What does a “Real Woman” look like anyway?
What does a “Real Woman” look like anyway?
Hey guys!
Yesterday we wrapped our lookbook shoot for BODYPOP – my new high fashion, high intensity activewear line. We’re also a few days into our music video shoot before we wrap that too. Never have I ever produced anything of this caliber (I’m usually in front of the cam, not behind it) and I’ve been riding this HUGE learning curve. Tough stuff. However, I’m blessed that I’ve had talented friends and amazing people in the industry step in to help us out with valuable advice or work with us side by side. Everybody involved has brought their expertise to the table in order for us to make my original vision come to life.
It’s so cool literally turning your thoughts, your dreams, your ideas into reality. AH I can’t wait for you to see everything. Some of these designs literally were from my original sketchbook from college.
Now, I want to talk about something else.
Today I posted a picture with 2 lovely ladies who helped me model the collection.
Then it came. The barrage of commenters saying that they were “disappointed” that I didn’t use “real women” to model my line.
Real huh? Well…one is actually a Blogilates fan and the other is a friend from college. I can also assure you that I hugged both of them and they didn’t magically disappear into thin air. They were made up of molecules that constituted a legitimate female human being. They were in fact, real.
But now I am going to dig deeper. Because I know that what we are really talking about here isn’t the definition of the word “real” but the interpretation of what it means to be a “real woman” in today’s society.
Let’s take a look at this picture. Can you tell me which person you think looks most “real” to you?
Or shall I ask it like this: Which woman represents the “average American woman” best?
According to statistics, today’s average American woman is 5’4”, has a waist size of 34-35”, and weighs between 140-150 lbs with a dress size of 12-14. About 50 years ago, the average American woman was 5’3-4” with a waist of 24-25”, a weight of 120 lbs, and a size 8 dress size. I don’t even need to get into vanity sizing, but that size 8 from fifty years ago is not what a size 8 is today. It is actually a size 4. The US Department of Commerce dropped it’s uniform sizing system in 1983, so designers can do whatever they please in order to make women feel smaller and buy more clothes. So the takeaway here is that the average dress size fifty years ago was a size 4 and now it is a size 14.
Now that we’ve established that the average person has gotten bigger and heavier throughout the years (due to lack of movement, the increase of fast food, larger portion sizes etc.), we can talk on a level playing field. Are you mad that I didn’t choose to showcase models that represent our “average US woman” which really is a huge red flag that something needs to be done here? Today over 30% of the world is overweight or obese. That’s 2.1 BILLION people. There’s 7 billion people in the world.
Between 1980 t0 2013, rates of being overweight soared 28% in adults and 47% in children.
That’s scary.
Guys, this is a real problem. Our next generation is going to be unhealthy, riddled with diseases, and immobile if we don’t do something about this now. First we need to take care of ourselves, but as we get older and have children of our own, we need to teach them how to make the best choices for themselves. YOU HAVE TO BE THE CHANGE. Show them that veggies are yummy and that playing outside is better than video games and being stuck on your computer. Kids don’t grow up wanting mac ‘n cheese and soda. Someone feeds it to them. I’m not 100% blaming the parents because I know that the media and the food industry has a lot to do with marketing these sugar-laden things to our kids. They don’t want to see sales go down, so they will do whatever they can to continue mesmerizing us into buying their products.
You guys all know that I am a huge advocate of loving your body and reaching your best potential regardless of your shape, size, color, background etc. It has nothing to do with how small your waist is or how big the distance between your thighs are. It has nothing to do with how you look. It has everything to do with who you are.
You, I, Monique and Alyssa – we are ALL real women.
We all strive to represent fit, active, healthy people who work hard to look the way we do and feel the way we do. Let me make this clear too: We are not here to represent the “average woman”. Nope. Because I don’t want to be average. I want to be the best version of myself and I hope that you want to be the A+ version of yourself too.
In the above paragraph, I just want to clarify that I didn’t mean I don’t want to ever show size 14 women. I mean in a motivational sense, I want to showcase women who are strong, beautiful, and unstoppable. Women who go beyond average and push their own boundaries regardless their size. The use of the word “average” swaps a little in that paragraph.
