe rather than searching for faults and categorising women by their size, we should celebrate them for the wonderful women they are, each and everyone as ‘real’ as the next.”
“I don’t have a problem with the word ‘real’, my issue is the articles that focus on the flaws, instead of celebrating the positive natural attributes of these women,” Jo Bassett said.
“For many women that is the REAL challenge we share – whether we be a size 8 or size 18.”
For more information about Jo Bassett visit her website www.livingsavvy.com.au.
Photo credit: Sassi Sam Australia
I think Jennifer Hawkins looks great! I am by no means slim (so this is not a biased view), but it does take guts to get your clothes off and appear unairbrushed. People, especially women, forget that even slim women have body issues too. Everyone has a different role in life and her job at the moment is keeping her body in excellent shape for modelling. But Ms Hawkins can’t seem to win.
I think she looks fabulous. It’s her body and we should commend her for it. Just remember it’s not your body that gets snapped in the most unflattering position while on a beach and then published on the cover of trash mags for all to see. She is a real person, this is her body and she appears healthy.
Well done Jennifer.
I agree with Lisa. Goodonya Jennifer. Airbrushing is so unfair to everyone, especially the person being airbrushed who is then expected to live up to that unrealistic ideal.