Since we started the Curvy Girl's Guide series, there has been quite a bit of controversy over the term "curvy" and what the word really means.
Is "curvy" just a polite, politically correct way of saying "fat"?
Does it refer only to black women?
Does being anything over an 8 mean that a woman is sitting on her couch all day, stuffing her face with fast food while letting her treadmill collect dust?
Simply: no, no and no.
"Curvy" certainly includes those ladies who are plus-sized - actress
Mo'Nique is a great example. However, it can also apply to a woman who may be widely considered to be of average size, or even small, but who has a very womanly shape (think:
Beyonce,
Alicia Keys) and goes beyond the current Hollywood ideal that anything over a size 4 is "questionable." In fact, the term "curvy" can even be used to describe women who are otherwise thin but wear a little extra weight in particular areas of the body, i.e.
Kim Kardashian.
When we use "curvy", know that it is meant to encompass a number of different body types and shapes, not simply the all-around ample. Even when your waist is a 0, it takes many hours of shopping, tailoring and finagling to fit a shirt or dress over a DDD chest. Some women can wear bikini tops with ease, but find themselves visiting specialty shops for bottoms that will fully cover their ample derrieres!
And
while hours of exercise and dieting will give you toned arms, legs and six-pack abs, genetics are a killer and, without the help of surgery, those breasts and booty just won't go away. So why not praise the woman blessed with abundant assets with an article series focused on the best fabric cuts for her special areas?
The word "curvy" is not reserved only for black women, either. We've already used the example of
Kim Kardashian, but there are several other non-black women who can be considered "curvy," including actresses
Scarlett Johansson,
Salma Hayek and actress, former
Miss World and Indian beauty
Aishwarya Rai.
To settle the dispute once and for all, here's a gallery of a variety of bodacious beauties - both black and non-black - and what earns them the "curvy" title.
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Celebs With Curves
Sassy and sexy, Amber Rose is practically the modern poster girl for non-black Curvies. Spotting her almost everywhere as Kanye's former arm piece, black men and women were forced to realize that all-over curves don't come in just one
color.
This purple wrap dress perfectly showcases what she's got.
Dave M. Benett, Getty Images
Celebs With Curves
Sassy and sexy, Amber Rose is practically the modern poster girl for non-black Curvies. Spotting her almost everywhere as Kanye's former arm piece, black men and women were forced to realize that all-over curves don't come in just one
color.
This purple wrap dress perfectly showcases what she's got.
Celebs With Curves
"Bootylicious" is defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary because of this Curvy Girl.
In this photo, showing off a dangerous set of curves in an emerald, skin-tight gown, Beyonce gave every girl license to love any extra junk in her trunk.
Celebs With Curves
Aishwarya Rai, sparkling in brown, may only be considered a Curvy Girl when compared to other, size 0, beauty queens.
However, it is refreshing to see that she, considered by some to be the most beautiful woman in the world, has embraced the that fact that being pencil-thin isn't attainable for every beauty.
Celebs With Curves
A former skinny girl, Christina Aguilera gained a lot of (mostly positive) attention once she started to fill out. But despite any negative press, she professed to loving her new look!
Here, Aguilera's relatively newfound curves look womanly and sexy in a black lace and flesh-toned mermaid-style gown.
Celebs With Curves
Curvy doesn't mean boring for gospel singers Mary Mary, shining in leather and sequins. These Curvy Girls have long been known for having strict workout regimens, again confirming that full-figured doesn't mean lazy.
Celebs With Curves
Jennifer Lopez made us all want a round derrière back in the 1990's when she rocked the stage as a Fly Girl on In Living Color.
These days, she shows us that a big backside can be elegant too, as she wows in white on the red carpet.
Celebs With Curves
Here's Jill Scott looking amazing in a knee-length, form-fitting number. This lady has a killer set of gams and a perfect hourglass shape.
Who says that wearing a double-digit size means you can't rock body-con?
Celebs With Curves
Temptress Sofía Vergara, looking glamorous in a two-toned, corseted gown, was a star in her own right in her native Colombia.
Now, with the hit sitcom 'Modern Family,' Vergara has reminded American women (and men) why big boobs rock.
Celebs With Curves
Always the epitome of class, Lynn Whitfield works all black.
She generally showcases her curves by accentuating her small waistline, contrasting it against a comparatively fuller bosom and wider hips.
Celebs With Curves
Consummate Curvy Girl Mo'nique has made no qualms about being a big girl - and loving it. She helped pave the way for women who are naturally large to embrace the fact that some people just aren't meant to be thin, but that that doesn't mean you can't love the body you were given.
Here, she is stylish in a cowl-neck sheath.
Celebs With Curves
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Comments: (80)
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By: ooozzzzz on 3/05/2011 10:37AM
Monique and Jill Scott are not curvy. They are fat just like Rosie O'Donnell. Queen Latifah and Sheri Shepard
You are mixing two different categories of body types. Apple versus Pear. Curvy versus fat.
Curvy women are hour glass or "pear" shaped; are top heavy (large chest or breasts for your frame)
and small from the waist down..Beyonce, Kim Kardasian or Miariah Carey.
