**By Christie Harris **

Are women supposed to be thin or curvy? This is a good question to ponder. As the years and decades pass, we have seen different shapes and trends for the female body in the celebrity world come and go. We have seen curvy shapes as in Marilyn Monroe. We have seen super thin shapes as in Twiggy Lawson, the famous English supermodel. Oh how everyone tried to have the Twiggy build during that era. In more recent times, we have seen body shapes of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Paris Hilton, Nicole Riche, Ally McBeal, Halle Berry, Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Hudson, Eva Longoria Parker, and Gabrielle Union. This list of celebrities shows that there are many different body shapes in today's era. It is now known that more and more celebrities are straying away from the concept that super thin is the only shape that is beautiful. Women of today seem to be sending the message that whatever shape you are comfortable with as long as you are healthy is okay. Are women supposed to be thin or curvy?

The answer lies within you. Are you comfortable with who you are the way you are? Are you healthy and fit? Do you look healthy or do you look frail, pale, and malnourished? Do you have a healthy BMI? Do you feel at your best at your current weight (energized, do not tire easily)? Yes, the answer lies within each individual woman. Your body's build needs to be the build that is naturally you. I know many naturally thin women and they look beautiful and healthy. However, I also know a few women who are not naturally thin (the thinness is forced) and they do not look healthy. Therefore, be happy with who you are and learn to love your body**** no matter the shape, no matter the popular trend as long as you are healthy. I guarantee if you are healthy, look healthy, then you are beautiful inside and out. What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with my point of view? Please visit en.wikipedia.org if you would like to read about the celebrities mentioned.

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Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

Everyone always seems to talk about long and thin vs. sexy and curvy.. What about all of the women out there, like me, who diet and exercise, but don't have a thin waist and big boobs?

People engage in this debate as though it is a question of personal choice in regards to looks. If you are overweight or underweight for YOUR body, then you will be doing it harm. I don't think a lot of girls realise this. Osteopenia/osteoporosis is being diagnosed in TEENAGE girls because they are following stupid faddish diets to keep up with the media. Likewise, statistics in Australia show that 1/4 people over 25 have pre-diabetes due to unhealthy lifestyle. Just be YOU, and be as healthy as you can.

This post is right on the mark. As soon as women feel they are "supposed" to be anything they fall into a trap of not being, or at least trying to discover, who they really are.

I have the same problem with clothes and self image because of being a full figured woman. I wrote a book describing some of the problems we full figured girls face. It is not about losing weight, it is about being proud of who we are and liking how we look. We also need to realize how much influence the media plays on how we feel about ourselves. I too choose to be me, Full figured and not a skinny minnie. Thanks Sherry

i dont think the question should even be about being 'curvy' or 'thin' i personally feel that it should be about embracing the natural beauty of a womans body, regardless of her body shape. some woman are naturally thin and some are naturally curvy, but why should that make one more appealing than the other? as long as you are comfortable with who you are then your body type should not be an issue. i do agree that stars like mary-kate olsen and nicole ritchie have taken the thin look drastically to far to the point where they look anorexic, to me that is UNATTRACTIVE. A woman with confidence will always be sexy so aslong as you learn to love yourself then everyone else will learn to love you whether you be thin or curvy.

As a woman with thick thighs,a bubble butt and thick legs I was always told by women's fashion magazines to 'cover up' as much as possible to hide the unflattering parts of your body,I'm a pear shaped (small on top,large on the bottom) I spent half of my life hating my body thanks to society,I ate very little and almost starved myself just to 'fit' in with what was deemed beautiful. I'm in my late twenties now and stopped caring what society sees as beautiful,I'm thick and in love with my body,its amazing and carries me throughout my day,anybody who says your not good enough is toxic and doesn't deserve your time