The reason why Blogilates even exists is because I want to ignite the strength, the power, and the beauty that every woman has within. Together, we are all here to inspire everybody to get up, get fit, and have fun while doing it.
So let me get back to Monique and Alyssa. My girls aren’t photoshopped to create a look that is unattainable and they aren’t starving themselves or practicing unhealthy and dangerous habits to get their bodies. (Trust me, we ate lunch together and they finished the whole thing.) I don’t want to have to defend them but when people are putting down my friends, it’s not okay. Ever. They are human, they have emotions, and they probably read those comments too.
Everyone has a talent to share with the world. Your job is to find it and WORK IT. Turn that talent into your career…your passion…your contribution to the world.
Monique and Alyssa are models. It is their career and my goodness, they are killin’ it. I am so proud of them and so happy to know them. Monique was on America’s Next Top Model, walks runways internationally and Alyssa is getting her Masters right now in Education.
The other part of the argument is that y’all wanted to see more body types. I TOTALLY get that. For this shoot though, I was not able to financially afford many models other than the two (just so you know from a business standpoint how decisions were made). You want women with big boobs, short legs, long torsos, broad shoulders, huge bubble butts? You want to feel like you can relate. You want to see that anyone can be a fashion model, not just tall, thin types. I hear you loud and strong. When this line debuts, I want you guys to help me send the message across social media that ANYONE can wear BODYPOP as long as you’re exuding confidence in yourself and you’re treating your body right. I’ll come up with a hashtag, maybe something like #everyBODYPOP or #BODYPOPreal…or how about you help me come up with something cool actually!!?? It takes more than one to make this change. Let’s do it together.
As you read at the beginning of my post, you now know that we wrapped the photoshoot but we haven’t wrapped the video shoot yet. The girls that we are working together with to create the music video can do crazy things with their bodies that literally freeze me with amazement every time I watch them.
Trust me, I’m gonna show you what real women can do. They are powerful, beautiful, and UNSTOPPABLE.
This is what Blogilates and my new activewear line, BODYPOP, is here to inspire. So I hope you come along for the journey and help us all be the next agent of change in the world.
Much love,
Cassey
References for Statistics:
367 thoughts on “What does a “Real Woman” look like anyway?”
There are 367 comments posted by our users.
I think honestly it’s not a bad thing to use to sexy amazing women. Who are physically gifted. However, I believe what they are saying is they’d like to feel like they can relate and not most of us can relate to the tiny amazing non kid having bodies they have. Given your statistics you point that out to be true yourself. It’s not a problem that you use beautiful models they may just have some insecurities and they are lashing out about those…. However, I don’t think it’s ok to come back and bash them and say you are not where you should be and how 50 years ago this is how it was. I mean that statement is basically stating you are not intune with today’s society and since you don’t approve of other women you are putting them down. You are feeding into the put women down when social media and everything else is already doing that- including our own minds. Every single woman can be and is beautiful, powerful, and unstoppable. The woman who is overweight and has 5 kids and can’t shave her legs cause she’s running them everywhere and has a job is just as freaking beautiful as the women that are in the photos who get to work out all the time for their job of having photos taken of them. You can’t be mad at women bashing your women and say you have no issues with “average” women but back hand them proving you do have a problem with them cause they have a little extra pudge by saying they should change. Everyone needs to love more and be nicer and yes bring each other up. Your post brings the ones you want up and puts down the ones you don’t approve of and if you think it doesn’t you are mistaken.
140 lbs is a normal BMI for 5’4″ and 150 lbs is only 5 lbs overweight for 5’4″
Thank you for sharing your info. I really appreciate your efforts and
I am waiting for your further post thank you once again.
gr8! post! I’ve been working on the beginner 2.0 calendar and I am already soooo much stronger and my posture is world’s better ( everyone in my family always tells me how bad my posture is can’t wait to see them next no more bad posture!!) Thank you so much keep it up cassey!!!
I get your message Cassey and it is sad to read every comment from somebody who clearly doesn’t get the message.
