Each week I go through hundreds of emails scoping out sales and coupons.  I come across endless images of thin airbrushed women advertising clothing, shoes, lingerie and more.  I no longer have that choking disgust of what society deems as beautiful.  I’m used to it.  It’s in my face everyday.  I search.  Post.  Delete.  It bothers me to an extent, but I also realize these women are airbrushed to appear flawless and thinner.

A couple weeks ago I came across one ad that stopped me dead in my tracks.  My mouth fell to the floor.  Gasp!  It doesn’t happen often, but I was speechless.  There in front of me was an extremely pale woman who looked completely emaciated.  Lay this woman down, put blankets on her and she would look as if she was minutes away from death’s door.  I found myself getting extremely angry.  Why on earth would a company put a woman looking like this on an ad!

This isn’t beautiful.  It’s not thin.  It’s disgusting.  It’s emaciation.  My first thought was that she needs to eat.  I’ve seen women like this and most of them survive on a lettuce leaf and half a chick pea.  They aren’t posing for company ads.  They are sitting in group meetings at an eating disorder clinic.  I want to invite this woman to my home, make her a home cooked meal and get her out in the sunlight.

This is a lousy example.  It sickens me that millions of women who look at this ad will turn around and look in the mirror questioning their own bodies.  They will pick out their flaws and probably not eat a decent meal for a few days so maybe they can fit into a size 6 instead of an 8.  These ads are the primary reason why young girls, teens and women have eating disorders.  Women die because they are determined to look like this.  We should be buying clothes that fit our bodies, not starving ourselves to fit into a size 0′s.

It’s reasonable to strive for a healthy body weight to improve overall health.  I do that everyday, however, I live off of more than a small salad and a Tic-Tac.  I will probably never wear a bikini.  I will always have my curves.  I’m okay with that.  I would rather have my curves than to look pale and emaciated.  Ladies, appreciate your bodies.  Love your curves.  Teach your daughters to love and accept their bodies.  Beauty isn’t a pale size 0 body.  Beauty is a woman who looks in the mirror, loves her body the way it is, smacks those freshly glossed lips and says, “Damn, I look good.”