The other night, while watching the Victoria’s Secret fashion show I mentioned to my boyfriend that the girls weren’t that skinny and that I found their bodies to be somewhat normal. He looked at me skeptically and said that they were really skinny and this was just evidence that I had become so brainwashed by the ‘ideal body type’.

It’s unfortunate that our minds have been so corrupted into thinking we have to look a certain way and be a certain size to feel beautiful. Women who are a healthy size are never satisfied with the way they look.  Surely there  is more important things to worry about  than your dress size .

Not that long ago being larger was considered beautiful. Bigger women were considered wealthy as having a larger frame meant you could afford delectable food. Most men desired plumper women over the thin ones.

I came across this humorous advertisement for a product that actually helped women of the 19^th century gain weight (gasp!) It’s interesting that a hundred years later women now go to great lengths to whittle down to almost nothing.

The portraits of the women in the Renaissance period showcase beautiful women who would be considered overweight nowadays. These women were natural and confident in their own bodies. They also had extremely pale skin as this also symbolized wealth. Those who were pale stayed indoors all day and did not have to work outdoors. These women enjoyed rich food, did not use unnatural ingredients such as sweeteners and dietary substitutions.

So who’s healthier? Our body image obsessed society or the Renaissance women who might be considered overweight but who also embraced their own natural beauty? Tell me what you think.