What I hate the most about this post is that you basically said that if your not only a 120 pounds than your not the best. You said its a bad change that people now are 140-150 pounds, that it is obsessed. I weigh about 140 pounds, but i´m 5’8. I have normal weight and I fit in a size 6 comfortably but you said in this post that i´m obessed and not A+ just because i´m no size 4 and not only 120 pounds.
If you’re an active healthy person then your body will be what it will be. As long as you take care of it. I’m happy Cassie posted this because it’s frustrating to see people use the “real woman” expression as an excuse. You only live once, take care of yourself…..it’s fun.
My point of view is that a woman is a woman.Whether size 4,5,7 or 8 just appreciate it & move on with your duties as a woman. A cording to me,a good woman is one who does her duties correctly & heatedly to either her husband or the society normally referred to as ” a woman of substance”
Thanks
The real issue is that jealous girls who are unhappy with their bodies not only compare their bodies to others but also get jealous and resentful because their bodies don’t look like that. They need to STOP and get a life! Be healthy and make your body the best it can be. I know I will never be a runway model because I am average height but that doesn’t mean I have to hate and resent supermodels. I do the best I can with my body and look good for me. You will never ever be anyone one else no matter how hard you try so stop and focus on yourself and your own body.Being bitter, resentful and jealous are very unattractive qualities. A lot of females are competing for men but there are men that will date fat, thin, skinny, flabby, short, tall, petite, big-boned, you name it. No matter how you look you will never be everyone’s “type”. The women Cassie picked for her clothing line have great, fit shapes. The picture of the girl in the green and black shorts by the window is stunning, her body makes me inspired to keep up my pilates!
I really hope that Cassey is able to expand her line for bigger women. I’m not ‘fat’ – I am Sonkyu rank in JuJutsu (read: 2 ranks away from black belt) and I can easily throw men who have sixty pounds on me. The facts of the matter, though, is that I am not model sized. Models have a very narrow range of body types, and I, and many other people, don’t fit in that range. I’m not saying that these women aren’t real – I have SO MUCH respect for models and for what they do. I’m saying that, as a girl who wears size ten pants and can squat close to 120 pounds, the XL sizing in Cassey’s Bodypop activewear won’t fit me. I’m saying that as a women with 36DDD boobs, built-in bra support pulls any top out of the question.
Cassey, you’re an inspiration and I totally get why the backlash concerning “real women” worried you. But business says no – you can’t just make clothes for people who are super-fit and model sized.
Saw this for the first time and thought I’d chime in – the models look fit and strong and beautiful. I think Cassey’s idea of all the readers modeling the clothes on social media is an awesome way to get full representation of all body types… it’s the only way, really. 🙂 No matter how many models Cassey could bring in, some niche would always be left out unless there was an infinite number of models. So doing it via readers lets everyone represent themselves.
Here’s how I feel about fitness modeling, as a lady who’s got a BMI of 23 and looks pretty much like what I am – an office worker with an exercise habit and a sweet tooth (meaning, muscular with a few bits of chub here and there). I love seeing really lean ladies because their lines are easier to follow. I can see exactly what they’re doing, the form is very clear because of their leanness, and visible musculature means I can see which muscles are working in a particular exercise. I don’t feel excluded because I don’t see other slightly pudgy office workers – the bodies of professional fitness folks aren’t an indictment of mine. We’re all women, and in my opinion, we’re all sisters. Tearing each other down for our different body types, or our different levels of fitness, is vicious and wrong.
Wow. Everyone take a deep breath and calm the hell down.
I, personally, even as a chubbier girl with a few pounds to lose (only 5 more to go, thank you Cassie!), found nothing wrong with the campaign whatsoever. Yes, I looked at them and thought, “Wow…. I mean…. WOW. I wish I was like that.” so I understand how many of the (coughbutthurtcough) people here feel. It’s hard to lose weight. Sometimes, we’re our own biggest enemy. But projecting those onto complete strangers on the internet, strangers who have feelings might I add, is completely wrong and unreasonable.
The term “real woman/en” is absolutely wrong and disgusting. Really. Why the hell are we even using this? It doesn’t matter whether your body struggles more than the average person to lose weight; or you have those awesome, funky ratio’s; or if you’re obese; or being treated for an Eating Disorder.
