I don't see anything unrealistic about that woman. She's a actually the "normal" one.

unrealistic body image? Are you for real? Just because not every woman is twenty pounds overweight, doesn't mean a NORMAL SIZED woman is UNREALISTIC. You know, it's SAD that being overweight is the NORMAL now. When they show an untouched image of a REAL healthy woman, she's still getting heat. Why? Because she's in SHAPE. Maybe people like you, and the rest of the world that thinks she's an unrealistic body image, should quit getting on the computer to blast skinny healthy girls while stuffing your face with hagen-das and quit trying to convince yourself she's not really pretty and go run around the block a couple times. Maybe then, when you feel better about YOURSELF, you'll quit spewing your hatred whenever you see someone actually GOOD looking.

I just want to thank you for your comments. You are the FIRST person I have seen reply to one of these things with an open mind that some who are overweight may have health problems. I am obese and I do have health problems that cause a lot of it. Thank you for realizing that not all of us who are over size 14 can just diet to change it. I have been called every name in the book used to describe a fat person and it really hurts to be judged so without the facts being shown. You seem to have a common sense head on your shoulders! Good for you.

good point lambchop220.. why is an overweight body image considered a "normal" body image?? why should a plus size model represent "realistic"? most of the women that im close to happen to have nice bodies, some work out some dont but they are all normal (i dont know any models.. ha)

I support Lambchop220. We as Americans think we can overindulge in anything (eating, spending, OPINIONS)! I am not an overweight or underweight woman, but have been. I have a positive body image. What I dont understand is people who think you HAVE to be a size 12 to have a positive body image?! I am 5'0" tall and was teased when I was a size 10. I didnt feel good physically, and knew I was not healthy. When I became healthy and realized I was sabotaging myself with poor eating habits, I was teased again. I had friends ask me of I was doing drugs!?

We torture people by saying we are size obsessed nation so put real women on magazines. This model IS a real woman who probably doesn't have as many hang-ups as all these people speaking negatively about her beautiful body. Get over yourselves, and get healthy.

At 40 my body still looks like this models. I have had this figure my whole life. I consider myself normal.

I am not quite sure you understand the point. This is not about having only plus sized women on there as some statement of womanhood. I believe you that you are not overweight, but I am also guessing that you dont look at thing like this girl either. That is the point. They are not using real women, they are just using the small percentage of women in the world lucky enough to be miss universe even without make up or airbrushing. No one is saying that they MUST use some fat woman with rolls. But saying that this is genius because they are showing a young 20s Miss Universe is really over-stepping what Marie Claire thought they were accomplishing. Not to burst your bubble honey, but I am guessing you without air brushing is not a magazine seller :)

I'm not an overweight woman either. I actually am a swimsuit and glamour model, and I'm about Jennifer's size... but I STILL don't agree with the message Marie Claire is sending with this photo. They use a picture of a woman who obviously doesn't NEED to be retouched... and then pride themselves on publishing an unretouched photo? That makes zero sense. It's not about "normal" women... we're all normal women. I'm a size 4, and I'm still a normal woman. But, the least they could do is uplift the AVERAGE woman. There's a difference between "normal" and "average"; and, while Jennifer may be normal, she is certainly not the average sized American woman.

I do agree with lampchop220. There's nothing wrong with looking average or in my case slender. I was criticized for looking thin, but it is genetics. Not everyone that is overweight is due to genetics. There are diseases and drugs that can cause a person to become overweight. Perhaps if people would communicate with younger girls on their development they wouldn't be concerned with this idea of looking "average." The reality is females come in many shapes and sizes. Not all females are overweight or very skinny.

THANK you, Lambchop. You are brilliant. And, to Jennifer, I, (and I'm pretty sure so did Lambchop, and any sane not-green-with-envy person here) got the point that people like you are trying to drill into everyones heads. I'm not overweight, you're right. No, I don't look like her, we all look different; but I can GUARANTEE you, if I was standing in a room with this woman, I would NOT feel green, and I would NOT feel bad about myself. She looks normal. Not every woman is ugly either. I wouldn't call it luck. And of course her without airbrushing wouldn't be a mag seller. HELL, I bet her WITH it wouldn't...or me. OR YOU. Why? Because no one KNOWS us. Not because we are ugly. Sorry to burst YOUR bubble, but I think you're a bit sour.

It was sarcasm, reread the article.

excellent!