By MARY DUENWALD

”DID you know that it’s Beautiful Women Month?” a much-forwarded e-mail message asks, before making a few pertinent statements. Here’s a sampling: ”Marilyn Monroe wore a size 14”; ”If Barbie was a real woman, she’d have to walk on all fours”; and ”The average woman weighs 144 lb. and wears between a 12-14.”

There are more ”facts on figures,” not all of them perfectly accurate. Ms. Monroe, who was 5 feet 5 1/2 inches and weighed between 118 to 135 pounds, may have been busty enough to fill out a size 14, but partly because sizes were smaller in the 1950’s. And Barbie is indeed disproportionate — a 1995 study found that for a woman with an average body type to attain Barbie’s shape, she would need to grow 24 inches (making her more than 7 feet tall), take 6 inches off her waist and add 5 to her chest. But if she came to life, she could presumably still walk upright, the director of the study said.

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AMANDA DE CADENET

“The reason I wanted to do this story is that I’m challenged with my physicality,” says photographer Amanda de Cadenet. “I’ve always been the curviest girl. Since having twins four years ago, I’m now super curvy. It’s not the body I used to have.

KIM KARDASHIAN

“I don’t get why everyone is always going on about my butt. I’m Armenian. It’s normal,” says Kim Kardashian. “My butt is probably not as big as you might think, because I have small legs and a small waist, which makes it appear bigger.”

JOY BRYANT

“I’m not 25. I’m 35. I’m 10 years heavier and I’m married,” says Bryant, who wed stuntman Dave Pope in June 2008. “I’m not going to lie and say, ‘Oh, I’m so secure in who I am. I don’t let things bother me,'” she continues. “There are times when we’re at our weakest. But maybe it’s not your body. It’s your mind playing tricks.”

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Contestants have to be at least 176 lbs to compete.

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“I feel more comfortable today than I ever did in my 20s or early 30s. I’m healthier. I’m more at peace in my mind and with my body. I’m startin’ to live. It’s good!”

I have to say that Jennifer Aniston does look great, in fact she has continued to get better with age. She has repeatedly talked about eating well and doing yoga and connecting with her mind, body, and spirit. What I love about her body is that she looks fit- not I don’t eat enough and don’t use my body skinny but healthy and strong.

Also it’s important to note for teen age girls, that your body goes through SO many changes while in puberty and after. That slightly pudgy girl can morph into a long leggy lady and the gangely “ugly” duckling can emerge a swan. Adolescence can be a horrible time with all the developments, and acne and then the sexual awakening it’s crazy! And we all know that kids are mean and when they are insecure (which most teens and truth be told adults as we are) they can be down right hateful.

Personally I found that every 8-10 years my body does shows and my metabolism and weight loss/gain shift a bit. Women are like that horse of a different color in the Wizard of Oz. Don’t worry, just learn to take care of yourself and chose Health over Image. If you are looking for a Body Role Model I totally nominate Jennifer Aniston!

So My Teen Queens,if you are stressing about your body don’t. You’ll only get better with age and time because you learn more, know more and at a point you learn to say “to hell” with certain things. Learn how to take care of yourself now so it becomes a lifestyle not a diet merry-go-round. Finally I think Aniston is a role model in another way, for the way she handled herself through that very public divorce and the aftermath which continues to play out in the media, that certainly has made her a better stronger fiercely empowered woman today.

Where nothing I (or anyone else) can say really make it “Better” hold on to this- Everything passes- if you close your eyes on the moon and wake to see the sun you have a new opportunity and you never know what could happen. Moments are Moments because they pass, it’s all about what you do and who you are in those moments that matter!!!

Read more: Jennifer Aniston: ‘Keeping My Butt Toned Is My Biggest Body Challenge’ | FitPerez.com http://fitperez.com/2011-01-19-jennifer-aniston-%e2%80%98keeping-my-butt-toned-is-my-biggest-body-challenge#ixzz1BVJCBrFw

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This is a wonderful article by Psychotherapist, Author, Speaker where she asks the question of IF there is something dangerous about Acceptance and what does that mean? a great read.

Excerpt:Gloria inspired us all, as she explored feminism among contemporary women and offered new ways of understanding the current climate in which women continue to struggle for equality. “If we are going to change the ethic where size 0 is an admirable norm, then we need to stand up and break the silence,” she guided. “It continues to be the simple acts of speaking out about our truths and challenging the myths” that exposes the cultural lies that harm us, she said.

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Read how she talks about being “happy” to be a size 0….
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