Gabourey Sidibe covered a recent issue of Elle magazine and everyone celebrated as no doubt new ground had been reached. Not only is Gabourey Sidibe an African American woman but she is also a full figured African American woman on the cover of a traditionally White woman’s magazine.
Here is the clincher. Three other White actresses Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried and Lauren Conrad also had simultaneous covers. In all three of their covers they are shown in full body pictures. While with Sidibe, only her face is shown and her body is cropped out. If you are going to do a cover of a full bodied woman then do a cover of a full bodied woman. No one just wants to see her face only. Not everyone is uncomfortable embracing a full figured woman. More annoying is that it is clear that she is being treated differently.
If you are not going to completely celebrate all that is her, meaning her talent, her beauty, her personality and her body then why even choose her? It is unfair to put up the mock impression that you accept her when in reality you are not completely comfortable with all that is her. Although I am happy that Sidibe is gaining more exposure and has landed new roles I am not impressed with the half ass way she is treated at times because of her weight.
It is as if some publications are afraid to fully embrace her because they do not want to face the mockery, judgment and disgust that might come from some people for putting a full picture of a big, dark skin Black woman on their cover. Which isn’t shocking to me. Sad but not shocking. Hell while researching for information on Sidibe I saw comments in regards to her on other articles from readers referring to her as a “big Black monkey”.
Could it be that Elle realizes that their mostly White audience is not quite ready to fully embrace a dark skin girl who is overweight so they choose to only give her to them in small doses? Could it be that they like many others assume that we will not be able to find the beauty in Sidibe if her large frame is put on display?
Pics Via: Yahoo
I am a black female, size 14, I used to be a size 22! So I know what it is to dress a large body, and I think that whoever her stylist is needs to be fired. She wears things that don't suit her and I'm in complete agreement about that wig! Terrible! She doesn't have to look bad. When Monique was really big, she ALWAYS looked fly! I'm glad she feels good about herself, but I think that people are being politically correct or at least making a patronizing attempt at it. She could be beautiful physically, she has a beautiful personality, and a great career going. I wish her the best. Gabby, if you read this, FIRE YOUR STYLIST!!!
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