# what does a curvy body look like? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 5, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-curvy-body-look-like/475909 "2008-12-05T20:19:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-curvy-body-look-like/475909/81 "2008-12-06T19:57:20Z")
For a perfect example just Google image search (not from work!) the future Mrs. Cluricaun, Gianna Michaels. Good GOD that woman is perfect. Well, except the being a porn star part. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-curvy-body-look-like/475909/82 "2008-12-06T20:28:01Z")
The thing is, you can’t be curvy without at least some fat. It’s just a matter of having that fat in all the right places. If you’re genetically predisposed to your fat being in your breasts, hips, and buttocks, and have a moderate amount of fat, you’ll be curvy. If you’re predisposed to accumulate fat in your belly instead, then you won’t be. And if you’re emaciated, it won’t matter where you’re predisposed to accumulate fat, because you won’t have any to accumulate. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-curvy-body-look-like/475909/83 "2008-12-06T20:47:11Z")
I dunno, I think [Jelena Abbou](http://farm1.static.flickr.com/17/90473219_b8a2b28d64.jpg) could arguably be described as curvy even though she’s not got much fat on her. A woman’s curviness definitely depends on her frame as well as what she’s carrying on it. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-curvy-body-look-like/475909/84 "2008-12-06T21:07:28Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > I dunno, I think [Jelena Abbou](http://farm1.static.flickr.com/17/90473219_b8a2b28d64.jpg) could arguably be described as curvy even though she’s not got much fat on her. A woman’s curviness definitely depends on her frame as well as what she’s carrying on it. While I agree that part of curviness is going to be based on your frame (wide-set hips will be curvier-looking than narrower hips), those boobs look like implants. I can’t see how her hips curve out. Is there a frontal shot of her? Other than the boobs, she doesn’t (in that angle, at least) look very curvy to me. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-curvy-body-look-like/475909/85 "2008-12-06T21:15:31Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > While I agree that part of curviness is going to be based on your frame (wide-set hips will be curvier-looking than narrower hips), those boobs look like implants. I can’t see how her hips curve out. Is there a frontal shot of her? Other than the boobs, she doesn’t (in that angle, at least) look very curvy to me. Hip curvature depends on body fat levels, and the only good shots I can find of her hips are from contests, so they’re not particularly helpful. She probably does have implants, but if I can abuse a Bugs Bunny [quote] ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpdwB8OR89U](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpdwB8OR89U)), “Well, so they’re implants!”. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-curvy-body-look-like/475909/86 "2008-12-06T21:47:43Z")
[quote=“ultrafilter, post:85, topic:475909”] Hip curvature depends on body fat levels, and the only good shots I can find of her hips are from contests, so they’re not particularly helpful. She probably does have implants, but if I can abuse a Bugs Bunny > [@](#): > > ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpdwB8OR89U](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpdwB8OR89U)), “Well, so they’re implants!”. Well, there’s nothing wrong with implants if you want them, but it’s a bit disingenuous to say that she’s curvy with no hips and artificial breasts. It’s like the Dita von Teese picture with her wearing a serious waist-training corset. She may be curvy, but I can’t tell since she’s wearing a corset that would give a no-hipped _man_ a curvy waist to hip ratio. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2008, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-curvy-body-look-like/475909/87 "2008-12-07T02:25:35Z")
> [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](#): > > I love Nigella and want to marry her, but my wife won’t let me. ☹ \ That’s not entirely true; if she came and cooked for both of us, I think we could work something out. 🙂 Those of you getting bent out of shape by this thread, if you don’t look like a 12-year old boy, the criticism really isn’t about you then, is it? ---
**Author:** ![MissIntent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/97f17d/32.png) [@MissIntent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissIntent)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2008, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-curvy-body-look-like/475909/88 "2008-12-07T02:27:35Z")
I’m not saying Jelena Abbou is unattractive, but with fake breasts and no hips, there is really nothing on her that qualifies as curvy. ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2008, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-curvy-body-look-like/475909/89 "2008-12-07T02:29:03Z")
