Is it just me, or is something seriously wrong here? How this chick holds that giant head up with that tiny little body is beyond me. Good work, Ralph. Good to see you’re designing clothes for the real woman.

When a tiny picture of a naked “plus-size” model showed up on page 194 of Glamour last month, the readers went wild for it.

And for good reason. How often is it that we are shown a beautiful woman that isn’t a size zero, comfortable in her own skin and naked on the pages of any magazine?

We’ll ignore the fact that being able to “pinch and inch” doesn’t make you plus-size and that this women pictured (who looks maybe a size 8, tops) still isn’t representing a huge portion of the female population who actually are wearing plus sizes. At least we are making a step in the right direction.

Or are we?

After Glamour cashed in on a crapload of press and positive publicity from the picture, Marie Clare decided they wanted in and will now feature a plus-size columnist who plans to give fashion advice to plus sized readers.

While it’s a good start that she actually is plus sized (a size 18 to be exact) and will be able to give helpful and honest advice to other women her size, I still can’t help but wonder what the real motivation is behind this trend to cater to the plus sized readers.

I doubt it’s a coincidence that as sales plummet and magazine companies are dropping like hungry models, they are finally realizing a whole population of their readership has been left out of every fall fashion special, every swimsuit edition, every best-jeans-for-your-body article. Why now?

I’m afraid that the answer is self-serving and superficial: they want to make money. They are capitalizing on and exploiting a whole population of woman in order to boost sales.

Do I love that we are able to have diversity in what we consider beautiful? Yes. Does a picture of a naked plus-size woman bring a smile to my face? Yes. Is it necessary to have fashion advice for women of all shapes and sizes? Absolutely! Read More »

You know what they say in baseball: “Three strikes, and you’re out!” And now we know the same is true in Project Runway.

But more on that later.

First let’s discuss Tim Gunn in flip flops and Wayfarers. If that’s not the best moment in Project Runway history, I’m not sure what is. I just wanted to pinch those little cheeks. But there was no time for that, what with the surfwear team challenge!

Oooooh.
Aaaaah.

Everyone knows that team challenges are a disaster and a half, so I had a feeling this episode was going to be pretty delicious. I immediately began placing bets (with myself) as to who would work together best, who would go up in flames like a Sambucca shot, and who would just sorta coast through the challenge and get zero camera time.

It didn’t take me long to figure out that Ra’mon and Milk Dud the dud that is Mitchell would be a whole lot of hot mess. Especially after Mr. Mitch declared that he chose Ra’mon so he could “carry him.” I normally love me an adorable gay man, but this guy is just too much.

And how does he welcome his partner to the team? By criticizing Ra’mon for picking out “some pretty ugly things.” You know what, Mitchell? Ra’mon might have an eclectic taste in fabrics, but at least his clothes look good. Yours, on the other hand… well, we’ve all seen your crap coming down the runway (and the nipples exposed beneath it). And so did the judges, which is why you haven’t made it out of the bottom two yet!

Ooooh, SNAP! Read More »

If it’s one thing we’ve learned here at CC, it’s that all people are fascinating (Yes, even your econ professor). Let’s face it – people love to glimpse into the lives of other people. Disagree? Then please explain why you’re currently looking at your friend’s brother’s girlfriend’s cousin’s photos on Facebook. Or reading about the latest John Mayer Twitter dramz in this week’s tabloids. Yeah we thought so.

Fact is we connect to others by learning about them. And everyone has something to share (even if it’s a secret love for The Food Network). So to give you yet another reason to procrastinate, we started ‘The Five Questions We Ask Everyone’ (and five just for that one person) because we know whether we’re schmoozing with an A- list celeb or your local bartender, you’ll be equally entertained.

We watch America’s Next Top Model (and all subsequent marathons) for 3 reasons:
1. The crazy chicks.
2. The crazy judges.
3. Nigel Barker.

He’s hot, talented and has the sexiest accent on earth. And he agreed to talk to us! We tried to sit down with Nigel in person (sans shirt), but the guy is just too busy taking pictures of models in exotic locations (we spoke to him from Canada) and doing good deeds around the world (he works for tons of awesome organizations). So we just imagined him sans shirt while we picked his brain on the phone. Nigel told us a bit about himself, gave us some much needed photo advice and lured us in to ANTM’s 13th season, which is airing now. We didn’t think it was possible, but after getting to know the guy we love him even more.

Swoon. Read More »

Is this supposed to be sexy? Maybe some sort of horrible PETA experiment? WTF? What did Kermit ever do to you, skinny girl?

He didn’t deserve this, especially whatever torture you put him through to get him on a headband. There are plenty of other (less offensive) ways to add a little green to your wardrobe!

