# Who's the best example of "voluptuous"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 11, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-best-example-of-voluptuous/646888 "2013-01-11T19:08:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-best-example-of-voluptuous/646888/101 "2013-01-28T17:42:22Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Voluptuous is NOT restricted to a curvaceous figure. > > … …and it doesn’t get much more curvaceous, luxurious and sensual than watching [Nigella Lawson whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHnVaBOLOg8). ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-best-example-of-voluptuous/646888/102 "2013-01-28T17:59:52Z")
There’s been some additional discussion on this topic at [Voluptuous Women – Part 2 – Your Top Five All-Time](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=679067) and another multiple-choice poll at [Your Top Five All-Time Voluptuous Women](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=680061) If needed (or wanted) we might go to yet another poll. I’m monitoring each of these threads for additional ideas. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-best-example-of-voluptuous/646888/103 "2013-01-28T18:29:29Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > There’s been some additional discussion … > > If needed (or wanted) we might go to yet another poll. I’m monitoring each of these threads for additional ideas. :smack: Oops. I’m weeks behind the rest of you. That’s the story of my life. I _might_ be able to find three acceptable women in your Top Five polling list, but I will abstain until Scarlett Johansson and Rita Hayworth are added to the list so I can round out my Top Five. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-best-example-of-voluptuous/646888/104 "2013-01-28T18:47:46Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > :smack: Oops. I’m weeks behind the rest of you. That’s the story of my life. > > I _might_ be able to find three acceptable women in your Top Five polling list, but I will abstain until Scarlett Johansson and Rita Hayworth are added to the list so I can round out my Top Five. 😃 Your choices are good examples of women who have made other lists (see links in the other threads for them) but whose SDMB vote-getting power has yet to reach a “significant” level. With the SDMB polls favoring the ladies in this next list, maybe another poll that omits them and allows for something in the range of a “second tier” might be worth a try. How does that sort of thing sound? To be omitted in the next poll: Brigitte Bardot Monica Bellucci Salma Hayek Christina Hendricks Nigella Lawson Sophia Loren Jayne Mansfield Ann-Margret Marilyn Monroe Dolly Parton Jessica Rabbit Jane Russell Laura San Giacomo Sofia Vergara Raquel Welch Other than these “front runners” who needs to be in the next poll? ---
**Author:** ![Jimi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Jimi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimi)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-best-example-of-voluptuous/646888/105 "2013-01-28T18:54:57Z")
A close call between Hendricks and Jolie,Hendricks got my vote cos she makes my legs turn to jelly. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-best-example-of-voluptuous/646888/106 "2013-01-28T20:24:11Z")
> [@Jimi](#): > > A close call between Hendricks and Jolie,Hendricks got my vote cos she makes my legs turn to jelly. Seen Jolie in the last two years? She can’t weigh 100lbs, and her arms are skinnier than a soda can. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-best-example-of-voluptuous/646888/107 "2013-01-29T07:14:43Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > With the SDMB polls favoring the ladies in this next list, maybe another poll that omits them and allows for something in the range of a “second tier” might be worth a try. > > How does that sort of thing sound? Unnecessary and over-complicated. I’ll just accept that Misses Johansson and Hayworth didn’t quite make the cut. Anyway, I’ll try to find five acceptable women from the Top Tier. 😃 I must admit that Christina Hendricks (whom I’d never heard of before :smack: – have I mentioned that I’m a recluse near an Asian jungle with no TV?) is certainly awesome! From the Internet, I see she is 36DD-32-36. Comparing this with Monroe’s 35-22-35 or Hayworth’s 36-24-36 (each almost as tall as Hendricks), I’m left wondering what statistic best explains Hendricks’ awesomeness. Surely, it’s not just an optical illusion! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Jimi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Jimi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimi)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-best-example-of-voluptuous/646888/108 "2013-01-30T14:40:06Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Seen Jolie in the last two years? She can’t weigh 100lbs, and her arms are skinnier than a soda can. That’s what I don’t understand,it’s amazing the amount of women who diet too extremely,she knows she is drop dead gorgeous yet goes vastly underweight,why,I’ll never know. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-best-example-of-voluptuous/646888/109 "2013-01-30T17:12:39Z")
