While American women see super-thin stick models and feel unattractive and unhappy about their average or curvy bodies, men don't feel the same way. Fully 80 percent of men ages 18 to 50 say they want a voluptuous woman, according to former plus size model Nancy Hayssen, who has written a book every woman could love based on the title alone: "101 Sexy Secrets: How to Be Hot, Sexy & Beautiful at ANY Size!" Another 15 percent of men prefer a woman of average size, while just 5 percent opt for a super skinny lady.

Twenty years ago, most fashion models were a size 8. Today, that's been replaced by an emaciated size 0. Meanwhile, during those same two decades, the average American woman, who stands 5' 4", ballooned from a size 10 to a size 14. Fun fact: A 14, which is now considered a "plus size," was approximately sex bomb Marilyn Monroe's dress size.

"We're being lied to everyday. The fashion industry and Hollywood have spread the myth that men want skinny, anorexic-looking women," asserts Hayssen. "The truth is it's plus size or curvy women who are considered beautiful."

That sentiment was echoed in a recent poll of 4,000 adults conducted by British weekly magazine Grazia to find out the ultimate attractive man and woman. Men overwhelmingly said they are most attracted to women who have curves, rather than skinny women, and prefer brunettes with "long, wavy hair." And 78 percent said a woman's most attractive feature is her smile.

Men are a practical lot. Three-quarters said the hobby they find most attractive in the opposite sex is cooking.

So what do women want in a man? A stunning 93 percent are looking for someone who makes them laugh, while 73 percent want someone who will "automatically" pay for a meal. Men who own their own home are five times more attractive than a man who does not. OK, so women are practical, too.


So org men do you agree?

I don't think I've ever heard a man say they liked stick thin women, but they don't like big women either.

I don't think you can measure curves in dress size, I think it's about proportion on the individual woman.

Sweeny79 said:

I totally agree with you.

Sweeny79 said:

yup.

Jeez I just read my original post and it looked like I was drunk!

I need to stop multi tasking.

Glad you two agree though!

I want a woman who will not think twice about slaughtering my enemies.

HobbesLeCute said:

I think most women who really love a person have that "mother bear" quality.

Who cares what a man wants? Stop stressing yourselves out, ladies! Your sexual diet is determined by "YOU"! Which means, we have to watch out for our figures for "YOU". This is all fact.

Fuck this shit. Some person can't tell me what I find attractive. Fuck, I like skinny chicks, okay. Stop making me feel guilty for not liking chicks above a certain weight. It's not my fault.

Also, my ex was very petite (5'3" or 5'4" and 110 lbs.) but the proportion of her hips and waist made her look curvy. You don't have to be "plus size" to be curvy.....

Plus, ladies, you have to learn to not care quite so much. Most men will have sex with anything with a vagina....

Curves doesn't mean obese. wink.

Volitan said:

Preach to the fifth! You like the chick off of Disturbia. I'd much rather get with Megan Fox. All cool to me. Man, Shia Labeauf has been one lucky bastard this past year. Hopefully, he doesn't screw it up for himself.

Volitan said:

I agree. I'm very tiny, but still curvy.

yeah, well, it'd be nice if we weren't still bombarded with the idea that bony arms and hips are something to strive for.

evenstar said:

Not a damn thing to strive for! Eat and excercise at your comfort zone. But, we always want to make sure we stay active, no matter the gender. Especially if one is around the age rank of you and I. Helps preserve youth, I say.

evenstar said:

Yeah, most fashion magazines promote the bones...Many female celebrities as well. Yeah yeah, there are all of these women now saying that they're "proud" of their curves and whatever. But, look at Beyonce. She is known for being a curvier woman and she even dropped 20 some pounds in like 2 months to play the role in Dreamgirls. She even says she struggles to stay the way she is. So, she's constantly dieting. Gwen Stefani says the same thing. That she has been dieting since the 8th grade or something crazy like that.

I prefer skinny broads. But the whole sex/"love" thing is totally overrated, anyway.

Love yourself, drink in your freedom and leave it to the strivers to make themselves miserable by obsessing over being fuckable.

it's all about the curves...curves...curves

Sweeny79 said:

i definitely can name Ace as one of those men
not saying he came out with it - but from what he posts, that's the idea i get

Ace said:

i didnt even see you post
oh dear

I am a voluptuous woman! And proud of it! I like me for me! And if a guy can't see that..then I don't need him in my life that's for sure!

Women need to be proud of who they are! If you love yourself, it will shine, on to others! Tall, short, fat, skinny! Just be proud of you!!!!

But that's my opinion!

MoniGram said:

Hell yes!

it gets pretty hard to "love yourself" when you try to treat yourself to a cute outfit following a trend - or sometimes not...and you can't find your size.

now..i'm not gargantuan, i'm around marilyn's size right now, and to find a good pair of jeans that doesn't always look painted on is hard.
i was once told by a clerk that i should think twice about shopping at their store, and then was quick to point me in the direction of Addition+Elle - a plus sized (to the extreme) store.
it hurts knowing you won't be able to look slim and cute in a babydoll dress, but will look pregnant because you have wide hips and a large chest.
it hurts seeing all the cute girls out there rockin the nice clothing, or even just casual everyday who gives a fuck outfit, knowing you can't even do that without looking like you're trying too hard because you had to get the skinny jean in size 13.
it fucking hurts when you don't get a second look (or even A look to begin with) because that slimmer chick caught his eye first (there are more issues where that's concerned in my book but that's another thread)
it just fucking hurts and it sucks and it cant make someone extremely bitter.

that's when it gets hard to "love yourself"


[Edited 12/12/07 18:50pm]

MoniGram said:

That's my opinion as well!!!

jess555ja said:

sammij said:

I know what you mean..and all of this can be hard. But I have gotten to an age, where I can't think like that any more. I need to be happy with who I am. I haven't thought like this for very long. My ex sweetie taught me this. If there is one good thing I got from him, it was to be proud of who I am.

But I do feel where you are coming from hun! Life shouldn't be like that!

statuesqque said:

sammij said:

yeah. loving yourself is in your head anyway, i think, and doesn't really have anything to do with how you look outwardly. i don't like myself any more or less than when i weighed 50lbs more than i do now. it's like, woo yay, i can buy smaller clothes, but i still don't like the way i look. maybe it never really goes away.

Ace said:

Afreakingmen

Mach said:

Yep, thats a great quote by Ace.
[Edited 12/12/07 19:54pm]

morningsong said:

The numbers change is mostly because of vanity sizing. Marilyn's dress size was called a 14 back then but by today's standards that makes her dress a size 9/10. That is not comparable to a modern size 14 at all.

There is no denying that a lot of models and actresses are really, really skinny...but the whole vanity sizing thing is also way out of control.

I also believe that when men say they like "curvy" they mean they like women that are not skin and bones, that have a butt and some boobs and a certain softness to them....they do not mean "fat" by any stretch of the imagination.