Contest winner: Feed Me!

The copy of Feed Me! Writers Dish About Food, Eating, Weight, and Body Image goes to Angie! The winner was chosen randomly and we've sent her an email about claiming the goods. Check your inbox, Angie.

Thanks to everyone who entered here and as part of our Facebook group. We've got more super fun giveaways coming up soon.

The ALA's Amelia Bloomer List: Empowering Books for Girls

Each year the Feminist Task Force of the American Library Association compiles The Amelia Bloomer List, a list of books that celebrate the strengths of girls and women. I was thrilled to learn that my book, You're Amazing, is one of their 2009 selections!

You can see the full list here. It includes fiction and non-fiction recommendations for early readers, middle readers and young adults.

Jessica Alba: Losing the Baby Weight Was "Horrible"

Jessica Alba is on the cover Elle's March issue. They ask her the obligatory baby weight loss question (not surprisingly, the article includes several baby weight loss mentions). Here's what she had to say:

"I did it for the Campari job. [The workouts] were horrible. I cried. And I haven’t worked out since...I’m not completely back to where I was. It’s not the same, but it’s not that serious. I’d rather spend an evening with my baby and give her a bath and read her stories and watch her roll around than go work out in a gym."

And even with those grueling workouts that brought her to tears, Campari still gave Alba the digital slimdown.

[Elle]

Yes, That's Me With Tommy Lee

I got a few inquiries about Jezebel's hilarious In Fashion resurrection. Guilty as charged. Indeed, I am the chick Tommy Lee is groping. I can officially say that was last time I ever wore a leather miniskirt.

Those were high times in my modeling career, but I was not a happy (or healthy) camper. Consider this a friendly public service announcement. Next time you think it might be nice to have '90s Tommy Lee cupping your ass, remember that the modeling biz is not what it's cracked up to be. So You Wanna Be A Model...

Win It: Feed Me! Writers Dish About Food, Eating, Weight, and Body Image

Magali has an essay in Feed Me!, a new anthology edited by Harriet Brown that includes Kate Harding, Courtney Martin, Amity Gaige, and many other talented writers. You can read an excerpt here.

To celebrate the book's release, we're giving away a copy to one of our lucky readers. To enter, join our Facebook group, sign up for our newsletter, or become a follower of our blog on Blogger and leave a comment letting us know. If you've already done one or all three, just tell us in the comments.

Good luck! We will announce the winner on February 17th.

Inès de la Fressange + Velvet D'Amour: Does Jean Paul Gaultier Really Get It?

Jean Paul Gaultier sent 51-year-old model Inès de la Fressange down his runway in Paris, proving yet again that he puts his money where his mouth is when it comes to highlighting beauty that falls outside the industry standard.

Gaultier hired the the amazing Velvet D'Amour a few years ago, garnering criticism that his choice was a cynical response to the backlash against ultra-thin models. Velvet had a different take:

"JPG has been clear on the statement he was making--that beauty takes many forms... There were some who viewed my appearance as ‘farcical’, or token, but when would any appearance of a genuinely fat person NOT be viewed as such? People of size are utterly banned from any mainstream media (other then the headless, junk food munching, obese [people] witnessed on the evening news every night). There are few, if any, references of inclusion beyond ridicule."

Women of a certain age get similarly ridiculed when they try to be be taken seriously as sex symbols. Just last week, Susan Sarandon dared to wear a low-cut gown to the SAG Awards and got blasted for being age-inappropriate. What. ever. We think she looked hot, as did Inès de la Fressange, who proudly declares that she is not a workout fiend or a plastic surgery addict:

"Winston Churchill always said the best exercise is no exercise so let me put it this way; I do as much exercise as Churchill! And I never do Botox or plastic surgery either."

While we're generally not quick take beauty tips from ol' Churchill, we are officially charmed. Inès also had some pretty spot-on observations about old school vs. new school modeling:

"When I first started modeling the ambiance was like a party, it was so fun. Models like Pat Cleveland and Jerry Hall had so much energy and personality and they had fun together. The runway shows back there were much more upbeat — even in the way we walked down the runway, greeting people, turning, smiling. Now they are just told to look the same and be impersonal. I walk on the runway like I walk down the street."

Here's to beauty of all ages, colors, shapes, and sizes. Here's to fashion that's actually fun. And a very happy Monday to all of you.

Heard on the Runway: Gaultier’s 51-Year-Old Runway Star: Inès de la Fressange

Velvet D'Amour Interview Part I

Velvet D'Amour Interview Part II

51-Year-Old Model Inès de La Fressange