On the off chance you’ve been reading this thread and haven’t been one of the 263 to have voted in the poll, this is a reminder that the poll will close tomorrow. Thanks to the 263! The results have been fascinating. Here’s how they sort: ```auto View Poll Results: Who is the best example of voluptuous? This poll will close on 01-31-2013 at 01:11 PM Christina Hendricks 127 48.29% Salma Hayek 26 9.89% Marilyn Monroe 26 9.89% Sophia Loren 22 8.37% you name her 17 6.46% Raquel Welch 11 4.18% Jayne Mansfield 11 4.18% Monica Bellucci 9 3.42% Brigitte Bardot 5 1.90% Ann-Margret 4 1.52% Jane Russell 2 0.76% Anita Ekberg 2 0.76% Elizabeth Taylor 1 0.38% Angelina Jolie 0 0% Voters: 263 ``` ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-best-example-of-voluptuous/646888/110 "2013-01-30T18:20:45Z")
Are we allowed to campaign in the thread? I doubt Ms. Hendricks’ lead can be overcome, but I am so shocked about her victory, I almost want to complain in BBQ Pit ! :smack: :rolleyes: Is [Sophia Loren](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ02Avjygqc) less voluptuous than Christina? How about [Rita Hayworth](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q1SMBjfSjI)? I tried to find clips for Christina Hendricks. The first hit on Youtube has the comment “Christina Hendricks in 'La Cucina 2007. I do have the rest of the movie, but this is pretty much as exciting as it gets!” which seems apt sarcasm. [Here Christina Hendricks definitely has sex appeal](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOGYtCRMpek) but the opening seconds mainly show her as fat. I do realize that “voluptuous” is sometimes used as a euphemism for “fat” but that’s not its definition: [QUOTE=The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition] vo·lup·tu·ous adj. 1. Giving, characterized by, or suggesting ample, unrestrained pleasure to the senses: voluptuous sculptural forms; a voluptuous ripe fruit; a full, voluptuous figure. 2. a. Devoted to or indulging in sensual pleasures. b. Directed toward or anticipating sensual pleasure: voluptuous thoughts. c. Arising from or contributing to the satisfaction of sensuous or sensual desires. See Synonyms at sensuous. [Middle English, from Old French voluptueux, from Latin voluptusus, full of pleasure, from volupts, pleasure; see wel-1 in Indo-European roots.] vo·luptu·ous·ly adv. vo·luptu·ous·ness n. copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. [/QUOTE] Type “voluptuous woman” into Google Images and you will see skinny as well as fat women. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-best-example-of-voluptuous/646888/111 "2013-01-30T18:41:10Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Are we allowed to campaign in the thread? I doubt Ms. Hendricks’ lead can be overcome, but I am so shocked about her victory, I almost want to complain in BBQ Pit ! :smack: :rolleyes: > > Is [Sophia Loren](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ02Avjygqc) less voluptuous than Christina? How about [Rita Hayworth](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q1SMBjfSjI)? > > I tried to find clips for Christina Hendricks. The first hit on Youtube has the comment “Christina Hendricks in 'La Cucina 2007. I do have the rest of the movie, but this is pretty much as exciting as it gets!” which seems apt sarcasm. [Here Christina Hendricks definitely has sex appeal](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOGYtCRMpek) but the opening seconds mainly show her as fat. I do realize that “voluptuous” is sometimes used as a euphemism for “fat” but that’s not its definition: > > \<\< clipped \>\> > > Type “voluptuous woman” into Google Images and you will see skinny as well as fat women. Not to press the point too much, but [in the OP I said:](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15889014&postcount=1) > [@](#): > > Assume that you’re trying to explain to someone what it means to be voluptuous and that they have trouble with dictionary definitions of such words. > > Who would you pick as the prime example? An interpretation of what I was trying to say (and what I’m assuming a large percentage of the Voters have said) is that “If Christina Hendricks (or whoever) isn’t _voluptuous_, then I don’t know who is.” As always, YMMV. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-best-example-of-voluptuous/646888.md?page=5)