With this weekend coming to a close, your clocks have officially fallen back and if you were like many club hoppers, that extra hour of fun was followed by extra hours of slumber. Nonetheless, I hope your week was just as fulfilling as mine.As many of you may or may not be aware of , when I’m not working on DVD, I’m working a 9 to 5 so I am ALWAYS anticipating the weekend. This weekend (yesterday to exact) I had the chance to experience “For Colored Girls” directed by Tyler Perry. It was amazing!! Some of the complaints that I’ve heard makes reference to it’s dark tone, but that’s not how I felt. I feel as if Tyler Perry had to make certain things in the movie dark so people would walk away with the messages that he wanted to convey.
Speaking of movies, I am in complete awe of the inspiring “I Am Beautiful” video released by plus size clothing retailer and designer, Igigi. In this video Rosie Mercado appeals to the millions of plus size women who doubt themselves on a daily basis. These are the same women that society tries to make feel ashamed of their size only to be unsuccessful.
Look at Marie Claire blogger Maura Kelly (yes I am still talking about that). Her words of hate hurt so much that we had no choice but to take a stand. Although we are tired of people thinking less of us based on their unjust misconceptions; the plus size community has no problem standing up for what we believe in and putting people in their place when necessary.
The way we’ve protested Marie Claire is comparable to the way women have exercised their freedom of speech throughout the world for hundreds of years. With November 2nd (election day) now behind us, earlier this week we covered a few of the many reasons that women need to get out and vote. This list recalled some of the struggles that women have faced as well as referencing the movements ignited by women that the plus size community could learn from.
Regardless of what’s going in the world, It’s important to maintain a sense of pride in yourself and let your voices be heard the way Igigi has in their empowering video. It’s evident from watching the above mentioned movie and reading posts such as the one written by Maura Kelly, that people are going to test you. They are going to push the envelope with you every time. Their human instinct is to put themselves first and the only way you can combat their selfish behavior is to possess a “healthy” dose of equally selfish behavior and put yourself on that pedestal that you deserve to be on.
Whether you choose to use your voice for good or remain silent, do so knowing that whatever the outcome, you are equally responsible for any outcomes that affect you.
Editor-In-Chief, Stephanie Penn-Danforth -- Daily Venus Diva.
Wow, we have been busy in our curves. I love all of your recap.
I have a small project I am working on just for Marie Claire and I can’t wait until I can share with you all.
Steph, thanks for working hard on this amazing magazine and community. Your love and loyalty shows plenty when you have a hectic 9-5 and yet you still manage to make this magazine the number one curvy lifestyle magazine.
Love you and never stop giving it all you’ve got.
Curvy hugs,
Olga
Olga, I can’t wait to see what you’ve got about Marie Claire!!!!
Terry,
Not to tease you but you are going to love it. Let’s just say I am beyond doing another blog, I worked it the best way I know how.
Can’t wait to show you all.
Curvy hugs,
Olga
I am really really feeling your words here Stephanie! So true, God Bless!
Olga can’t wait girl…excited for you!
Obesity is a problem not something to be proud of. Maura Kelly just said what the 27% of Americans who are still a healthy size are thinking. The fact of the matter is almost no one wad overweight 100 years ago because food was more scarce and was not processed(addictive). Now all you see is food everywhere and it is cheap and unhealthy. Most Americans are overweight because they are addicted to food. Just like alcoholics, you are addicted to something that is bad for you. Just because some has the courage to point out that 73% look gross and are unhealthy doesn’t mean they should be punished.
Reasons to be ashamed for being fat:
1) You eat more than your fair share while people go hungry in places like Africa.
2) You greatly increase the healthcare costs in America.
3) The extra food you consume uses a lot of oil which is bad for the environment. It also takes more gas to move you around in cars.
Stop blaming everyone else for YOUR problem and lose weight. Eat 2000 calories or less(per day not per meal), get 8 hours of sleep and exercise 5 times a week for an hour. It will work if you put in the effort.
@Healthy American. THIS is the kind of adittude that makes plus size women AHSAMED of their size!! And they’re probably those ladies who eat right, workout and sleep nights and are STILL big!! Just because you’re skinny doesn’t nessecarily mean healthy!! Think about it!!!
i like this moves
Spending 5 minutes at the checkout line in my office cafeteria would show that those who eat right are te ones who are thin. The people who are thin are the ones eating normal meals while the obese people pile on the food. The other day I saw a particularly large woman buy 4 cupcakes in addition to a large meal.
I have also noticed in te gym that a lot of really over weight people put in a token effort. They will walk on the treadmill for like 15 minutes, and then probably go home and reward themselves for a good workout with a big bowl of ice-cream(with 3 times as many calories as they burned).
The people who try the hardest in the gym are the thin and almost thin people. I think when people get within 20 pounds of their target they put in more effort because they see the goal as realistic.
