Robyn Lawley, Plus-Size Model w/o a "Leg Gap" -- Ellen DeGeneres Talk Show 11/5/13

I was inspired to write about a story I watched on the Ellen DeGeneres talk show on November 5^th, about a new “plus-size” model dealing w/controversy for being a size 12.  Robyn Lawley, originally from Australia, began her modeling career trying desperately to lose weight after numerous negative comments were made by agents, modeling agencies, etc. encouraging her to lose more weight,  however she finally decided it was best to love herself the way she is and embrace her fuller figure.   At 6’2” and a U.S. size 12, she was called a “pig”, “hefty” and “too fat” on a Facebook photo.  Why?  Because she is a size 12 and did not have a “leg gap”.  Apparently society feels a woman isn’t skinny if when standing with your feet together, you do not have a gap between your thighs.  This seems absurd to me when statistics state the average size for women in the U.S. is around a size 12 or 14.   Women are consistently being critiqued either being put down for being too big or ridiculed for being too thin.  In watching this episode and doing additional internet searches on this model, the claim seems to be a value based claim, that this obsession about weight should not be the main focus for women and men alike and also could be seen as a policy claim about how things need to change when it comes to images of an ideal woman.  It seems this was a pathos form, trying to get viewers passionate about how wrong this obsession about weight is and we would be better off to spend our time doing and thinking about things that are more positive.