Now, I don't really pay much attention to the fluctuating weights of celebrities. Maybe I'm one of the dying breeds of fans that care more about the music that a celebrity creates rather than their personal looks, or maybe I just don't like seeing anyone, regardless of their social stature or wealth, being needlessly insulted, whether it's for their weight, height, ideas... you get the point. But I sat up and took notice when they media started picking on Gaga, not because I felt sorry for the poor woman (even though I truly do), but because of this photo:
She posted this on her site Little Monsters with the caption "Bulimia and anorexia since I was 15".
You've got someone who has been struggling with eating disorders for eleven years, with the world's media shouting at her, not to mention anyone else who will listen to them, that she has put on weight.
And not only that, but her record label have allegedly told her to "quit gorging on her favourite foods" in an attempt to stop her from putting on more weight.
People who say that she should just deal with it, that she is in the public eye and therefore her appearance is bound to be judged? I don't think you understand that celebrities are human. They hurt like the rest of us. They have flaws and insecurities, they go through heartbreak and betrayal, just like you or I. The only difference is, they have the world judging them every second, or every day. Obviously, for someone who has issues with eating disorders, this must be a very hard thing to cope with, and must be even harder to come out and admit.
Endless respect to Gaga for not only admitting to her insecurities, but encouraging millions of people to post pictures of theirs, and embrace them. It's a wonderful way of turning a negative situation into a positive one.
But really, there shouldn't be a situation at all. The media, in addition to a few inherited behaviours, have made us into a bunch of obesophobiacs. It starts from a young age. Have you ever seen a fat princess get a happily ever after? No. How about a character on your favourite kids TV show, is the chubby child ever popular? Don't bet on it. From childhood, we're gradually learning that being overweight limits your chance at finding happiness in personal situations.
As we get older, we begin to notice advertising and become involved in celebrity culture. Think back, when was the last time you saw an overweight model on the front of Vogue? I can't recall seeing one. Billboards? Stick insects. Films? Seemingly flawless individuals. Photographs? Photoshopped beyond all recognition. The media does not want to glorify overweight human beings. Hell, they hardly even want to glorify average human beings. They want to show you the 'elite' of society. After all, self love and feeling comfortable in your own skin will not help them boost the sales of weight loss programs, exercise equipment, make-up...
You're beautiful, whatever shape you are. Embrace that and ignore the messages that the media are trying to send you. They act out of their own self-preserving greed, make sure you act out of everything else but that.