“Real woman/en” are/can be anything and everything.
Stop throwing words around at eachother, pick yourselves up, and move on.
I don’t care as long they are not stick thin However, Most people who do this probably won’t look like you or the models, but to me that’s ok as long as they are on a healthier path.
I’ve seen this before. “First I refuse to acknowledge thinness brings me privilege. Secondly here are facts that justify why the underprivileged group should face discriminated. Here’s some hysterical and baseless fear mongering to convince you why I am right in holding prejudice towards underprivileged people.” It works for any and all groups that you dislike, guaranteed!
Here are some facts about how promoting only thin bodies as acceptable bodies to have promote eating disorders. Which as it happens result in the same problems you claim obesity does, including immobility. http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/get-facts-eating-disorders
Oh my gosh, everyone who is disappointed is ridiculous. A person identifying as a woman is using a label that’s only mental/social, not ever physical. The only thing that has to do with your body is your sex (female, etc). She wasn’t devaluing any other type of body that wasn’t in the video. You’d have to be conceited and have body issues to decide that she’s doing something against you personally. I’m not surprised since this is the Internet, but the Blogilates community as a whole should be much more progressive than that. A lot of you are straight up hypocrites if you think skinny women don’t go through the same pressures any other size goes through. Not to mention the fact that the people she chose aren’t even really thin, might-blow-away-in-the-wind sizes. They’re strong! They have muscles they put hard work and investment into! It’s like every little thing Cassey ever mentioned about body positivity was thrown out the window. Once again, if you have nothing nice to say, just don’t say anything.
The words “real woman” get thrown around ad nauseum around every corner of the internet these days. My personal opinion is that all of us need to just take a breath, calm down about 14%, and realize no one thing defines a “real woman” or a “real man” for that matter. The definition of gender as we know it is even changing. Ok, feminism aside now, I just want to say that Cassie’s blog post here hits the nail on the head. We all are here (on Blogilates) to work towards health and happiness. If you aren’t here to see some changes, to put in work, to be the best version of yourself you can be, to be motivated by positivity, then I’m not sure why you are here (although Cassie’s photography and writing are amazing). If you retread what she is saying, she makes valid, relevant and accurate points about health trends. She is not saying “skinny is best”. She used 2 professional, not-unhealthy looking, gorgeous women she knew to do 1 photo shoot. To tear her down for this, and to call her credibility into question is uninformed, incorrect, and plain mean. I am in recovery from an eating disorder (anorexia and over exercising) that sent me to in-patient rehab for 3 months. I have been doing well on my eating, but was reluctant to begin workouts again. But, I wanted to get some strength and endurance back as I just got accepted into nursing school and I want to be fit and be able to perform at my future job. Blogilates is the FIRST website and set of workouts I have found that are not triggering to my eating disorder. My therapists have all approved 100% of Cassie and Blogilates!! While I know we all have different struggles, the key thing here is that you have to take the information here and use it in the way that works and is healthy for you. For example, I can’t follow the clean eating plans, as that is too triggering to my disorder. BUT, many popsters LOVE them and find that works for their life. I’m not mad at Cassie for putting these meal plans here, because I’M the one who has the eating disorder, not Cassie, and not the others who need this information. That’s what is amazing about this website! There is so much information here, you can incorporate what works for you, and leave the rest if it isn’t right for you. Bottom line, Cassie has always been an advocate for body positivity and self-love. Thank you, Cassie, for ALL you do. The instincts you have and the decisions you make are good, because they are made with your head, but most importantly, your heart! You are a true professional, and an amazing person.
Very well said Cassey. People need to understand that this is a business. She is starting a clothing line and has to choose models that will best showcase the clothes. Their bodies are not UNATTAINABLE, obviously, because they have them and there are other women who have bodies like theirs. I think a lot of people’s annoyance comes from jealousy. She can choose whoever she wants and bigger people can still buy her clothes.
I think what you are doing is great, Casey!
I am just curious.. what size will the active wear go up to? I am a bigger girl trying to get healthy. It is hard to find good active wear that will stay up around my waist and not fall, or bras that won’t fold under me and move!