I went to South Beach once. I ate really good sushi, stared into stores that I couldn’t even afford to walk into, and drunkenly slipped and fell on a stair leaving my entire left butt cheek so bruised I had to stand for the flight back to Michigan.  My trip would never have made good TV, which is probably why I am not on The City: too much ass, not enough drama.

The NYC kids (well, except Allie who was busy making porn in NYC) were sick of the dreary winter days so they decided to take a trip to Miami. Should be fun, right? Wrong. Obviously, drama follows these kids wherever they go and, obviously, Jay’s ex-fling (who he denies going home with that night after he and Whit started doin’ the dirty) happened to be at the same bar. Was it because she’s a total stalker? Perhaps.  A Coincidence? Perhaps. Whatever the reason, it turned the drama all the way up. Read More »

Laurie Sliva is the founder and director of BRIDGES Camp for Girls, a self-esteem and leadership building summer camp.  We met up with Laurie when we were doing research for CollegeCandy’s Eating Disorder Awareness week and knew instantly that her work and message had to be shared.

We are all fed up with our society’s impossible and unrealistic perception of beauty, and Laurie urges women everywhere to stop trying to change our bodies and start trying to change our mindsets.

I read somewhere that women have a negative thought about their bodies every 15 minutes. Sadly, this doesn’t surprise me.  I can look at my own thoughts over the years and say that sounds about right.  The more I talk to women and girls of all ages and body types, the more

I realize I am not alone.

I did feel alone at one point. I didn’t know that other girls felt like me.  In junior high, the pain of feeling left out, created an overwhelming desire to feel accepted and to feel a sense of belonging.  After losing some of my post-gymnastics, puberty weight the summer before high school, I noticed I got a little more attention from guys and girls. I felt pretty good. Soon I began skipping all meals except dinner with my family (so they wouldn’t find me out) and, when I needed more control, I began throwing up every night after dinner. My battle with anorexia-bulimia took over my life for the next six years my thoughts were occupied with how I was not going to eat, or if I had to eat, when I could throw it up, and how I would hide it from everyone who cared about me. My recovery began my sophomore year of college for a variety of reasons and with the support of family and friends who really didn’t have any idea how to help. Read More »

Tonight’s episode of The City was actually sorta entertaining. I am even willing to look past the fact that Erin lives in a ridiculous apartment in NYC and affords it by having spent the past year and a half “soul searching,” and the fact that she just wanted a job…and got one.

Why was it so good? Why, because Kelly Cutrone and her big mouth were there to throw a little spice into an extremely bland series.

So, Kell has a birthday party and Whitney decides to invite jobless Erin and skinny Allie. Whitney, of course, warns the ladies that Kelly speaks her mind (read: is a bitch), so they better watch out. Allie is so excited! She loves people who speak their mind!!

Unless that someone has something bad to say about her. Like how they hate her leggings. Or that she’s too skinny and looks like she hasn’t eaten a sandwich in 6 years. Read More »

The food isn’t the only hot thing on Bravo’s hit show Top Chef; the host, and former model, Padma Lakshmi always adds a little spice to things with her great fashion sense.

Both in and out of the kitchen, Padma is looks consistently pulled together and fabulous. She’s a big fan of fun and flirty dresses, adorned with draping and beautiful details that are oftentimes inspired by her Indian heritage. She’s got gorgeous gams that she loves to show off in mini-dresses, but she also knows how to pull off (and totally rock) the menswear-inspired look. Lakshmi makes form fitting vests and classic trousers look ultra chic and feminine, which is not easy to pull off.

The most notable (and enviable) aspect of Padma’s signature style, though, is her love of bright colors that flatter her deep skintone. She looks fantastic in everything from bright yellow to hot pink, and she isn’t afraid to wear them. She also gets major bonus fierceness points for not shying away from pieces that expose the large scar on her right arm caused by a car accident when she was younger.

This girl is more than a Style Idol; she’s a freaking fashion hero. Read More »

Before Miss Indiana was crowned Miss America 2009, TV viewers watched and envied the bodies of 15 in-shape young women strutting across the stage. How do these college-aged women keep their fabulous figures while juggling classes and life in the dead of winter?

The new queen, Katie Stam went home with a $50,000 scholarship and $1,000 for a preliminary swimsuit and fitness award. This basically was a check for having the hottest body. How does the new queen stay fit? You might be surprised.

On Miss America’s official website Katie cites a favorite hobby as working out on a Power Plate!

According to Power Plate’s manufacturers, if you stand on the machine’s vibrating plates for 10 minutes a day and three times a week, you will lose weight, increase bone density and improve your overall health. The whole idea is trying to keep balance on the vibrating platform while you tense and release your muscles 30 to 50 times per second during strength-training moves like squats or bicep curls. There are more than 30 private studios and fitness centers across the nation offering total-body training classes which typically last 25 minutes.

Unfortunately, most gyms still do not carry Power Plates, and many experts are weary of them. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get a Miss America body. Read More »