"Just As Beautiful" - Britian's first Plus Size magazine
I wanna hear what you guys think about this. I'll put my thoughts at the end of the post.
The Link:
http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/family-parenting/just-as-beautiful-britains-first-plus-size-magazine-blog-10-vanessa-green.html
The Article:
Get ready ladies: Britain will get its first curvy-girl magazine this month as Just as Beautiful, a glossy aimed at women between a size 14 and 20, launches in the UK.
The magazine dedicated to larger women will only feature models that are size 14 and over and the magazine’s editor, Sue Thomason, has promised that there will be ‘no airbrushing out bits of [the models] bodies.’
Though it will include articles about fashion, lifestyle, exercise and cooking it will be without one female-magazine staple: dieting tips.
The magazine is filling what the publishers believe to be a gap in the market for larger women who want content that embraces their body type.
Just as Beautiful began three years ago as a free, subscription-only digital publication sent by email, which had a circulation of 30,000. This month, however, it has launched as a bi-weekly magazine and will be available in select stores for £4.70.
But doesn’t a magazine that caters to only ‘one’ body type seem to continue the division and segregation of women based on their specific shapes? Though it’s fair to say most mainstream magazines are slow to feature full-figured women more prominently in their magazines, they are making strides to incorporate a variety of body shapes. And with New York Fashion Week giving full-figured women some much needed time on the catwalk, it seems that the fashion industry is, even if painfully sluggishly, attempting to unite women of various figures.
Shouldn’t there be a push to continue to include women of all shapes and sizes within the fashion industry instead of continuing to segregate and single them out, which only seems, despite good intentions, to put more emphasis on body size?
Perhaps that’s just wishful thinking.
And the title: Just as Beautiful? As if by default all larger women assume they aren’t? The name itself seems both condescending and sad – because no plus-size woman would have the confidence and self-assurance to believe she was attractive unless a magazine reminded her with a big, glossy patronising title.
And to add a little extra sting, visit their website and you’ll be greeted with James Blunt’s ‘You’re Beautiful’ serenading you in the background.
But wait; shouldn’t it be ‘You’re Just as Beautiful’?
So what do you think? Should we embrace this new plus-size only mag or is 'Just as Beautiful' a waste of glossy paper?
_____
My Thoughts:
There are a lot of us BBWs out there - some trying to be a healthier one and some trying to get out of that label. I view the title of the magazine, "Just as Beautiful," as an insult. As I understand (I haven't been in Britain long) it's a sister to another publication, "Beautiful." I can completely understand that but, as another person on the articles site stated, I think it should be "Big and Beautiful." I agree with the article that the phrase, "just as," leads one to think "just as good" with the idea in mind that it's not the best but, "just as good." I do think, however, that their intentions are good and that this is a highly underrepresented market just begging for a 'face,' as you could call it. While I do believe that plus size women should be integrated with the mainstream size fours - why is it that the tattoo mags get to stand on their own? Should those women not be considered just as beautiful. I think the idea of the magazine further segregating the plus size is bunk and the article holds no point.
I dislike the fact that the magazine does not include dieting tips which are common in practically every other magazine, save the auto-club and tattoo(you get the point). I do, however, understand that this is a fine-line the magazine is working. How can one claim to love the big woman's body and yet post diet plans to change it? But, how can the magazine claim to be no different when it leaves them out. I believe the magazine shouldn't post "diets" as the mainstream understands them but, instead, post healthy-living tips. Maybe it can hit up MFP for a couple?
Like the idea that you MUST eat over 1200 calories - no matter your waist size!
I think that James Blunt's, "You're Beautiful," is a good song and that it fits with the magazine COMPANY'S motif. The original magazine is simply titled "Beautiful," there is no need to take offense to a simple song that connects the two.
___
Sorry if this turned into a term paper. I've been out of school a long time a miss writing.
___
Ok, discuss!
The Link:
http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/family-parenting/just-as-beautiful-britains-first-plus-size-magazine-blog-10-vanessa-green.html
The Article:
Get ready ladies: Britain will get its first curvy-girl magazine this month as Just as Beautiful, a glossy aimed at women between a size 14 and 20, launches in the UK.
The magazine dedicated to larger women will only feature models that are size 14 and over and the magazine’s editor, Sue Thomason, has promised that there will be ‘no airbrushing out bits of [the models] bodies.’
