Riddle me this.

How are we supposed to teach our daughters about healthy body image when we are bombarded with messages like this?

I think it's very sad that Gemma gave up on modeling. She's a very beautiful woman and I think she could make a name for herself in the plus-size niche. You know, give Crystal Renn a run for her money. I would love to see curvier girls in fashion and Gemma Ward represents curvy women like no other.

News.com screams: Australia's top model export, Gemma Ward has quit the profession following attacks on her new shape.

Now. Disclaimer. I think the person in the original blog meant well. I don't think they were necessarily being critical of her. But the reference to her as a 'plus size' model boggles the mind.

Comments like:

"A fashion insider explained that Ward would have to keep a low profile if she wanted to protect her future earnings.

Every kilo a model puts on costs them thousands in potential advertising dollars,'' the insider said.

My issue.

This is what Gemma looked like before, when she was at the top of her profession, modelling for Chanel, Vogue and Versace, to name a few.

This is her now, a year or two later. Admittedly, she has gained weight.

Now when I went to Google Images and Typed in Gemma Ward it said "Related Search - Gemma Ward Fat".

Sigh. So I typed in Plus Sized Model. This is what I got.

That's right, my friends. She's a fatty. She is representative of Plus Size.

I am plus sized. If I was that kind of plus size, I dont' believe I'd ever get out of that lingerie (and is it just me or is that adorable).

If we're teaching our daughters, our nieces, our students that this is what overweight looks like, what hope do they have? How are they going to navigate those angst-ridden teenage years without knowing what a healthy body really looks like.

When did we decide we preferred this

to this?

When did curves stop being a thing of beauty, sensual, seductive, healthy?