> [@Indistinguishable](#): > > Boy, you have a real problem with typing “http://” twice in a row. Anyway, I’ve fixed your links. I copied the links and dropped them in using the “insert link” button, seemingly not taking into account the fact that it’s already in there and doesn’t replace but adds. Gracias. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2008, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-curvy-body-look-like/475909/90 "2008-12-07T03:14:28Z")
Anyone else curious to know what the girl from the OP turned out to look like? ---
**Author:** ![straight\_man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straight_man/32/3027_2.png) [@straight\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straight_man)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2008, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-curvy-body-look-like/475909/91 "2008-12-07T03:41:31Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > Those of you getting bent out of shape by this thread, if you don’t look like a 12-year old boy, the criticism really isn’t about you then, is it? Let’s be fair here –so few people actually have 12yo boy bodies that many petite (in the original sense) women would be inclined to believe you mean them. Not to mention the observation made earlier that if criticism of obese women is unacceptable on the SDMB (as it should be), it’s pretty ridiculous to criticize other body types. Seriously, how many do you know? I’m at an age where I would know more such people than you, and I can think of maybe three women/girls who actually look like 12yo boys. ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2008, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-curvy-body-look-like/475909/92 "2008-12-07T03:41:58Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > Did anybody actually say that size 0 women are all emaciated or look like twelve-year-old boys? > > What **Dread Pirate Jimbo** said was: > > He didn’t say “size 0 women are emaciated and unattractive” he said “emaciated size 0 women are unattractive”. There is a difference between those two statements. > > One can be skinny and healthy looking (as are you **Sleeps With Butterflies** ). This is sexy. However, there is a Hollywood trend (which I think is fading) that the starved look is the acme of sexiness, when in reality, especially when viewed in real life, it’s not attractive at all. Sickly just isn’t sexy. Obviously, YMMV. I was trying to think of an eloquent way of responding, but you have done an excellent job for me. My sentiments exactly! Thanks, **fachverwirrt**! To follow up, IIRC, I’ve heard that the average woman in Hollywood is a size two, whereas the average actual American woman is 5’4", 145lbs (that would be, what, around a size 10 or 12?). The standard they are pushing is completely unrealistic for most women and, just as importantly, most men prefer someone with more pronounced curves – again, IIRC, the typical guy is most attracted to a woman with a 0.7 waist-to-hips ratio and an ample bosom. So the standard presented to us and the reality of what the typical guy likes are two very different things. A couple case studies: When I see someone like [Debra Messing](http://images.askmen.com/galleries/actress/debra-messing/pictures/debra-messing-picture-2.jpg) or [Gwyneth Paltrow](http://www.myfatspouse.com/skinny/paltrow.jpg) on the small or big screen, I feel compelled to yell “eat a friggin’ cheesburger!” at the screen, because I fear that if they were to ever skip a meal (which I assume is something like a small Chai tea, four almonds, and a cigarette) they’d pass out from starvation. That doesn’t look good to me. Years ago, when “Friends” hit the air, my nerd friends and I had a conversation about who the hottest girl on the show was and we didn’t just agree that [Jennifer Aniston](http://gallery.celebritypro.com/data/media/89/jennifer-aniston-1995-george-holz-3.jpg) was hottest, we also debated whether she was the hottest women in entertainment at the time. Much of that had to do with her spectacular, curvy body. By the end of the series, however, [she](http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2007/stylewatch/best_dresses/jennifer_aniston200.jpg) had lost something like 30lbs and had gone from female ideal to… well… I wouldn’t kick her out of bed, but… [Jennifer Love Hewitt](http://www.celebcrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/jennifer-love-hewitt.jpg) complained very loudly that she was a petite little size 2 already when the [pics of her](http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2007/specials/yearend/bestofstartracks/jennifer_love_hewitt.jpg) looking all “bloated” and “fat” in here bikini surfaced a while back. She said there was no reason for her to lose weight and that she was perfectly happy with her body. And, let’s be honest, her wandering around in plunging necklines on “Ghost Whisperer” is probably one of the top two (two of the top two?) reasons the show is still on the air. And let’s be further honest – there’s hardly a man alive who would’ve said no to the woman in that “fat” bikini shot. Then come fall, she’s on the cover of some magazine proudly revealing that she managed to drop 17lbs over the summer and is [newly svelte](http://content7.flixster.com/photo/11/26/22/11262249_ori.jpg) and far, far less curvy. I remember seeing an interview with the very hot [Katherine Heigl](http://attractivefemales.