Thick Girls are not Beautiful by Thamarah Singgaram
(Translation in Italics)
“Macha ellame okay,ana athu konjum size-a
terile unakke? (Macha, everything is okay. But don’t you think she is a little
fat?)” lamented Suresh. Haren was very much in love with Neeta and he had to
share how he felt with someone, despite Suresh being his closest buddy in the
entire universe, he was perplexed as something as meager as a woman’s size was
of such importance to Suresh. To him Neeta had the most pleasant of smiles, you
know the kind of smile which illuminates the entire room, as spiralled locks of
her raven black hair fell perfectly on her face and her bright hazel eyes made
his heart skip a beat.Yes,she was plump and robust, and that’s what made Neeta
beautiful albeit.
“Ponungge ippeve gunda iruntha kalyanam mudinja udane peruthurungga, jaakeretha
da macha!! (Girls who are fat now will become even fatter after marriage.
Better be careful!)” said Suresh as he burst into laughter. Haren could not
take it, suddenly a spasm of anger rushed through his veins and he said “Macha,
nee yareda ennode Neeta va kore sole (Who are you to talk about my Neeta?).” As
he downed more whisky, He grabbed the helmet and gave Suresh one whip. (excuse
my drama here, it’s a result of watching too many Tamil serials,haha)
To our despair, more Suresh’s exist but
there are only a few Harens.And this thought has infected way too many people,
especially in this Malaysian indian community. From machas to makciks, almost
everyone’s ideal of a woman includes fair, thin and tall. In Indian mythology,
women like Menaka and Thilothama(Apsaras) were depicted to be full breasted and
voluptuous, these women DEFINED beauty in indian culture.But this has changed
tremendously as now everyone digs Ileana Iduppu (hips) and more of the pencil like
figure.
 |
| Menaka
seducing sage Vishvamithra. |
I am not denying
that slim women are beautiful. It is healthy to be slim and healthy is beautiful.
But I am clearly questioning the need to discriminate a woman who is set heavier
and more on the fluffy side. My personal experience of being thick,chubby or
whatever you name it, is receiving tonnes of unpleasant comments. Especially
from the machas and the aunties. One dude I remember from school times told me
that “ Neethan vellaiya alaga irukkeille,nee workout panni olli aana,we can be
together (You are so fair and pretty. If you workout and become thinner, we can be together)” .
And the worst comment I’ve received from an aunty is that
“Unga vayasukke neenge intha size’le irkekoodathe (You shouldn’t be this fat especially
for your age)”. While she was also carrying easily 20 kilos of extra fat.
Hypocrisy at its best!
This community
will be a better place to be in if all the women were treated equally and
looked at as pure.All women deserve the tender,loving care of a completely non-judgemental male,to
be honest.(Pssst..Sister talk:If he comments about the way another girl
is,trust me he isn’t the one! )
But sometimes the comments and words that hurt
us the most come from people who surround us, people we love and people that
actually matter in our lives. This once,I didn’t expect someone who I THOUGHT was
a very dear friend and more like a sister to me to speak behind my back about
my size,yes she may fit the society’s criteria of ‘BEAUTIFUL’ and the society’s
expectations of a woman but what is beautiful with a personality that receives
love, and ungratefully, repays with hurt.
It is also clearly
a myth that a thick girl cannot wear revealing or beautiful clothes. I do admit
that the choices are not too many when it comes to having a plus-sized closet.But
nothing is impossible.It is a choice to be and feel beautiful.Beautiful clothes
are not only for the svelte figured.
 |
| Our
southern sensation Namitha donning a floral summer dress |
I apologise if I
have distracted many with the above photo but it can’t be denied that women are
always beautiful nevertheless. If they are lean and slender or even if they are
on the heavier side packing a few extra pounds. It really does not matter if
someone is able to carry themselves with confidence and sass. To all of you who
share the same opinion as I do, take your time to compliment someone, may it be
your mum who has had a post-natal tummy for the past twenty years, or your
sister who has thyroid issues and is in the chubby category or your friend who
just likes that extra serving of ice cream, to tell her she is beautiful,
despite all odds. :)
Cheers to all the
Neetas and Namithas around us, keep rocking.Cantik cantik ceria
ceria, ladies. :*
Article by: Thamarah Singgaram
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