BY SHEILA POOLE
It seems actress Tia Mowry is the latest celebrity victim of body-shaming.
Mowry, best known as one half of “Sister, Sister” and for her role on “The Game,” has put on a few pounds, which she says is due to her cooking show and being “happy,” according to an article in the Los Angeles Times.
"Guys, I am not pregnant, I'm just happy," the actress and host of "Tia Mowry at Home" told HuffPost Live. "I've gained these extra whatever 10 (or) 15 pounds because of my cooking show. I eat my food. I'm just enjoying life and when I want to drop the pounds, I will, but right now I'm happy with who I am."
Mowry went on to criticize societal standards. “We live in a society that is so obsessed with being perfect.” she said.
Welcome to the curvy girls club, Tia.
You will find there’s not a lot of tolerance for those – especially women and especially celebrities - who have a lot more to love.
Jessica Simpson knows.
Oprah knows.
Recently, “Empire” actress Gabourey Sidibe was hit with criticism following a sex scene with another character, J-Poppa , on the show. (Big props for including that scene, Lee Daniels.)
As for the complaints, a highly confident Sidibe warned haters not to come for her . She’s faced them before when people criticized her look at award shows.
"Also, yes. I, a plus sized, dark-skinned woman, had a love scene on primetime television," she wrote in her blog in Entertainment Weekly . "I had the most fun ever filming that scene even though I was nervous. But I felt sexy and beautiful and I felt like I was doing a good job. I'm very proud of the work we all did to make that scene a great opening for the episode. I keep hearing that people are "hating" on it. I'm not sure how anyone could hate on love but that's okay. You may have your memes. Honestly, I'm at work too busy to check Twitter anyway. #Booked. Hope you enjoy next week's show!"
"There has been a rise in the confidence message of love your body and plus-sized women are being more declarative about their bodies and who they are," said Marie Denee, of Atlanta, who writes a plus-size fashion and lifestyle blog called "The Curvy Fashionista."
At the same time, “people in some fashion feel they need to put plus-size women in their place. ‘How dare you have confidence and love your body when I still have my issues’.”
Social media has made it easier for people to shame others and say things they wouldn’t dare say to a person’s face.
“I applaud them for standing up. These are women we have looked up to, admired and grown up with,” Denee said. “For them to call that out and say this is wrong, that one act will do so much for the women who may be getting bullied at school or at home.”
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