14 DAY TRIAL // A shift in women’s perception on what a “perfect” female body should look like has started to be noticed. While recent polls have established that men would always choose a curvier woman over a size 0 model, now it’s the ladies too who have come to the same conclusion: a stick thin figure is neither attractive nor desirable, The Sun says based on the findings of a new survey.
Over 2,000 women aged 18 and over took part in the poll commissioned by Slimming World, and the majority has spoken: British actress Kate Winslet, known for her hourglass figure, as well as for her healthy body image, has the body women would love to have. Up next is model Kelly Brook and Halle Berry, again two celebrities who have hourglass figures and are the exact opposite of “skeletal” women like Victoria Beckham or Kate Moss.
Actress Rebecca Wheatley, named by Slimming World woman of the year for losing half her body weight, spoke to The Sun about the results of the poll, and applauded the tendency noted in today’s women to look for role models that are closer to reality. At the same time, this also brings about a change in body image and more acceptance for the regular woman, Wheatley says. And this can’t but be good news for all of us.
“It is fantastic to see that finally women seem to be aspiring towards a healthy body shape that is realistic and achievable. Kate Winslet has always spoken out about the importance of accepting your body,” the star says. Dr. Jacquie Lavin, head of nutrition at Slimming World, agrees: “It shows a positive shift that women are more likely to see Kate Winslet and Kelly Brook as the ideal body shape rather than Kate Moss or Victoria Beckham. It perhaps suggests that it is not being ‘skinny’ that is most important to them anymore, it is being healthy.”
Beyonce, Cheryl Cole, Lily Allen, Megan Fox and Keeley Hazell have also made the cut in the list of female stars with desirable bodies. At the opposite pole are model Kate Moss, Victoria Beckahm and surgically enhanced Katie Price.