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/katherine-heigl-3.jpg) where she admitted to being a size 8 and that she was under constant pressure by her superiors to drop a few sizes, which she was steadfastly refusing to do (kudos!), but I frankly wouldn’t be too surprised if she bows to the pressure eventually and starts dropping cup sizes as well. **Sleeps With Butterflie** s also seems to be suggesting that a person who looks like [Nigella Lawson](http://www.celebchefs.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/nigella2.jpg) is obese, although I’m perhaps overstating her reaction to my post somewhat (Maybe she’s just generalizing about an attitude she has observed on this board to which I have not yet been exposed). If I had to guess, Nigella’s probably slightly below average for her weight and she is, to put it mildly, a goddess. But she is not at all the “typical” shape you see on television. Anyway, I prefer the curves being discussed in this thread, but that’s just personal preference. I’m not defending obese people, nor am I criticizing people who are particularly thin. I am, however, tired of being told that one is supremely hot and everything else is supremely ugly, especially when my opinion does not agree with the propaganda. However, there are no absolutes when it comes to appearances and body type is simply one aspect of the whole thing. There are plenty of attractive people in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. I happen to prefer the curvier ones. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2008, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-curvy-body-look-like/475909/93 "2008-12-07T03:44:24Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > That’s not entirely true; if she came and cooked for both of us, I think we could work something out. 🙂 > \ I’ll send her an e-mail with the good news right away! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2008, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-curvy-body-look-like/475909/94 "2008-12-07T04:02:47Z")
> [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](#): > > **Sleeps With Butterflie** s also seems to be suggesting that a person who looks like [Nigella Lawson](http://www.celebchefs.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/nigella2.jpg) is obese, although I’m perhaps overstating her reaction to my post somewhat (Maybe she’s just generalizing about an attitude she has observed on this board to which I have not yet been exposed). If I had to guess, Nigella’s probably slightly below average for her weight and she is, to put it mildly, a goddess. But she is not at all the “typical” shape you see on television. > > Anyway, I prefer the curves being discussed in this thread, but that’s just personal preference. I’m not defending obese people, nor am I criticizing people who are particularly thin. I am, however, tired of being told that one is supremely hot and everything else is supremely ugly, especially when my opinion does not agree with the propaganda. However, there are no absolutes when it comes to appearances and body type is simply one aspect of the whole thing. There are plenty of attractive people in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. I happen to prefer the curvier ones. 🙂 Nigella looks slimmer in that picture you linked than in the previous picture. In that one (the first one linked earlier), yea, I would call her overweight, not average (says someone who is/was overweight). Yours she certainly looks average. IIRC, a woman who is 5’4" and 145 is at a healthy weight (going by BMI, at least). I know a woman who weights that much but is 5’1" is overweight (as I’ve been). And when I weighted that, my jeans ranged from 6 to 10, depending on the brand. I don’t think **Sleeping with Butterflies** was suggesting anything like what you said, and I understand her point of view. But it irks me, even though I’m in no way slender/thin/skinny, that people keep putting pictures up like those I commented on earlier as “curvy”. And btw, I’ve seen ugly curvy women (not a pretty face). And I’ve seen pretty women who are NOT curvy. And again, I don’t think any of the women linked in this thread are ugly… but many of them aren’t curvy! ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2008, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-curvy-body-look-like/475909/95 "2008-12-07T05:58:13Z")
Note that fat is not necessarily curvy. Some fat women are round, with plushly convex breasts, bellies, & buttocks. Others are boxy. Oh, there are curves, but they don’t stand out through clothing. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2008, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-curvy-body-look-like/475909/96 "2008-12-07T14:52:36Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > That’s not entirely true; if she came and cooked for both of us, I think we could work something out. 🙂 > > Those of you getting bent out of shape by this thread, if you don’t look like a 12-year old boy, the criticism really isn’t about you then, is it? I made the comment about the 12 year old boy thing, but I’m not bent out of shape by this thread seeing how I consider myself at least somewhat curvy despite being slender. My curves just aren’t all that apparent when I’m dressed. It _is_ irritating to see petite women constantly likened to boys, though. What, they can’t even be compared to 12 year old girls? That’s the irritating thing to me. A lot of women have those body types. They don’t look like boys to me. They look like women, just not the curvy kind. ---