Monique is fat, apple shaped, has a large stomach and has the body type called "endomorph" that carries fat and the current trend is that fat women with large breasts, large waists, large stomach and big asses and thick legs are added to the curvy catrgory; they want to believe or are told on a regular basis (especially by men and the media) that they fit into the curvy category and these fat women try and exhibit their assets by wearing very tight clothing (example body suits) that vurvy women wear that does not complement their body types but exposes them: all the several rolls of fat and cellulite resembling cottage cheese commonly found on the thighs, stomach, and butt and cellulite is only a fancy name for collections of fat that push against the connective tissue beneath a person's skin, which causes the surface of the skin to dimple or pucker and look lumpy.
And they are completely unaware of how awful they look wearing clothes that they shouldn't be wearing since the hip hop culture has convinced then they they are fine and look good (especially from men in their neighborhood who have nothing better to look at) and that inclues the fat White girls who also has those grandmother ankles (called "cankles") with those red bumps and that skin condition rash called rosea everywhere and it looks nasty.
And for all you curvy ladies who think that their shit don't stink, don't get it twisted..Father time is undefeated and never lost a fight, you can't win and it will catch up with you.....And if you don't watch it your curves will become fat in a hot minute if you don't exercise, eat right and take care of yourselves and for the curvy ladies who are now fat after the sedatary lifestyle and the baby/babies, you know exactly what I'm talking about and for the men who date or married curvy women who are now fat, stop your bitchin' and trying to find some more curves because men have the same body type characteristucs and you're also aren't what you used to be.
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By: Gichaya on 3/05/2011 10:07PM
Sherrie Shepard is not fat, she's top heavy and not porportioned well at all. Jill Scott is heavy to fat. Fat is when you can actually pinch more than an inch of loose flesh. Rosie Odonnell is fat. Back fat is a telltale sign that it's time to diet. Some women are just plain THICK, especially women of color. White women's skin is usually a lot looser making her appear larger, when in fact they wear the same size. I always found that amazing, as I am 5'8 163 pounds and a size 10. Some white women that say they wear a ten is dayum near double my size. Go figure. I have very little fat, nothing hanging and simply gorgeous.(That's right, if I can't see beauty in myself, how am I to expect others to see it)
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By: GERI on 3/09/2011 4:55PM
ooozzzzz....DITTO!!!!!....lol
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By: isaidit on 3/05/2011 11:24AM
If you are the same size on top, middle and bottom you are NOT curvy. I love Jill Scott, Latifah and Monique, however, they are NOT curvy. They are apple shaped and apples are round!! Not to mention don't think they have NOT had some type of surgery. Stop fooling this people because hour glass shapes are curvy. It's time to stop pacifying extra weight. We pacify it with labels such as "thick" and "curvy" on those who are truly just big girls or overweight. Extra weight comes with a cost i.e. diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. I have friends that are self-proclaimed "thick" not over-weight. I beg to differ when they are under 5'6 size 16+. They do absolutely NOTHING that has to do with any type of physical activity i.e. swimming, walking or the gym. However,they are constant fixtures to any function that has to do with food. So am I supposed to keep letting them think they are "curvy" or "thick" to not hurt their feelings?
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By: Dj on 3/05/2011 11:31AM
Most average people are a "bit away from being fat".
Let us not forget some medications will put weight on the body, but I say getting well and living beat's being dead any day.
All races has the body shape thing going, just watch old pictures or watch old movies, but today there seem to be more fat people, because most people eat the wrong foods and for some they do not have the will to do the right thing.
Our First Lady Michelle Obama is doing her best to get America to eat well in order to live a good life and stay out of the medical system, and most American's are still eating themselves to death.
Most American ladies were born with the body of their family and they can't anything about it, but if they do change themselves it would take money to reshape most of these ladies. Most star's get's lots of help to keep them from getting fat, but some understand and eat the best of foods and workout, because their body is their "money maker".
Ladies with a curvy body's have always been around
this shape didn't start with the young singer's of today they just get more air time. Fat ladies have been around also they too get more air.
Just enjoy the view's.
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By: derel on 3/05/2011 12:23PM
Mary Mary--FAT
Jill SCott--FAT
Monique--FAT
Niecy Nash-Borderline Fat/Curvy
Latifah-Lesbian FAT
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By: Brian on 3/05/2011 2:30PM
Hey Derel,
I'm definitely not with you on all this labeling of our big, beautiful, Black women. All the women you've mentioned are not size 2's, granted. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder and there's nothing wrong with it coming in different shapes & sizes. Jill, Niecy, Queen,& Mary, Mary are all gorgeous at ANY size. So don't hate just because they don't fit into a fashion model's description of beauty. My wife is a BBW, too & I love her for who she is, not what society wants her to be.
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By: Greg on 3/06/2011 7:43PM
Nothing, hot about this debate at all! FAT is still FAT, and being "CURVY" is also still being FAT!
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By: Queen on 3/07/2011 11:03PM
So exactly what does queen latifah being a lesbian have to do with her size that you have to reference it?
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By: Justifyed on 3/09/2011 11:37AM
@ Greg, so if you were a man, you'd prefer curvy? I always wondered if gay men had a "type" of woman they'd prefer.
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