When I was a teenager and in my twenties I truly felt fat because I had natural curves but rail thin was in. There wasn't really any fat on my body but I had a butt and breasts. Men, liked me, I dated quite a bit. However, I remember once on a first date with someone being told that I was 'bigger' than what he normally liked:(. I remember working out most every day for hours and dancing throughout the weekend and feeling about 'average' in the looks department. I recall another time at a rock concert with friends, my date, after carrying me on his shoulders for about 3 hours (his idea as his friends were doing the same with their dates) said, "wow your heavy!" I felt terrible. Obviously my natural heavy bones were at fault I thought and felt unfeminine, yet I was a healthy 20 year old weighing about 115 lbs. I feel sorry for that poor girl (me) of the past, and think...seriously, who wouldn't find carrying adult person heavy after three hours lol. I recently came across some of my old jeans size 5 petite. Obviously, I was thin but I didn't feel it. Now 20 years and 3 children later I am a size 16. I divorced a couple of years ago and thought there would be no way I would ever date as I was now an 'old fat woman' . Boy was I wrong! As soon as I felt like dating the offers started pouring in. I was shocked that older and often younger men were asking me out. I even asked why? I mean, a divorced single parent with kids and a couple of gray hairs can't be THAT attractive. I was told that I was sexy fun confident and beautiful. Being a woman who never really felt that about herself, I thought it was flattery for a reason lol After a year or two of an active social life, and requests from different men of all types to go out. I realized.... I actually am. I am beautiful, curvy and sexier than I have ever been in my life. I don't worry about my hair, makeup or wearing the perfect clothes as I did in HS and university. I condition my hair, wear a bit of mascara and lip gloss and wear comfortable clothes that reflect my mood and I laugh a lot. In a before and after comparison I would be considered fat next to that size 5 petite girl of 20 years ago and yet... I have waist, breasts and hips and not rolls of fat, as some skinny girls claim curvy women are. The point I'm trying to make is that it is all about feeling comfortable with who you are. I happen to be a person that gets asked out on dates, did when I was 20 and thin and still do after age 40 and 11 sizes bigger. If I had to choose between the minni-me or the curvy me, I'd choose the curvy. I have nothing to prove. My days of trying to wear the perfect outfit, improving hairstyles, trying to lose a few more pounds or to develop noticeable abs are long gone. I was definitely healthier then, and had a lot more time to take care of myself- Now I work long hours and have children to care for and I wouldn't mind having a bit of that time to exercise a bit and feel healthier and more energetic but I wouldnt' want to be in the position of measuring my worth by dress size or lable ever again. Recently, I was out on a date, and he wanted to pick me up and carry me down some stairs ! I laughed and told him that he was sweet but that I probably weighed closer to his weight than he imagined and would much rather walk down holding hands and not worrying about being dropped or him straining his back LOL. The question shouldn't be whether men like skinny or curvy women because I think, men like both! The question really is and always has been ... does the woman or girl like herself! ") If the answer is yes, others will too!

I think that shape matters and in my opinion its more sexy to have hips and a bum. I have friends that range from big to small, thin and curvy i just happen to be the tallest and the one with all the curves and i'm not saying i hate my body cos i dont its just that i'm jelious of my friend jasmines body! she is curvy and thin all in 1 she eats so much i just dont understand!

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

i think weight should be about someones health, not the fashion, and people need to realise that everyones different. i eat a normal amount and have never needed to keep an eye on my weight, because im naturally skinny.People often make remarks on my weight, and look at me asif i starve myself. not only is this totally confidence knocking, but just unnecessary. i'd love to be plumper, and have more curves, and lots of people i know feel the same, yet the media on lets you hear from certain perspectives. i was watching a program on tv recently, and one of the presenters said, 'i hate to see skinney women, they're so gross, they make me feel sick' i felt so angry that someone can be so judging, and weight shouldnt be such an important factor.

I'm sorry but I must be honest that curvy is not pretty and if you maintain a huge excercise schedual everyday and eat ONLY healthy in small quantities then you can be thin and pretty:)

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 think its totally unfair to say all skiny chicks are ugly, Im skinny as hell and I remember overeating to make myself fatter and tying a belt tight around my waist to MAKE curves, we are all different shapes and sizes and all beautiful PS my boyfriend loves my flat boobs,if he can love them then Im pretty sure the right guy will accept your flaws