What do you consider to be a 'fat' female?

Question

And is it possible for someone who is say a size 8,10,12,14 to be a sex symbol? If Angelina Jolie was say a size 10 - would she still have been able to gain all her admirers and status?

Answer 1

Marilyn Monroe was a size 14 at her highest weight, which was like a UK size 14 in those days. Her typical working weight was 5'5" and 125 lbs, which would be about a size 6 today, definitely heavier than most of the modern bony starlets, but not "fat", pretty much in the normal range. A lot of early sex symbols definitely would have been an 8 or 10, particularly during the pre-1920s era. Look at some of the famous actresses of the Victorian era, not a bone to be seen. The beautiful women in older paintings tend to average out at a somewhere between a 6 and 10. If we had normal sized women in movies playing normal parts and not "fat" parts, we'd probably conceive things differently. Actresses like Catherine Zeta-Jones, Rachel Weisz, Kate Winslet, and Jennifer Connelly were definitely heavier earlier in their careers, but within the size 6-8 range are they looked much better than they do now. That being said, if we actually met all the skinny Hollywood stars in real life, we'd probably think that they were really bony because the camera adds weight and flattering lighting disguises bones. I can't imagine what Angelina would look like at a 8 or 10 but I'll bet she'd be absolutely gorgeous. I think her figure would do nicely with a little expansion, like Gwyneth Paltrow's did after she had her two children. Would she still work, probably not, but she'd look great. What to I consider fat? Anything in the plus sizes which make America Ferrera, an attractive size 10 or so, not "plus sized" as she is so often called. I'm not saying we should make sex symbols out of size 18 women, but having some 6-8ers around winning hearts would be kind of nice. Besides, haven't you noticed that the skinnier Hollywood actresses become the fatter the rest of us become? Women were on average a lot thinner in the 50s. Maybe if we had healthier role models, we wouldn't diet so much, get fat so often, and be happier with our bodied.

Answer 2

I look fabulous at a size 8 and only slightly less great at a 10. Both of those are considered a "medium". Unless someone is rather short, they aren't fat at either of those sizes...

A 12 is a large and 14 typically an extra large...which is odd considering decades ago a size 14 equated to today's size 8. (So Zero's comment about Marilyn is true, but a size 12 back in her day was much smaller than today's size 12).

I don't think Angelina's popularity is because she's a slender woman...she's got a LOT of other things going on...I doubt few would notice if she was a size 10.

When someone is considered fat they are overweight for their height...there isn't a standard "this is the weight where fat begins" because 130 would be fat for a short woman, but average for taller women, and slim for very tall women.

There's no reason someone larger than a 6 couldn't be a sex symbol...sexy is an attitude, not just a thin body.

Answer 3

Well it all depends upon your height. A short woman and a tall woman do not look the same in a size 8. Lets assume for a moment that the woman is an average height, then I would say anything beyond a size 13 is fat. If she is tall she can get away with being up to a size 16 and not look fat in my opinion.

Answer 4

It's best not to get preoccupied with sizes, and the fashion industry has increased the proportions for each size in recent years, to accommodate an increasingly heavy female population. But proportion is more important than size anyway. Men like curves; they like breasts and hips and buttocks. The current emphasis on small sizes comes from the fashion designers-- many of them men who are not interested in women sexually-- who dislike curves because it's easier to design clothes for women who are very thin and shapeless.
It's sexier NOT to be excessively thin--much healthier, too!
As for Angelina Jolie and other hyped up Hollywood types, their "fame" is due to P.R. people who stir up endless publicity for them.
My father anchored the offensive line in football. I'm an athlete too---and not fat---but I have broad shoulders and long legs, and I could NEVER wear an 8. Not at 16, not at 30, not ever.

Answer 5

women can be sexy at all sizes...
In my experience it's all about confidence
A size 8 can be slender but not sexy because she doesn't believe that she's beautiful
A size 14 can be curvaceous and sexy because she believes that she is.

Dianne Brill was a sex symbol of the 90s and she fluctuated depending on how she felt. She was beautiful as a size 8 and a size 12 because she carried herself - she knew how to dress for each size.

I don't think size matters - its confidence...

(that being said a BMI over 30 is very unhealthy)

Answer 6

Anyone who's weight is disproportionate to their height and has a high percentage of body fat is overweight. Culturally this does differ. A 5'4 white woman 110 pounds is considered skinny by many, but a 5'4 140 pound woman is considered skinny in black culture by many. It depends on body tone regardless. Serena Williams must be 175 lbs. at least,but its mostly muscle, so she is not fat by anyone's standard even if she is considered overweight.

Answer 7

Size 14 is not fat for an average height. Kate Winslet is/was considered "fat" by Industry standards and she has been admired for years. Sex symbol generally connotes feminine beauty which includes curves.
I'm not all sure that Jolie maintains star status via her looks alone, more likely her activities and company she keeps.

Answer 8

Have you seen Star Jones of "The View " fame. She was a beautiful round woman. Now she has had a gastric bypass and is too thin, she looks old. She shouldn't have lost soooooo much.

Answer 9

Yes, it is possible. Some men like women with more meat on their bones. Nothing wrong with that. Different tastes is what makes the world go round. ; )

Answer 10

A woman that has over 32% body fat or a waist over 32-35 inches.

HTH : )