Curvy, fat, voluptuous, etc.--What's the deal?

Question

So I apologize if this question or topic is redundant because it's probably been asked before.

I find that women and men have very different perceptions of an attractive female body. I get the impression that when men say they like curvy women, they are thinking of someone like Jessica Alba. But many women when they hear this confuse curvy with fat. I notice that a lot of women with obvious weight problems label themselves as BBWs and they call themselves "curvy"; no offense to anyone, but this just seems like self-denial to me. I think everyone is beautiful in their own way but if you have a serious weight problem, you need to get your health together.

Here is a woman that I think looks great:

link

What do you think? Fat? Curvy? Just right? And please both girls and guys answer.

And no, this is not to justify myself in any way (I am actually much skinnier than that woman and wish I could look like that!); I'm doing a research project on this and would love to hear as many responses as possible. And if you don't mind, please include your age and your own body type as well.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I consider that girl chubby but curvy. She's a little fat. Fat is not synonymous with ugly so yeah, she looks to be overweight but it still pretty.

Curvy = your body frame. Either an hourglass or a pear shape. You have to have definition between your waist and hips and your body has to slope and "curve". You can be slim and curvy, thick and curvy, average and curvy, or fat and curvy. Most people take it to mean bigger than average though, but all thick women or fat women are not curvy. Fat does not = curvy but you could be curvy and fat. (Example: plus sized Rosie O'Donnell is not curvy because she's built like a rectangle but Beyonce is curvy because of her hips, and Jessica Alba is also curvy even though she's slim).

Fat= someone who has a lot of extra fat for their body. Nikki Blonsky is fat.

Voluptous= the same as curvy except it's only for bigger women or thick women. Jessica Alba isn't voluptous. You have to have meat on your bones or be fat to be voluptuous but still have to have a shape. Nikki Blonsky is fat because her waist is big, but Jennifer Coolidge (from Legally Blonde) is voluptous because she has a small waist even though she has meat on her bones.

If you have rolls you are not curvy you're fat.

I'm 5'6 and 212 pounds. I'll admit, I'm fat lol

Shantal2501 · Accepted Answer

Honestly, I wouldn't call that girl curvy like a lot of others did. She's beautiful, and chubby but not curvy. I'm a Hispanic girl and a curvy body is the norm. Curvy to me is a woman with hips, tiny waist, hourglass figure, but is fit. Not chubby or fat. A curvy body is if you were to trace the woman's outline, your hands would go in at the top, inch their way closer to each other, then begin to make their way out to shape almost like a bowl. Beyonce is curvy, Jessica Alba eh... she's sorta there. To me, curvy is like Lara Croft from the video game. Of course she's fake and her proportions are a bit unrealistic, but curvy is along those lines to me.

When you type in "curvy" in google, all you get is plus sized women. I think this is incorrect. People say curvy instead of fat because it's a nicer word that isn't looked down by the society. I'm 17 and weigh 116 and have a Latina body (something I'm proud of lol =P) but I'm not being judgemental whatsoever. I think people need to re evaluate their choice of words because now the word "curvy" is being linked to thicker girls.

tolovewithoutyou · Accepted Answer

I think that girl is curvy but a little overweight. She's got beautiful skin, hair and face though. I like bodies that are healthy and if you're carrying around a lot of excess body fat, then it's bad for your health and fitness.

I hate it when fat people are in denial and say "I'm not fat, I've got curves..". Sometimes they do, but half the time they don't. I have the same definition of curvy as you, and I think it applies to people of any size - it's about shape. Also one of the things I HATE is when insecure fat people call themselves "real women". I hate that! Are skinny girls just fake women? It's not your weight that makes you a woman, it's the femininity inside of you. I just hate it when fat people are all like, "people discriminate against me because of my weight," when they do the exact same thing!

Sorry rant over. ^_^

AskTheBean · Accepted Answer

My opinion:

"Curvy" means "hourglass figure" smaller waist, wider hips. Breast size is irrelevant. Curvy is all about proportions -- meatier, thicker girls can be curvy. But skinnier girls can be curvy, too.

Lots of chubby or fat girls mistakenly call themselves curvy. Unless she has a smaller waist and wider hips, she's not curvy. It's mostly denial, like you said -- to me, an obese girl is fooling only herself when she says she's "curvy".

Now, I don't think "curvy" is any ideal standard. I don't really think in those terms. I like all kinds of physical types on women.

The woman in the photo you linked to was very attractive to me.

I'm 32, 6'2" and 190ish, slender build.

l-hedoniste · Accepted Answer

37, with a bouncer's body. (I get "Did you play football in high school?" a lot)

Your girl is just right, and a bit more. Not a dealbreaker, I'd approach her if we clicked.

But this is a complete matter of taste; I know one guy would would find her absolutely flawless, and another who would be thoroughly repelled.

