Yesterday the plus size community became heated after reading an article that was published on MarieClaire.com. The article in question is titled “Should “Fatties” Get a Room? (Even on TV?)”. It has sparked such a commenting frenzy that our Lifestyle Editor, Olga Gonzalez-Ramos felt compelled to share her thoughts with MarieClaire.com Editor and Hearst Publishing (the parent company of Marie Claire).
Dear Joanna,
I don’t have to remind you of what a hot and unique voice Marie Claire carries. I have been addicted to this magazine since my teen years and when I became a plus size model at the age of 30, with three kids and an adoring hubby. It was Marie Claire that gave me that first magazine tear sheet. Opening her arms and supporting the fact that every woman, at any size can be and feel sexy.
I am well known now and have made a great career out of modeling. My true passion is writing and I am the Lifestyle Editor of several magazines. I edit every story and feature that hits my desk with a fine tooth comb. As an editor I don’t have to remind you of how thin that line can be of publishing an article that is more hurtful than helpful.
It saddens me to imagine a life without Marie Claire but I will adapt I guess. The feature that Maura Kelly wrote, “Should “Fatties” Get a Room? (Even on TV?)” was insanely prejudice, evil and left scars. I am a motivational speaker and I cannot tell you how hard our youth has it. Our teenagers that don’t wear a size 4, they suffer so much and Marie Claire has always had self-esteem articles to help them through these rough times.
Their minds are weak and they need us as older successful women to hold their hand through the rough times. Can you imagine a depressed, ‘fat’ teenager reading that blog?? Have you checked the stats for teenage suicide??
I hope you find the right way to fix this. I wish I could tell you how; but I wouldn’t know where to begin. Please, be mindful to what goes in the pages of your magazine.
Sometimes words can hurt and cut more than an actual blade.
Olga Ramos -- Daily Venus Diva.
thank you, thank you, thank you for sending this!
Wow…. WOOOOWWWW~ although I appreciate the update she added afterward, that epiphany could have happened before actually publishing the article- WHILE writing the article!- ::shaking head:: what a damn shame…
Hi Eunice,
Exactly mama, those were my thoughts too.
I would love it if all the plus size community would contact the magazine and just express themselves.
Hugs,
Olga
Another perspective. Sometimes you need a slap in the face to wake up and make real change.
My story:
I used to be fat.
Worked my butt off not to be fat anymore.
I did it because two things happened.
One, I went through some old family albums and noted that not just my family, but everyone, in prior generations seemed to be able to go through life without accumulating tons of fat.
Two, a woman I fell in love with candidly and truthfully told me she found my physique to be repellent.
There’s a reason our innate and biologically programmed views of attractiveness do not make excessive corpulence a “plus” on the attractive scale. Its not healthy. Its not attractive. It portends bad things for relationships, including impulsiveness, lack of boundaries, lack of self respect, and inability to manage, plan and cope.
I’ve noticed that for the last decade people have stopped trying to deal with overeating and being over weight. We make excuses for those of us who are fat. “big boned” “BBW” (on personal pages), “plus size.”
Bull.
Unless you’ve got Cushing’s, a thyroid problem, or some other physical malady, getting fat is the simple and predictable result of eating too much food compared to your activity level, causing your body to accumulate the excess calories as reserves.
Sure, the US government with its corn subsidies (resulting in corn syrup in everything) is partially to blame, but the person shoveling all that food into their gaping maw has the ultimate responsibility. Skip that twinkie and take a walk. I lost 80 pounds doing nothing more than diet and exercise. I still eat great food. Lots of salads, sure. A lot of ways to make Quinoa. Taking a few minutes to trim fat from steaks.
But I lost the weight.
And I got the girl too.
Cheers to Maura Kelly for having the stones to step up and call things like they are. I’m glad my (now fiance) didn’t make excuses for the fact I was a disgusting fatbody with a shortened life span. Thank goodness she told the unvarnished truth, and the same goes for this columnist. Fat people don’t need people making excuses, they need support getting healthy.
Gonzo Wylder.
Olga I am so happy you wrote to them about this. I too was dissappointed when I read this yesterday. I was at work checking my e-mails during a brief break I had and when I read what this article wrote I really felt some type of way. The way in which this was written was very disrespectful to all people especially us on so many different levels. I never got around to writing Marie Claire or even here on Venus about it because I wanted to get my thoughts together away from work before writing a repsonse to this but I am soooo glad you did!!!!!