I thought they were both great choices for models. They don’t give me unrealistic ideals, they are healthy and strong women – what’s wrong with that? I cannot believe that people have suggested these are not ‘real women’, it makes me sad to think that some people out there are that hateful towards their own gender.
In a time of pro-woman appreciation and power, you would hope that we’d all be a little more friendly. Isn’t that what YesAllWomen is for? To support each other? To better, stronger ourselves? How are we meant to become equals to EVERYONE when we’re all tearing each other down? It has to stop!
I have not read all of these comments. There are so many, so I may just be repeating what everyone else has said.
But this post made me angry.
I am not small. I am not what you think the best version of a human being looks like – and it is apparent that only a select few bodies meet your expectations for what the best body looks like. I will never meet those expectations. Nor will many other readers. And because we don’t or won’t or can’t look like those models, we will never be considered healthy or better than average or the best by someone who is very influential in the online fitness community. We are not good enough.
Health and fitness do not come in one size. You are not lesser because you are not small. Your accomplishments, strength, dedication, and struggles are not worth less than a small person. Olympic weight lifter Holley Mangold is not small, and she is lifting over 550 pounds. Are you saying that she is not doing her best? Are you saying that the only way she can impress you is by being tiny? Is it not enough that she is strong, has become a visual representation of women weight lifters for all women and not just small ones? Do you think an average or overweight or even obese woman looks at the idea of weight lifting over 550 pounds and thinks, “I can do that.”. They don’t. They see small, cut up ladies who exist in underwear and boxing gloves for viewing. They don’t see women who do not fit that mold of fitness model, of size four, of “better than average” bettering themselves. Why try when the result is unattainable? Why would you want to be strong and capable when you have SKINNY and SMALL and THIN shoved in your face as the only real measure of athletic achievement when you just want to find a beginner lifting routine? Why would you want to improve your running or beat your best mile if it is so apparent to everyone that you would just “go faster if you slimmed down”? You try and tell me that a chubby middle school girl who enjoys gym class and works hard is treated like an equal within her skinny classmate who hardly makes an effort beyond this one hour a week. You tell me that I, panting along after just one lap, red in the face, so small from my medication, was not treated as more capable than a fellow girl who surpassed me in running and jumping and everything but weighed more. You tell me that. Try.
I am not at my best. My best will not be skinny. It is not healthy for me to get so small. I have disordered eating tendencies and focusing on just getting small is not going to do me any favors. So, to you, I will never be good enough. I will not be at my best, and I will not have worked as hard. Even though I am gaining strength and muscle, running 5ks, becoming flexible and working so hard – if the end result is average, it doesn’t matter. I’m supposed to push through and be small, compact, and strong. I have tried to be small. I’ve starved myself. I have my scars. I know how filled with utter hate for my body I was. I will not be subject to another person telling me that my accomplishments and my pride are worth nothing. I will no longer listen to any voice that tells me my body is not good enough. That is why I am angry.
I am 5’8 and over 200 pounds. I am slowly losing. I’d like to weigh 150 one day, but that isn’t as important as running my first marathon or being able to do ten pull ups, or fifty push ups, or the crow pose. My end result will be average to you, but extraordinary to me.
It sounds like you are still dealing with the scars life has give you..but you are making a very valid point. The stuff posted on this website is HORRIBLY inaccurate to HEALTH. This website feeds “skinny” as healthy. “Eat less, workout more” that is all that is ever preached. I thought I had found someone with a positive attitude…this is just another one of “those” websites. Nothing about fitness is included. Being able to do 50 push ups is far better than doing 10 crunches to the latest pop crap music. Don’t worry about these sites MaKayah….this is trash to throw away. Keep working towards YOUR goal of healthy and strong. That is all that matters!!!!!!
Why are you on the site if you don’t like what she is saying? Cassey Ho has talked about eating proper amounts of food every day, (She even made blog post where she demonstrated how to use scientifically backed up math formulas to figure out how many calories you should eat per day.) Quite honestly, if you are going to turn a deaf ear on what she is trying to tell you, and be jealous of the people who are listening, learning, and improving, and nurturing their bodies, then you just shouldn’t be on the site, clogging it up with angry commentary, and disrupting the blessed fellowship women find here.
