Stop it! Stop it Media Folks on delusional Women's Body images. What am I talking about? Oh about the mind-boggling outrage on Cheryl Burke on Dancing With The Stars (DWTS) gaining weight. I've been a fan of DWTS since its inception. I'm one of those peculiar people who watched competitive ballroom dancing for years on public television before it became mainstream with the widely popular show. And I've been a fan of Burke since she joined in the show's second season.
Yes she was not like most of the other dancers in body shape but she was equally as talented (if not more). So it was nice to see a curvaceous yet compact woman on the dance floor. Let's face it, no matter what she does she can never have long and lean looks of the Russian (a la Karina) or Polish (a la Edyta) dancers. But she shouldn't have to want those figures.
Anybody ever saw old pictures of Josephine Baker? I don't think if she was living in the 80s to now in her heyday, people will will be readily accepting of her body. Did her body type negate the fact she was a great dancer.
So for folks especially the insatiable appetite of the media to attack ladies, i.e Tyra Banks, Jennifer Love Hewitt, etc. who are below the average American woman size (between 12 and 14) just because they chose to give themselves a break and put on a few pounds. Case in point: Cheryl Burke. This lady got a first time well-deserved vacation over the summer. So she wasn't practicing dance steps for six hours a day and she put on FIVE POUNDS and for that she's been crucified? GIVE ME A FREAKING BREAK!
Burke, just like Banks or Hewitt shouldn't have to publicly acknowledge why they put on weight. It's none of anyone's business! But it got so bad that this morning Burke had to confront the issue on GMA? People should get a life! But before getting a life, I wonder if the media considers what they are doing to young girls to fit unattenable weight. Look, if you were made a circle, I don't care what you do, you CAN'T fit a square hole. That's just it! Burke has the kind of body where if she put a little weight on will make her curvier, but does that mean she is not healthy?
Seeing Burke's issues today reminded me of another dancer, Paula Abdul. Abdul, as a girl just because she didn't have the look of the other dancers in her ballet class was forced into a lifestyle of bulimia for many years. Even her success years later as a Laker girl, choreographer (notably at first to Janet Jackson)and pop star didn't quench her demons until much later (in the 90s).
Thank goodness other women such as Tyra, Jennifer, and now Cheryl are choosing to fight back. But I wonder if such attitudes would translate to other women, especially girls.
Tags: Cheryl Burke, Tyra Banks, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Body Image
