The Problem with Hollywood's Acknowledgement of the Fat Girl

For years plus-sized women were nonexistent in Hollywood, or any other venue in the public eye for that matter. Can you think of any plus-sized Congresswomen? Any fat female news anchors? Hard isn't it? But now, in 2010, there is change afoot.

First, there was Drop Dead Diva, which debuted on the Lifetime network in 2009. Then there was the movie Precious, and now there is Huge on ABC Family.

So, should us chunky girls be jumping up and down, glad to see "ourselves" on television, entering that elusive, fickle world that is Hollywood. Not so fast.

Drop Dead Diva is the story of a skinny girl who dies and comes back to life as a plus-sized, lawyer. Oh the horror! Precious is an abused, obese, ugly, illiterate teenager. And then there is Will, the main character on Huge. Will, played by Nikki Blonsky, is sloppy, has a chip on her shoulder, and plagued by questions of her sexuality...all of this while at fat camp.

The fact is all of these characters serve to remind everyone that it is hard being large(er) than Kim Kardashian. While the two TV shows and movie are quality - Precious was nominated for various Oscars and Nikki Blonsky, who also played Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray, is a good actor, they're still serving as extremes.

Plus-sized women are still shunned from being the love interest of a leading man, still confined to mediocre wardrobes, and still more of the assistant than the top-notch detective or the embezzling partner in crime.

In short, Hollywood is saying, "It's okay for you to get in the car, but sit your big ass in the back." And I'm not talking about Queen Latifah or Monique because it's easier to sell them, as they're established in various aspects of Hollywood and have a very targeted audience. What I want is a beautiful plus-sized woman who is a real actress to come out in some lingerie and seduce Brad Pitt, get a role that would normally be given to Nia Long, or play the buddy of some mundane character played by Seth Rogen.

Until I see that, I'll acknowledge that progress has been made over the past few years, but will not say Hollywood has accepted any different body type, it's simply taking advantage of a trend that could rake in huge profits and ratings.