Bloggers & Body Image

I've been very weary of writing this post.  One, it's been done on similar levels before.  Two, it's controversial.  Today I want to discuss bloggers and body image.

I want to preface this by telling my background on my own body image.  Growing up, I was generally average with little baby fat.  Once I got to middle school, it went away and I became more lean.  I was a swimmer throughout middle and high school, so I stayed active.  However, I was always teased about my clothes being too tight and I was even told that "if I didn't lose weight, boys wouldn't like me and girls wouldn't want to be my friend."  That's always stayed with me and I have always had a complex about my body and especially my weight.  I won't say that I am "cured," but I am mostly fine with my curves these days. 

There is a problem in the blogging world.

Of all of the blogs I read, I would guess that 75% of the women are under a size 6.  They may vary in height, but they are generally thin.  Look at the bloggers getting the collaborations with large companies like TJ Maxx, Barney's, David Yurman, Mango, and Ralph Lauren.  I have yet to see a curvy or plus-sized blogger star in a major campaign.  (Side note: Curvy and plus-sized are not mutually exclusive.  You can be plus-sized and curvy, but just because you're curvy doesn't mean you're plus-sized.)

Since I read this post on Love Maegan, I've been extremely intrigued about bloggers and their take on body image.  As women, I think we should be proud of our bodies, no matter what the size. (I apologize if this gets a little too "after-school special.")  I think we should be confident and work with what we have.  As fashion bloggers, our skills, style, and writing shouldn't be judged by our skirt size.  Believe me, I may have some hip and butt action, but I have worked in retail, been educated at FIT, and know how to style an oufit.  I may be a size 10, but that doesn't change the fact that I am a good at what I do.

So instead of me ranting any further, I think I'll let the following speak for itself.  Below are pictures of some of the top 10 fashion bloggers according to Bloglovin'.

Fashion Toast

Fashion Chalet

The Blonde Salad

The Fashion Squad

In no way do I mean to attack these bloggers.  They each have their own blog and I'm sure they all have worked hard to get where they are.  I'm just pondering if their long legs helped them get there.  We all know this problem translates (or maybe stems from) the fashion industry with the young and thin idealism.  We all know there is pressure put on young women and teenagers to fit this look.  Let's take a look at Crystal Renn:

BEFORE

AFTER

Excuse me, Miss Renn, where did you go? She can claim stress, exercise, and healthy diet all day long, but the fact is, she is no longer plus-sized.  Is this a coincidence or is this merely the pressure from the fashion industry?

What are your thoughts on bloggers and body image?  How do you feel about your own body image?  Do you feel that there is a bias toward bloggers that don't have a certain look?