Towards the end of the latest round of American Idol, it became obvious that a curvy woman was a likely winner.  After Mandisa,  a visibly plus-sized woman, was so ridiculed by Simon last year in spite of her powerful talent, it was refreshing to see the very same Simon champion the fuller figured Melinda Doolittle and kiss the voluptuously proportioned Lakisha Jones.  But in the end it was  seventeen year old  Jordin Sparks, that took the day.

A tall, size 14 bodaceous beauty, Sparks has recently come under fire by the National Action Against Obesity as too fat and a poor role model for children and teens.  (See video below.)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svxLdNsxPSw]

But of all the full-figured contestants to make a splash over the years including the likes of Frenchie Davis, thrown off for posing topless in college who then went on to sing in the Broadway smash hit Rent and Jennifer Hudson who went on to star in the on-screen hit, Dreamgirls and win an Oscar,  Jordin is probably the least plus-sized and most photogenic of the lot during their American Idol stints.   At her height, her curves and size look better than the average woman (hence the former modeling gig with trendy plus-size retailer, Torrid) and as Ellen DeGeneres rightly observed, she looks “healthy” for a celebrity change.  (See video interview below).

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQuAEUJ_JU8]

While childhood obesity and diseases like Type 2 diabetes may be on the rise due to unhealthy and sedentary lifestyles throughout the USA, it is precisely the extremist views of the  National Action Against Obesity and others like them that are fueling an equally rising health problem in teen and young adults - eating disorders and obsession with appearance. (See the NEDA video below.)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESQlryualZ4]

Jordin is young, vibrant, curvaceous, and yes *healthy*.  We need more role models of her ilk, not fewer.  In fact, her win illustrates but a small step in the thin-obsessed, size 0 celebrity pop world that serves as role models most of the time.  Who do you think parents would prefer their young daughters to look to?  Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Richie….. or the more wholesome, all-American Jordin Sparks?  I know whom I would prefer.  Furthermore, this step toward broader size and looks acceptance is really quite small.  When the set of pipes and singing power of an American Idol contestant are the sole criteria on which the public makes its final judgement, then true acceptance will have been achieved.  But, even with a little extra “meat on her bones”, there is no doubt Jordin is a looker  - the public still looks for the shiny package in making their final judgement and isn’t ready for figures like those of Mandisa, Frenchie and LaKisha.

 But there is hope, with the rise of such edgy rockers as Beth Ditto of the band Gossip willing to pose a la nude in all her apple shaped, 5′ 2″  glory on a magazine cover complete with all her fat rolls on display. Such a brash move is winning praise from more feminist viewpoints while Ditto is quoted ranting against the size 0 fashion world.  It’s possible times are starting to change.  And in direct opposition to the nonsense being spouted in certain quarters, we think talent no matter what size body it resides in should be rewarded and celebrated.

Congratulations Jordin. Well done!  Please resist the pressure and keep healthy and curvy, we beg you.

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