**Author:** ![Spezza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Spezza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spezza)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2008, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-curvy-body-look-like/475909/97 "2008-12-07T15:11:24Z")
> [@nyctea scandiaca](#): > > [These girls](http://www.bigmoves.org/images/bigchill1.jpg) would probably be considered curvy. Those girls are fat. Each and every single last one of them. While it is all really subjective, here is the brutal truth of the matter. Curvy is fat without handles of fat. Overweight is FAT. Obese is disgustingly fat. A few extra pounds should mean curvy, usually it means fat. Skinny means either skinny or curvy. Athletic means anything from skinny (but they never work out, they’re just lucky) to curvy (I work out because otherwise I’d be FAT) to chiseled to perfection Adonis. For what it is worth, I’m skinny / athletic. You figure it out. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2008, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-curvy-body-look-like/475909/98 "2008-12-07T15:51:50Z")
> [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](#): > > **Sleeps With Butterflie** s also seems to be suggesting that a person who looks like [Nigella Lawson](http://www.celebchefs.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/nigella2.jpg) is obese, although I’m perhaps overstating her reaction to my post somewhat. Perhaps you can let me know where you got the idea I was suggesting that about Nigella? Here is what I said: > [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > Everyone is entitled to a preference, and Nigella is certainly very pretty although not really what I think of when I think of curvy. In the picture of her that you posted, she seems to be quite thinner that many of the pictures I’ve seen of her. Most assuredly thinner than the picture of her corseted into the blue dress earlier in the thread. In the picture you posted, she certainly seems to be of a normal weight for her height. In the other picture, she is overweight. Very pretty lady, just more than what I would consider curvy. > [@featherlou](#): > > Those of you getting bent out of shape by this thread, if you don’t look like a 12-year old boy, the criticism really isn’t about you then, is it? So something has to be about me for me to point out the hypocrisy on the board when it comes to weight issues? Are we going to hold everyone to this rule from now on? I find it rude when people go into threads about weight and get nasty about overweight people, it would just be nice if everyone would realize that it’s just as rude and ignorant to belittle folks on the other end of the spectrum. I’d hope that’s not too much to ask. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-curvy-body-look-like/475909/99 "2008-12-07T16:11:50Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > Those of you getting bent out of shape by this thread, if you don’t look like a 12-year old boy, the criticism really isn’t about you then, is it? > [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > So something has to be about me for me to point out the hypocrisy on the board when it comes to weight issues? Are we going to hold everyone to this rule from now on? I sure hope not. Otherwise this board would probably grind down to about 3 posts per day. I am inclined to cut featherlou some slack as I think she was being light when she said that, but I have to agree with SWB that it is a ridiculous idea to support. We would be left with only IMHO and about 10% of GQ if that were the case. ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-curvy-body-look-like/475909/100 "2008-12-07T16:23:13Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > In the picture of her that you posted, she seems to be quite thinner that many of the pictures I’ve seen of her. Most assuredly thinner than the picture of her corseted into the blue dress earlier in the thread. In the picture you posted, she certainly seems to be of a normal weight for her height. In the other picture, she is overweight. Very pretty lady, just more than what I would consider curvy. I agree that Nigella looks like she weighs more in the blue dress picture than in the t-shirt picture, but she is definitely curvy in both pictures. When you say Nigella is “more than what I would consider curvy”, I don’t think you’re understanding how many of the people in this thread are using the term. I think the point is that you can be overweight and curvy, or average weight and curvy, or slim and curvy. Curvy is almost completely independent of body weight - curvy is how your weight is distributed (hourglass shape). Nigella might be somewhat overweight in that dress picture, but she most assuredly is curvy. Large chest and hips, with a definite curve inward at the waist - low waist to hip ratio. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-curvy-body-look-like/475909.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-curvy-body-look-like/475909.md?page=6)