This was unacceptable, point blank…wise men think before they speak. God Bless you sis, and thanks for staying on top of things like this, not only do we deserve to be treated and spoken about fairly but our youth is watching and listening as well.
Hi LiMarie,
Thanks for your words. I would so love if you would send them an email or a letter. I have always admired the way you have of expressing yourself especially when it comes to someone abusing our rights as plus size women.
I think when they wrote the ‘bill of rights’ they should have written a seperate one for Plus size people because it seems we don’t have any!
I contribute plenty to this country and I am raising my children well, to attend college and work in corporate America to somehow try and keep the United States afloat. The size I wear shouldn’t take away from this.
And if society is worried so much about Americans spending more money on health bills due to obesity they can start by fixing all the cancer problems they have with smoking cigerattes which is legal and is sold world wide and the ads are everywhere from buses, to magazines.
I am sick and tired of everyone saying Obesity is a high medical bill, yes it may be but there are so many other things to poke at that no one seems to be noticing.
That blog is still up, I am heated beyond compare!
I spoke to someone in the NY Times let’s see if we can take this further.
Olga
OMG, this makes me really upset, thank you for sharing that and thank you for standing up for every plus size person in the world! I will surely have to read it myself!
Dear Gonzo:
You have done what many ‘FAT’ people can’t do. You stuck to it and made the right changes. But you must understand you weren’t happy when you made these changes. You felt disgusted and realized something was missing from your life, in your case a stronger more fit and healthy body. That was enough for you and good for you that you made this goal a reality.
I cannot let Maura or YOU speak about how I feel or care to feel. I am content with my looks. I don’t feel discusted or less of a woman because I have rolls on my belly. I have a man that met me fat and finds me absolutely delicious, and I am quoting him.
Your girlfriend told you she found you repulsive and this pushed you in gear to get fit. Communication is key here so it’s good to know she has no issues to set you straight. Not sure your ages or if you will have kids. Many people tend to gain the weight again.
I hope you remain healhty for the rest of your life, because you are about to marry a woman that I am sure will not stick around if you ever get sick or get fat. So the day of your wedding perhaps you should change your vows to, ” for better and worse but not on his life if he gets fat again’”.
Maura has every right to speak her mind but as a professional writer she could have used different ways to express herself. Not that we ‘Fattie’s couldn’t take her slapping us in the face with the truth and now I am quoting you. It is a matter of having respect period.
I now leave you to your working out daily routines and I wish you a beautiful wedding.
I am proud to say that my husband loves me for me and never tried to change me to look better using the excuse that its not good for my health.
Some women just can’t be with a ‘FAT’ man, not my problem. This fat girl married a drop dead gorgeous, Latin man 6’1, body builder and yes I was his first big or fat or big boned girl!!
Maura Kelly is sick and needs therapy.
Maybe you and Maura can become friends since you both have so much in common.
Curvaciously Yours,
Olga
Now, I haven’t seen Mike & Molly too much, I’ve only watched it from time to time, but I’ve heard about that story watching “The Talk” on CBS, and quite frankly, I was not pleased with what that person said about the actors of that show!! Clearly she has no heart, no lick of sense, no ounce of judgment. And Sharon Osbourne has hit the nail on the head when she said that Maura was a discredit to women. Honestly, if she had ANY sense, she should resign ASAP while she still have her dignity, or whatever she’s got left!!
Terry, Jr.
Hi Terry,
Thanks for your support. I also agree with you. This is turning ugly for Marie Claire, they may never get out of this!!
Thrive in your curves..spread the word.
Curvaciously Yours,
Olga
THANK YOU, OLGA!!!! I almost forgot!!! By resigning, not only she can save whatever’s left of her dignity, self respect and integrity, she could save the magazine’s reputation as well!!! Otherwise, you’re right, they may NEVER live THIS down!!! This should be a wake up call to ALL of us!!! We CANNOT let negative forces such as HER and Marie Claire dictate what our young girls should look like!!! As a guy, I for one am TIRED of looking at magazines full of skinny women and accepting the bullcrap that size 0 equals beauty. NO MORE!!!!! It’s time we’d realize that beauty comes in ALL shapes and sizes. And if looking at plus size models and admiring them is a crime………..LOCK ME UP!!!!!
