In an article in a national newspaper today, ‘nutritionist’ Monica Grenfell launched what in my opinion was a vile attack on a 17 year old girl.
Chloe Marshall, size 16, has reached the finals of the Miss England Beauty Pageant, a pageant which Ms Grenfell has previously judged.
At 5ft 10 weighing 12st 8lb, Chloe has become a self professed ambassador for curves, and says,
“All I wanted to do by entering this pageant was to send a message out to young girls that it is fine NOT to be a size zero. ”
Anyone see the harm in that?
Or like me do you believe that it is important that our children have role models of all shapes and sizes, and that they should be encouraged to love themselves and believe they are valuable whatever their appearance and abilities?
Yes I want my kids to be healthy, but I place a huge amount of importance on their mental health as well as physical, so self image and esteem is vital in them being a whole and happy person.
Well Ms Grenfell brands Chloe’s statement as “a load or rubbish.”
She says “Who on earth does she think she’s kidding? What she’s demonstrating isn’t bravery, but a shocking lack of self-control. Instead of flaunting her figure, Chloe ought to own up to the truth. She is fat and she got that way by overeating.”
She goes on to say that when she judged last year’s Miss England, she was impressed not only by the girls beauty, ‘but by the skills, dedication and determination of the contestants.’ She states that many of the entrants had raised huge amounts of money for charity…
“They shone out as women to be admired. But can the same really be said of Chloe?”
Erm, I don’t know Ms Grenfell, because after posing that question, and enlightening us with the fact that you didn’t judge on appearance alone, you go on to tell us nothing more about Chloe except that she’s overweight, and because of her, many more young girls will feel it acceptable to be ‘fat’ and ‘lazy’ too. Isn’t that exactly what you are doing by not elucidating on Chloe’s other qualities that may, or may not, be equally altruistic?
Having had a difficult relationship with food all my life, including struggling with eating disorders and self image, I am amazed that this apparently educated woman would react so vehemently to an attractive young girl, who has argued that she exercises regularly and eats a healthy diet but is simply not meant to be a size ten, or twelve or lower, (she’s 5 foot 10 for God’s sake).
What’s the problem?
Chloe is a size 16, the UK average. She looks healthy and happy. Why are people who don’t fit the ‘ideal’ not allowed to celebrate themselves?
I wonder if Ms Grenfell’s reaction could have anything to do with her trying to market her range of diet books such as ‘Crash Diet’, where she claims you can ‘lose 7lbs in 7 days’?
7lbs in 7 days.
Is that healthy?
Read Ms Grenfell’s article here and see what you think.