Ain't She Sweet (Seven Brides for Seven Mothers #2) - Whitney Dineen Page 0,56

you have, right? I mean you look a little healthier than you used to.” Rachel sounds like she’s one hundred percent in support of Tara’s new figure.

“I’ve gained eighteen pounds in the last year,” Tara says plainly. “If I keep going I’ll be wearing double digits by next year. But, and you might want to write this down, it was not healthy for me to be so skinny. I barely ever had a period and I had to take an iron supplement because I was anemic. Of course I never told my mom about the period thing or she would have force-fed me.”

“Do you think the fashion industry has unrealistic expectations of beauty?” Rachel asks.

“I don’t know,” Tara answers sarcastically, “Is the sky blue? Is the earth round? Of course, I think the fashion industry has an unrealistic standard of beauty.”

“But we live in a time where there are plus-size models. Doesn’t that speak to more open minds?”

Tara answers, “In the nineteen-eighties the goal for straight-size models was to be a size six or eight. In the nineties, when the plus-size modeling industry took off, that ideal changed to a size two or four, almost like mainstream fashion was rebelling over the acceptance that anyone could be considered beautiful. Like mainstream fashion was worried women would start accepting themselves rather than look to the fashion industry to decide their worth.”

“But there are more plus-size models than ever and, from what I understand, they range anywhere from a size eight to a size twenty and higher.”

Tara asks, “Do you think a size eight should be considered plus size? Why do you think that cosmetic brands and high fashion designers rarely use plus-size models?”

“I don’t know, why?”

“Because they’re trying to remind people that beauty is an exclusive commodity that you can only really hope to have if you’re thin and you buy their product.”

“That sounds kind of bitter,” Rachel says.

“I’m not bitter,” Tara assures her. “I left the industry on my own. I was tired of being hungry and I was tired of participating in such an unrealistic ideal. What size are you?” she asks the reporter. “I would guess you’re five eight and a size ten.”

“You’d be right,” Rachel answers back.

“And I bet you want to lose weight?” Tara guesses.

“Maybe ten pounds or so. I don’t obsess over it though.”

Tara shakes her head. “You don’t need to lose an ounce. You look great the way you are. That’s why I wanted out. There are enough reasons for women to feel insecure without having their size constantly thrown in their face.”

Rachel writes in her notebook for a minute before turning to me and asking, “What do you think, James? Do you like the way Tara looks?”

“I think Tara is a goddess,” I tell her honestly. “Men don’t care what size women are as much as women do. We’re much more basic than that. While I’m on the subject, I might as well let you know that we think false eyelashes and giant drawn-on eyebrows are a little creepy.”

Tara starts to laugh before telling Rachel, “Looks like all the things we say we’re doing to be more attractive to the opposite sex are in vain if they don’t care.”

“Maybe women are doing it for themselves,” Rachel suggests.

“Maybe the beauty and fashion industries make billions of dollars because of our insecurities. Making women feel like they’re not good enough is a profitable business, Rachel. I’m not suggesting the fashion industry shouldn’t exist, I’m simply saying they need to support all kinds of beauty and celebrate women instead of making them feel less than.”

Wow, this conversation is getting kind of deep, but it’s also making me see a side of Tara that I downright love. She’s a crusader for self-acceptance. I suggest, “Why don’t you take some pictures of Tara in something that shows off her new figure, so your readers can see how comfortable she is with herself?”

Rachel looks at Tara and excitedly asks, “What do you think? Would you be up for that?”

“Absolutely,” Tara replies. “Just name the place. But keep in mind I want to add a stipulation to the contract that says you aren’t allowed to Photoshop those pictures in any way.”

Rachel shakes her hand. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”

All seems to have turned out well and I’m about to exhale the breath I feel like I’ve been holding all morning when Rachel says, “How about a swimsuit shot with both of you?”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Gwen

After parking her car and tightening her shoelaces,