One of the problems I’ve been noticing a lot lately is the lack of a filter that we all learned about growing up. It seems to be thinning and in some instances disappearing. I’m not sure if the internet is to blame or what it is but it seems like more and more people are saying things they shouldn’t be saying (things that are ok to be thought but not heard — we all have them) or wouldn’t necessarily say in usual circumstances. I’m glad she posted a rebuttal but at the same time she kind of softens it with her excuses for being rude. I’m sure she has learned from the experience. At least I hope she has.
Dear Terry,
Thanks for the smile. This post and this whole Marie Claire is a hot mess and your words shed some light on a cloudy day. Thanks for the support and for the compliments to us ‘Fattie’ girls. We surely appreciate it.
It is amazing to have a man around here with respect and showing love for the plus size community.
@Moe, I hear you girl.
Curvy hugs,
Olga
Love it!! we all need to rally against such foolishness!
Hi Cassy,
It’s so nice to hear from you, I missed you girl. Thanks for always being there for Venus and for being such a team player in this magazine. Steph and I are very lucky to have you on board.
Glad you liked the letter. I also contacted Tyra Banks to let her know that I want a face off with Maura Kelly live on her show. I would love for the audience to be all plus size and things should be interesting.
Please Cassy I could use your support, in contacting Tyra as well and letting her know our story and why we want an apology on national t.v. from Maura.
Curvy hugs,
Olga
Oh, haven’t you heard?? Tyra’s not taping her talk show anymore!! Been off the air for months. They’re running reruns these days!! Sorry, ladies!!!
Yes, Terry I just found out. I made contact with someone from the Today show let’s see what happens and thanks.
Olga
No problem but look on YouTube under ‘Marua Kelly’. The Today show talked about that this morning!! LOL LOL But yeah!!! It’s just sad that Maura went this route!! She even denied request to appear on the Today Show!!
Please sign this petition against size discrimination. http://www.PetitionOnline.com/ForceMag/petition.html
Dear Maura,
I just wanted to drop you a line to tell you of the “burdens” of being a member of the Big Girls Club.
I’m 42 years old, 5’8, 195 lbs and a total knock-out. I am well-educated, well-versed and well-read (three traits you will never possess). I own my own business and make over $160,000.00 a year. I just ran my third marathon. I rock Christian Louboutin’s, Prada and Chanel. I shop at Neiman’s and Saks, Bergdorfs and Henri Bendels. I look phenomenal in my Missoni bathing suit, lounging poolside at Le Sirenuse. I get compliments from people every day, about my style, my personality or just my great outlook (and I do have to admit, it’s a damn great outlook). I have a great boyfriend who constantly tells me how gorgeous my body is. This, coming from a man who has 0% body fat. I drive a two-seater sports car, travel extensively and own a gorgeous home. Yes, Maura, us Big Girls are smart, successful and intelligent (another three traits you will never have).
Does anyone remember the gorgeous centerfold Glamour magazine did two years ago of the beautiful plus-size women? Or how about the poll asking men who, out of Kate Moss, Kate Winslet and the gorgeous plus-size Kate Dillon, had the best body? Kate Dillon came in first, Kate Winslet came in second, and (what a surprise), Kate Moss came in last!
Maura…I can always go on a diet, but whats the cure for your being prejudice, rude and without class? Umm….that would be NOTHING. If I were cruel, I would rip your appearance to shreds, but I don’t have the time. I have to run, time for a nice double-cream, pumpkin latte! A gals gotta work hard to keep these gorgeous curves!
Dana Vigilante,
Nutley, NJ
Darling Dana,
Cheers to you my sexy bombshell. Thanks for sharing the fab life you live. I loved your response and I am so proud of you. I know the things Maura said were painful but we are above her bitterness.
We have something that can’t be taught or explained..just felt..self-love. That my curvy friend is something , Maura-nutcase will never feel.
Hugs to you!!
Olga
@ Ebony, I’ve just signed your petition!!! I TRULY hope you get MANY MANY more!!!
I also signed the petition! Thanks for this.
Olga
I am glad you got that girl Gonzo…but wow if only she had loved your heart first, but heck that is on the inside, she never would have saw it,,,,