With Bridgerton making a comeback a couple of weeks ago, like millions of others, I was so excited. What incredible outfits will they be wearing, what modern songs will they be dancing to, is Colin worthy of Penelope’s love and who’s banging, illegally without their chaperone near?
There were so many unanswered questions, that I could not wait to discover the answers. And with Lady Whistledown herself being front and centre this series, the excitement was at a high.
Do you know what question I didn’t have in my mind? Not even for a split second. Why was the ‘fat girl’ getting the man?
I shudder at the word fat. When I see it, when I hear it. It just sounds like a nasty word, tainted with hate and judgement, and when I read it on this topic, the hate was spilling over.
What the actual fuck am I talking about I hear you cry? Well, let me enlighten you my loves. This week alone I have read several articles from extremely well known media outlets discussing Penelope’s character and the incredibly talented Nicola Coughlan who plays her.
They aren’t discussing her astonishing acting skills, and her ability to nail every single role, every damn time. Oh, no, no, no, don’t be so ridiculous.
The only part they found of any importance to write about, was how Nicola isn’t a size society deems acceptable to be in the public eye, and how this character would definitely not get the guy if she looked like that. They called her fat several times, and completely slated this beautiful woman. Sure, a lot of the time they were calling her character, Penelope these names, forgetting she is a real person behind the makeup and extravagant gowns. Or more like not giving a damn.
Without physically letting me shake the stupid out of you, how about this…
Your size, shape, lumps and bumps do not define your worth. They do not give you any less or more of a right to be here. “Fat” girls can still get the guy. “Skinny” girls can still get the guy. Who says we even want the fucking guy?
We can be and do anything we want. We are the star of our own fucking lives, and anyone who thinks differently needs to get back into the ditch they crawled out of.
It’s 2024, how are we still fighting for every woman to be seen as equals no matter how they look. It’s exhausting and unnecessary. We are supposed to be supporting one another and teaching little girls that as long as you’re healthy it’s okay to be any size and shape.
The worst part of these articles, I hear you screaming, “How can it get any worse”, they were all written by women. Women! The people that know exactly how it feels to not be good enough, and the pressure we get every single day for just having a vagina.
They have undone all of the work women have been doing for so many years. Did they go to sleep at night happy with what they had written? Did they even give it a second thought? Did they not see anything wrong with it? Were they shocked with the backlash or did they just not give a fuck. How do they think women reading it who look like Nicola, or are bigger than her felt?
Let me enlighten you, because I am one of them. My heart sank. I felt worthless. I felt like I might as well just give up on anything I want to do with my life, because let’s face it, I’m fat, much bigger than Nicola. I’m not stupid I know these facts. If she isn’t allowed to be successful, then I’m sure as hell not.
Sadly, it isn’t just being in the public eye, if society thinks you are “too big” you might as well go and hide in a cave for the rest of your life. Do not even think about trying to amount to something. You are “fat” and are not worthy of success or great things.
It breaks my heart not only for Nicola, but for all the women and young women watching this show. Feeling so happy and excited to see someone with curves being front and centre on our screens, living the fairytale. Feeling that we are worthy no matter our size or how we look.
From a size six to a 26 and more, we are all people that can achieve anything we want.
Then being met with all this hate and backlash. So, it isn’t okay? We aren’t worthy anymore? We aren’t equals? What do you want us to feel and think?
What blows my mind, and angers me the most, is these publications were probably telling us to love our bodies, wear the shorts, embrace your imperfections, just a few weeks ago.
To anyone thinking they aren’t worthy because of the way they look, whatever your size, it does not define who you are. It does not define your talents, your personality or even your health. Look in that mirror every single day and tell the world this is who you are, you are beautiful, worthy, and if they don’t like it they can crawl under a rock and go fuck themselves.
And to Nicola, not that she would ever read this lol, keep on fucking smashing it, you beautifully, talented queen. We need you, we love you, and we will keep fighting with you.
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