Jessica Fights Back

Somehow Jessica Simpson managed to land on the cover of this June's Vanity Fair, where she fights back the recent media criticism regarding her weight. Jessica who has been known to practice yo-yo dieting is no stranger to fighting back the critics. In her recent article the 28 year-old singer, who under went public scrutiny earlier this year for her fuller figure, confidently speaks out.

“It comes with what I do,” she said, “and I know that every day the media’s going to challenge me, is going to want to bring me down. But I feel like I’m at such a place that I own myself, and it’s authentic. I own that authentic part of myself, and none of those words are harsh enough to make me believe them.” 

Although she elicits such a strong statement, I find it to be somewhat contradicting considering her noticeably slimmer appearance.  Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t it her body image that made her famous in the first place? Talent would have been helpful, but obviously was not required.  While I never thought of Jessica as overweight, the truth of the fact is, she made a career out of selling her body. As a result when her weight fluctuates, sadly it is going to be discussed. 

How many times have we beaten ourselves up for gaining a few pounds?  I don't know of anyone who would be happy about a recent weight gain, lets be honest.  So why do celebrities feel the need to defend themselves to the world? Proclaiming to be happier, healthier; curves to be sexier, all while proceeding to drop 10-20 lbs within weeks. We are all human, we all gain weight, and we all feel shitty and miserable about it. Jessica is not the only one guilty of such assertions. Didn’t we already go through this with Jennifer Love Hewitt in the fall? She professed the same inspiring story when unflattering photos surfaced of her in a bikini. Outraged, she defended her figure, and how pleased she is with the way she looks, yet weeks later she was on the cover of People magazine getting praised for loosing 18 lbs.

This is a common occurrence that touches every woman at some point in her life. Hollywood isn’t the only place with unrealistic pressures; it mirrors the society in which we are living. How often have we gossiped about someone who’s gained or lost several pounds, reveled in the idea that someone we dislike has put on a few or wondered why someone is letting themselves go? Unfortunately, whether you’re a celebrity or just an average woman, we are all too accustomed to women’s bodies being placed under a microscope, either being commended or condemned. If only we could find a happy medium, something more optimistic than the news and less hurtful than someone’s weight.