@ Healthy American I’m sorry that you have been grossly misinformed when it comes to plus size issues, stastics and the like. The Maura Kelly post was in no way an enlightened view of overwieght people in america. It was a predjudiced personal rant about how disgusted she is in seeing someone that doesnt look like her. Kelly has had her own issues of anorexia from her admission, hating her own reflection at some point. I noticed that you failed to mention (in your research) what percentage of the population thinks negatively about people who starve themselves for an ideal body image that is often unattainable.
I cant even get upset with most of your statement because most of it is absurd. I can say this, you spend a great deal of time “observing” plus size people around you and you are quick to sit in judgment of them. The time you spent in watching us can be devoted to volunteering for causes like sending aide to Africa and Haiti, causes that you hold dear apparently. Take the money you spent at work cafeteria and give it to a shelter in your area.
When you are in the gym and see a plus size person struggle because they are not at the fitness level you feel you are on, go over and help them or offer advice. You obviously have a wealth of knowledge.
it is not ok for the plus size community to blame you for anything, just like it is not ok for you to blame us for issues with health care in america, fuel economy and the environment.
I do thank you for coming to Daily Venus Diva. Please come back often so that you can get a better understanding.
What can’t fathom is the fact that Maura states her opinion (in an immature way I’ll admit) which is protected under the first amendment, an then thousands of overweight Americans accuse her of bullying, leave nasty messages about her on just about every blog post she ever wrote, wrote letters to her boss to get her fired ad complained on every blog they could about her. If I’m not mistaken she essentially said she isn’t attracted to overweight people and gave some advise on how to lose weight. Is she the bully or all of you the bully? Did she get any of you fired? Did she ever say she hates fat people? No, she says she doesn’t like looking at them, which is her opinion.
I am not sexually attracted to African Americans, does that mean I hate them or am a racist? No, but now if I write in a blog about that would the black community have the right to get me fired? I ask again, who is the bully?
@ Healthy Well I am not one to subscribe to the idea that she is a bully. That would imply that she has some type of power and intimidation over her readers, clearly that was not the case as evident in the hundreds of posts and media coverage. It is not just the plus size community that is outraged by her comments. Thin people, men and women alike have come out in protest against what she has said.
I am not even angry at her, it is what it is. I am entitled to my opinon as well but my opinion just happens to be one that is not exclusionary. When you right for a magazine such as Marie Claire, blog section or not, you have an obligation to be responsible in what you post. She should not be surprised that people are calling for her job.
Saying you dont like to date a black person is one thing, but to say that you dont want to see a black person walk across the room is entirely another.
She ca
@ Healthy,
I work real hard supporting and giving my friendship to the entire plus size community. Besides myself the other editors of DVD give it 110% also. You do have the right to voice your nasty and negative opinion, to any one that chooses to lend you that ear.
There isn’t anyone on this site, editor or member that cares for your ignorant words or ‘Fat’ phobia.
You seem very observant..honey live your life. Don’t worry about the fat girl and her delicious cupcakes.
I will not tolerate having you come here and say hurtful things to my members.
And by the way my name is Olga Gonzalez-Ramos. What is your real name? Care to share?? LOL.
I am not feeding this endless hunger you have for stalking an overweight individual to the point that you must sit, stare and count the food a plus size person is consuming. I am done with you.
You can come back and post whatever you choose. But we will delete your negative comments, and even when you return under a different name. We will know it’s you, because you have that certain odor to your posts.
I am out, a very fat and happy, Olga!!
If you don’t want to have a debate and threaten to delete my posts, then fine I’ll take the hint and leave. But allow me to leave you with some food for thought.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/index.html
A researcher lost over 25 pounds in two months on a diet of twinkies and other junk food by limiting his calorie intake to 1800 a day. As someone who stayed a 1500 calories diet to lose 10 pounds, I know this is possible. Aparently portion control is the most important factor (but not the only factor) in weight loss.
Ladies,
Once again, I am loving this feature by our Stephanie. I appreciate all of your feedback and let’s always thrive in our curves…
FAT girls came out of the closet years ago, we have gone so far. We have more designers catering to our curves, you can walk the mall and see a beautiful plus model on a store ad. Let’s continue to work hard at loving ourselves first above anything else and please never stop feeling sexy because of haters!!
Curvy hugs,
Olga
@ Healthy American It is important to be healthy at every size. Being a certain size is not always dictated by what you put in your mouth. To believe that the majority of the population are over eaters is simply not the case.
Daily Venus Diva is a place for education too. We are respectful of everyone here. It is ok to have a debate as long as you keep it on a respectful level. A debate like this can be heated but we should all leave it with a better understanding of each other. I am glad that you were lead to DVD and hopefully you take with you information that you never had before, perhaps also learning to be more sensitive when it comes expressing your point of view. I encourage you to sign up to our newsletter and visit often.
We encourage everyone to love who they are in the moment, never letting anyone dictate how they should feel about themselves. We also want the same for you!
I love Tyler Perry and can’t wait to see For Colored Girls, I’m so glad you liked it!
I totally agree with this:
“Regardless of what’s going in the world, It’s important to maintain a sense of pride in yourself and let your voices be heard ”
I’m glad Igigi is promoting this message.