Though it will include articles about fashion, lifestyle, exercise and cooking it will be without one female-magazine staple: dieting tips.
The magazine is filling what the publishers believe to be a gap in the market for larger women who want content that embraces their body type.
Just as Beautiful began three years ago as a free, subscription-only digital publication sent by email, which had a circulation of 30,000. This month, however, it has launched as a bi-weekly magazine and will be available in select stores for £4.70.
But doesn’t a magazine that caters to only ‘one’ body type seem to continue the division and segregation of women based on their specific shapes? Though it’s fair to say most mainstream magazines are slow to feature full-figured women more prominently in their magazines, they are making strides to incorporate a variety of body shapes. And with New York Fashion Week giving full-figured women some much needed time on the catwalk, it seems that the fashion industry is, even if painfully sluggishly, attempting to unite women of various figures.
Shouldn’t there be a push to continue to include women of all shapes and sizes within the fashion industry instead of continuing to segregate and single them out, which only seems, despite good intentions, to put more emphasis on body size?
Perhaps that’s just wishful thinking.
And the title: Just as Beautiful? As if by default all larger women assume they aren’t? The name itself seems both condescending and sad – because no plus-size woman would have the confidence and self-assurance to believe she was attractive unless a magazine reminded her with a big, glossy patronising title.
And to add a little extra sting, visit their website and you’ll be greeted with James Blunt’s ‘You’re Beautiful’ serenading you in the background.
But wait; shouldn’t it be ‘You’re Just as Beautiful’?
So what do you think? Should we embrace this new plus-size only mag or is 'Just as Beautiful' a waste of glossy paper?
_____
My Thoughts:
There are a lot of us BBWs out there - some trying to be a healthier one and some trying to get out of that label. I view the title of the magazine, "Just as Beautiful," as an insult. As I understand (I haven't been in Britain long) it's a sister to another publication, "Beautiful." I can completely understand that but, as another person on the articles site stated, I think it should be "Big and Beautiful." I agree with the article that the phrase, "just as," leads one to think "just as good" with the idea in mind that it's not the best but, "just as good." I do think, however, that their intentions are good and that this is a highly underrepresented market just begging for a 'face,' as you could call it. While I do believe that plus size women should be integrated with the mainstream size fours - why is it that the tattoo mags get to stand on their own? Should those women not be considered just as beautiful. I think the idea of the magazine further segregating the plus size is bunk and the article holds no point.
I dislike the fact that the magazine does not include dieting tips which are common in practically every other magazine, save the auto-club and tattoo(you get the point). I do, however, understand that this is a fine-line the magazine is working. How can one claim to love the big woman's body and yet post diet plans to change it? But, how can the magazine claim to be no different when it leaves them out. I believe the magazine shouldn't post "diets" as the mainstream understands them but, instead, post healthy-living tips. Maybe it can hit up MFP for a couple?
Like the idea that you MUST eat over 1200 calories - no matter your waist size!I think that James Blunt's, "You're Beautiful," is a good song and that it fits with the magazine COMPANY'S motif. The original magazine is simply titled "Beautiful," there is no need to take offense to a simple song that connects the two.
___
Sorry if this turned into a term paper. I've been out of school a long time a miss writing.
___
Ok, discuss!
0
Replies
-
Yea this just ticks me off... as if we are not an outcase enough.. let's make a magazine to remind everyone how different we are...
To me this goes right along with that new show : Obese Brides?!?! WTF!!!0 -
SERIOUSLY... SMOKING HOT BIG GIRLS?!?!!?0
-
nice sentiment but I reckon you would have to be ultra comfortable in your (larger) skin to front taking that to the till. I predict a fail unless they push it with postal subscriptions0
-
Wow, I had no idea such a show existed! Yeah, that's a bit crazy. But.... If you talk about all the "Little People" programs it's in the same category. I kind of look at is this way... That exposure breeds tolerance. Now, this REALLY depends on how they portray the brides. Are they healthy? or Gluttonous? It's just like on that web show, "The Guild," the larger woman on there is ALWAYS talking about food or "snacking" and in the 'music videos' that they make she's always sitting down, eating, or they've got her behind some kind of goblet. Basically, showing her to be gluttonous.Yea this just ticks me off... as if we are not an outcase enough.. let's make a magazine to remind everyone how different we are...
