Allure Magazines Naked Photo Spread: Out of Touch with “Average” Woman

Let me just put it out there; I have always been a size 10 or 12. I love my Latina hips and Mexican food. I do not have the perfect body, but I guess my husband thinks I do. How sweet!

Now note to Allure Magazine: The “average” woman is not perfect.

So if I see another nude photo of some Hollywood starlet or model and they claim they have “body image issues”…. I’m going to puke. The latest photo spread in Allure magazine is five female stars who talk about their own body issues. What body issues?

Their black and white photos are part of Allure’s “Body Image”  magazine. This May issue does NOT help the “average” woman feel better. It may get a bunch of men all hot and bothered.

We're supposed to relate to Heidi Klum, the supermodel? Who after four kids still has the perfect body. No, I can’t relate.

We're supposed to relate to Maria Menounos who claims she’s had issues “stripping down” naked? Yeah right? Nope can’t relate to this Dancing with the Stars contestant.

Here's what AnnieOK wrote on Allure's website:

“There were several comments on morning shows about how "brave" these women were. Size 2 or less, with professional hair, makeup and photographer -- not to mention photoshop. How brave does that make a person? Stand in my bathroom light, with all flaws on display and then we'll talk brave. These kind of staged photos just make real women feel worse about what are supposedly "normal" bodies and faces.”

The "Average" Woman Is Not Perfect

A better issue would have been one likea few years ago, where Jamie Lee Curtis posed for MORE magazine in 2002. She was minus make-up, fancy hair, fancy clothing or even good lighting. She posed in a sports bra and spandex undies.

Curtis told More "I have very big breasts and a soft, fatty little tummy. And I've got back fat." Now that’s keeping it real.

If Allure wants to make “average” women like us feel better about ourselves, don’t give us the perfect woman in a nude photo telling me about her “problems.” Remember these stars can afford the trainers, make up artists, personal chefs and the list goes on.

We need to see women who are size 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, plus size, with real “body image” issues.

Another piece of advice for those editors at Allure: Walk down to Time Square and see how the “average” woman really looks like. They should be your inspiration for next years issue. 

Rebecca Aguilar is a multiple Emmy Award winning journalist, a blogger and the Founder of Wise Latinas Linked.  One of the largest networking groups of Latinas on Facebook and Linkedin.