Kindawiseguy · Answer

Well I feel bad saying this but she's overweight. Enough for it to be unhealthy in fact. I have no where near that much stomach and I consider myself overweight.  Even a month and a half ago when I weighed 15 more than I do now My stomach was smaller than hers. But then again I'm picky about this. I let myself fall out of shape when I graduated but I'm correcting that now. I want a health girl. With natural curves. Still, she does have a pretty face. She could be a looker if she lost some weight, and did it slowly. Right now I'm 6'2" at 205. I'm hoping to hit 180 in 2 months, maybe three. Weight burned off too quickly comes back to quickly. But yeah, when I see her I think fat. Any one overweight to the point of being unhealthy is fat in my book.

arsenal25 · Answer

5'2 and 127, athletic. Um I think she is just fat, she is very pretty but still fat to me.

Lostwithouther · Answer

She is very attractive, I love the smile but she isn't fat. I don't see cellulite anywhere. Her thighs are thick which is a turn on. Olive skin tone, plus the red color accentuates what she has. She is curvy and then some but that is a good thing. She has some cute feet :)

Married-in-PA · Answer

I am 36, married, two kids - and my wife actually looks very much like this girl!

I think she is HOT. I like a girl with a "little bit of meat in the seat", if you know what I mean. To me, this girl looks healthy, real and not like these plastic, starved blondes that think they're "all that", but are top-heavy, stuffed for of silicon and blow that they can't think straight.

I like my babes "stacked and packed", in jeans made in the 'ole South, and sitting on a barstool, enjoying her whiskey. Boy, I can't tell you how hot that is...

Shlei3 · Answer

Some girls are actually big and still healthy. I for one have a bigger body than your average girl. I have to work out at least 4-5 times a week to keep myself in check. That's fine by me because I love working out. I'm kind of dying right now because I am pregnant and can't work out due to a high risk condition. Anyhow, I think that girl in the picture is not bad aside from the mismatched face due to bad make-up.

Greg_B · Answer

Well, as for the photo link, she's got nice thighs, but she's a little light for me yet.

I definitely like the BBW type in the 200lb+ range.

Jessica Alba is not curvy. I think the Nikki Blonsky, Queen Latifah, Raven Symone, Jennifer Coolidge, Ruth Jones types are really beautiful women. I'll take big, soft and cuddly any day.

Greg

Subotai · Answer

Damn maybe she is overweight but that doesn't mean I don't want to tear her clothes off.  Does she have any naked pics jk...does she.  Anyway I like her she also has a pretty face and smile and hair.  Obviously the two or should I say four parts that grab our eyes butt, boobs are big on her they stick out she jiggles when she walks that jiggling drives a lot of men crazy.  I hope I don't sound too dirty here but I happen to like more cushin for the pushin a soft woman is fun to hold cuddle with and lie on top of thrusting in and out of her then a bony stick figure girl.  Something about a curvy woman feels soft warm and nurturing, in a looks sense it doesn't tell you her personality of course.

sweetaspie · Answer

I think she is curvy but chubby too. She is very pretty and I wouldn't look at her and find fat or anything.  I am what most consider curvy and I HATE it. I am 5'2" 130lbs 36-27-39. I wish I didn't have hips or a booty because then I would be like a size 1! I am in decent shape now but I wasn't after I had my daughter. The good thing about being a hourglass shape is even when you carry more weight you tend to look better because of good weight distribution.

shelbyy32 · Answer

well I am 19 and skinny! I guess I mean I have a little flat stomach but I have big thighs and a butt!  but guys would call that thick because she isn't a twig but she is deff. not fat! that would be also justified as "curvy" because she's got a little waist but some hips! its not bad to look like that at all!

islands7 · Answer

Link = fat example 1st choice is of course voluptuous (oohlala bedtime), so long as she's still athletic enough for country club sports, which includes dancing.

ivarei · Answer

she IS beautiful!

Jolly-Green-Giant · Answer

I would personally say she is a little on the bigger side and would prefer a woman a little bit more 'fit'. I have played sports basically all my life (except this semester, which I am sad about) but find women who work out highly attractive. I go for the taller yet "more solid" ones as I say. By solid I mean they work out and have mass but aren't really skinny either. I liked a girl who was on the throwing squad... she had a powerful body but it was irresistible.

Anyway I'm 19. 6'4'' 220 or so and have a somewhat athletic body (not ripped or anything but did play basketball and volleyball in high school).

I think the right word I would use would be a 'healthy' woman.

Carlote · Answer

This girl is really attractive. Of course she's not skinny either and I wouldn't describe her as curvy. To my way of thinking all those are different things but regarding the picture you sent, this is a very sexy girl and I don't like fat girls. She's just very healthy.

TedEBear · Answer

HOT !

katiegal · Answer

The girl on the pic is ...well,she is curvy,but some people would say she is fat too. I think she is beautiful as she is.Nice smile,hair,face,confidence,everything is just attractive about her. I don't know about myeslf,if I'm curvy or  not,id say yea,i am.But nothing wrong with that,everyone is different,end every woman is beautiful in her own way.

TwiztedTD · Answer

The girl in the link you posted got me going... she is HOT!  That is my perfect kind of girl!  OH MY!

AdamAmazing · Answer

17, with a slender/athletic body.  The girl you are posting in my view of opinion is somewhat attractive. But I go for more of a skinny and in shape look. I like the girls I date to personally  not be over weight but at least have a little meat on their bones. The pic of the girl you posted just kinda has a little to much weight.