To me this goes right along with that new show : Obese Brides?!?! WTF!!!nice sentiment but I reckon you would have to be ultra comfortable in your (larger) skin to front taking that to the till. I predict a fail unless they push it with postal subscriptions
I will be buying this magazine (If i can find it). I don't understand why you need courage to purchase it? You're already large and it's not like it can be hidden! Unlike the stigma already attached to pornographic magazines there should be NO shame in being who you are whether or not you're in the process of change.
I am excited, although critical, about this magazine. I am excited to see my body shape out there. I'm excited to get the hook up on more plus size stores that may fit my age range. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Torrid but you can only go so far in one store!
I think I rather like what I said earlier, and I believe it. Exposure breeds tolerance.0 -
You know what makes me angry? The fact that they show all these BBW with scrawny guys!! Why don't any of the big guys get love. Personally I don't find the buff, tan and freakishly hairless guys attractive. I like guys that are big and have hair on their chests.0
-
I don't understand why you need courage to purchase it?
I guess because, like I said, you need to be comfortable in your larger skin, I'm not, thats why i'm here trying to get back in to the smaller skin I came from and I doubt i'm the only one that would feel this way. I spent my teenage years underweight despite eating like a horse, the next 20 years easily maintaining my size 12 figure and the last 2 1/2 years climbing up to the very considerable size that i am now...not comfortable in my large skin at all. I guess it all comes down to confidence, I didn't have much as a skinny minnie, or as a shapely size 12 but I have zero at the size I am now0 -
I know what you mean! BHM need love, too! But when you think about it, iwhen the media portrays an overweight couple it has even more of a stigma on it... Like, a skinny person dating one who's overweight is just a "chubby-chaser" and that's 'their thing,' but when an overweight couple is portrayed it's always like, "well, they had to settle for each other." It's terrible.You know what makes me angry? The fact that they show all these BBW with scrawny guys!! Why don't any of the big guys get love. Personally I don't find the buff, tan and freakishly hairless guys attractive. I like guys that are big and have hair on their chests.
Not sure if I'm making much sense - I'm super tired! >.<
I can respect that. I've always been big, so I've never based much of my self-esteem on my size. I've chalked it up to sheer stubborness. :huh: Good luck on your journey and I know you can get to where you want to be!I guess because, like I said, you need to be comfortable in your larger skin, I'm not, thats why i'm here trying to get back in to the smaller skin I came from and I doubt i'm the only one that would feel this way. I spent my teenage years underweight despite eating like a horse, the next 20 years easily maintaining my size 12 figure and the last 2 1/2 years climbing up to the very considerable size that i am now...not comfortable in my large skin at all. I guess it all comes down to confidence, I didn't have much as a skinny minnie, or as a shapely size 12 but I have zero at the size I am now0 -
I saw this magazine being discussed on breakfast television in the UK yesterday and the general consensus was that it is patronising and treating women of size as a breed apart:grumble:
I can see it from both sides though, having been fat and thin in my life - currently fat but on my way to thin slowly but surely.
I love clothes and do get fed up with the limited range of plus-size clothes on offer.
I also get sick of the celebrity articles where some skinny minny tells the world they eat junk food 24/7 but because of their fast metabolism they never gain an ounce. (no mention of the rampant bulimia/cocaine addiction they possibly suffer from)
I guess some larger ladies will enjoy reading a magazine that doesn't mention dieting BUT why "Just as Beautiful?" Why not "Just Beautiful?"
Ah well that's my view.:flowerforyou:0 -
I've never based much of my self-esteem on my size
I've never based it on my size, had naff all really to begin with. Blame it on constantly being picked on and teased, I was the only redhead in my entire school, have an unusual name and general shyness.
I applaud any woman that is comfortable in their skin regardless of size but studies show very few of us are genuinely happy with what we've got. Human nature I guess, the grass is always greener on the other side, the woman next to you has better skin/thighs/blah blah...0 -
There is a niche out there for almost anything. For the number of people that are offended, there will be just as many who love it. Your only recourse, as a consumer, is to purchase or not. To buy the products presented by this endeavor or to boycott them.
Discussion, in this Message Board or anywhere else, promotes the magazine by putting it out there.0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 426 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions