I would assume that it means fat. Ideally it would mean having hips and breasts, but it’s just a euphemism.
I am fat, and I would never call myself curvy because I am not, and never have been, even when I wasn’t fat.
So my thought is that the person has a bigger bust, and hips than they do a waist. They could be a curvy size 6, 14, or 24. But it doesn’t automatically conjur up fat to me.
Agreed.
A healthy weight with some hips and tits. Once the waddles of fat or cellulite show up, it’s not curvy. A scrawny woman is not curvy. You don’t see muscles and tendons well defined if they are curvy.
Top and bottom.
I would say that the girl on the right is a good example of “curvy.”
These girls would probably be considered curvy.
This girl and this girl (from the Dove ads) are curvy.
Here is a funny demotivational poster that describes curvy pretty well.
Curvy used to mean something other than what it seems to mean now, didn’t it? It used to mean an hourglass figure, but now seems to be a polite way of saying overweight; it used to mean Marilyn Monroe but now seems to mean a pre-diet Queen Latifah. Like petite used to mean someone short and small-boned like my aunts, but now you can find clothes that are size 24W marked “petite.”
With the way words have been, um, adjusted, if I were to use an online dating service, I have no idea which descriptive term goes with 37-28-38. I could stand to lose 10 or 15 pounds, but I take it “a few extra pounds” doesn’t really mean a few…
Kate Winslet when she isn’t starving herself for Hollywood.
In clothing sizes, “Petite” means (and has meant for many years–since I was young, and I’m 48 now) clothing proportioned for women shorter than 5’4". It has nothing to do with weight. A 24W petite is proportioned for a short, heavy woman.
It’s so simple. Curvy = large breasts, narrow waist, wide hips. the breasts curve outward, then the waist curves inward, then the hips curve outward. The more pronounced the curves, the curvier you are.
She looks like a pretty Michael Jackson. And yeah, she’s “curvy.”
I did have one woman online describe herself as “Curvy. Like Queen Latiffah.” It’s code for “overwieght and I know it but I like my body anyway.”
Some might say Her
Others would say Her
You’d be closer in my book to say Her
Also in my ballpark is Her
She starts the foot to tapping
She Tops the list.
Along with Her
Curvy is somewhat subjective, to me it means the ultimate in feminine.
Most of those can’t be viewed
With all due respect, nyctea scandiaca, your post shows exactly the confusion in usage of the term. Some of those girls are not curvy. Overweight, yes, fat, yes, ugly, no, hell no, and curvy some of them they sure ain’t.
One can be curvy at many weights… When I weighted more and was a bit fat, I was curvy (waist narrower than hips and bust). Now that I’ve lost some weight (and intend on keep losing it and keeping it off), I’m still damn curvy! My body is curvy… In order to force it against that mold, I would either had to gain or lose a hell lot of weight (not interested).
When I was in high school, one of my classmates was fat. Not curvy, but fat. No shape or form, just fat. She lost weight (good for her!)… and guess what… she was slender/skinny. Not curvy, but thin. Still had no curves. Ugly? Well, since I disliked her personality, she was ugly to me always…
I agree but glad you said it first.
I love Nigella and want to marry her, but my wife won’t let me. 
Nigella is curvy. When I think curvy I don’t think “fat.” I think “woman with tits and hips.” I also think the emaciated Size 0 look that is currently the Hollywood standard for What Is Attractive is decidedly unattractive. I like women to look like women, and not twelve-year-old boys. Just my opinion, though.
When I think curvy, I think of a classic pear-shaped body. Narrow waist, but possessing a big booty and ample thighage. So using this definition apple-shaped people aren’t curvy. Someone must come up with a descriptive, non-insulting word for these folks.
Alicia Keys and Beyonce Knowles (when she’s at her normal weight…and last time I saw her she wasn’t) are two people off the top of my head who aren’t fat but are definitely curvy.
I agree that’s what it’s supposed to mean. Bum around an online dating site though and you’ll notice a difference in usage.
That sucks for the legitimately curvy women out there.
Theres a difference between what curvy really means and what it means when someone describes themselves as curvy. Everyone knows what the word really means, but thats not how its been used since online dating profiles started using those code words for people who just don’t want to admit they are fat. If you are really curvy you don’t say you are curvy, you just show a picture because real curvy is freaking hot.
Joan from Mad Men.