I am overweight. I just started PIIT28 five days ago, and already, I have lost a pound, I feel better, I have been drinking more water, and eating cleaner.
We are not shaming obesity, we are merely stating that eating unhealthy foods, and being overweight is unhealthy, and one of the main causes of cancer and heart disease.
Health-striving women everywhere, rejoice, Cassey Ho is a women to be admired!
This is exactly the issue I have. I’m a very healthy person. I exercise 5-6 times a week. I eat clean. I eat enough to keep myself energized and to deal with the responsibilities I have with my job. It’s hard work. Very hard. I’m a size 6/8. I would never make it as a model, and no one ever looks like me in the magazine. I’m strong, but I don’t have a thigh gap. I can run for miles and miles, but I have cellulite on my thighs. I just want an acknowledgement that thin doesn’t mean healthy, and curvy doesn’t mean unhealthy. So much of what we look like has to do with genes. I could double my workouts and slash my calories and I probably still wouldn’t like like Miranda Kerr. My frustration is with associating thigh gaps and lines on your abs with health. The disease in this country goes beyond obesity. It’s a paradox. It’s an obsession with how you look, without acknowledging how you feel.
Why are you saying that Cassey just support “skinny” as a healthy body ?
For god’s sake, that’s the freaking point of this post, her blog and her videos, she doesn’t care what your body type is, she just want you to accept your body and to be the best version of your own body. If you weight 200 pounds and reach 150 pounds, she wouldn’t look at you and say that you’re not skinny or anything, she would be amazingly proud of what you’ve done and give you a big hug.
If she choosed those girls to be her models, she explained it, it’s because one is her friend since college, and the other one is one of her viewers she met.
She is one of the few who actually understand that not everyone can have a skinny, long, lean bikini model body, and she is one of the very few saying that models don’t have a healthy lifestyle.
She would never tell you that you’re not “good enough”.
If you are happy with your body, if you feel healthy, if you succeed in doing your first marathon, or whatever goal you have decided for yourself, you will have her full support and she’ll be proud. She just want you to be strong. Whatever your weight, the size of your waist, thighs, arms, abs, etc.
Whatever you look like. She just doesn’t care, because to her as to anyone who has the slighest bit of intelligence, what you CAN do is more important that what you look like.
I’m Asian and all so I really uave no trouble losing weight. My chest is really flat though, and I am constantly teased for not being a woman. Its really hurtful when I get comments that my boobs are too small, cause I am well aware of that.
Its extremely unfortunate that there is so much judgement among people. There is really no perfect body. I hope people realise this and accept everyone for who they are because negative comments really suck 🙁
As she says, a healthy and achievable body.
https://screen.yahoo.com/popular/indiana-miss-usa-contestant-draws-232700859.html
But based on the models used, not one that would have been considered for this modeling gig.
Lets not act like we do not understand the fuss.
Cassey I’m a follower of yours since 2012. And I’m realy dissaponted not because all you wrote but because of the reaction of many girls in this community. I’m not skinny, I’m not tall, I might even be ugly, etc.
And It’s fine. Sometimes I wish I were Adriana Lima. All I see here is Envy, really girls. Cassey have the right to pick any girl she wants to be te face of her hard work, you say you respect her and you’re not asking to have an overweight model, but is the same thing, skinny , “averge” and big. You don’t want to see skinny models because you feel the clothes are only for skinny people, and you dont want to see overweight girls because then you’ll say that Cassey is promoting obesity. I mean REALLY? . Cassey works hard, and she doesn’t deserve all this hate from you , from the ones that feel less than skinny girls, that’s your problem, Cassey can’t please everyone. Disculpenla por ser real a su modo. I’m sorry but it really makes me mad. I love you Cassey and I’m with you because I know who I am , and I don’t feel less or more than anybody else. te deseo lo mejor y mucho éxito. XOXO
I think there is an awful lot of judgment being passed here. If you are a regular follower so Cassey’s, you already know her view toward women’s’ bodies and should let that influence your opinion. The reality is, we all need to show a little more respect in the online community. This gorgeous, positive lady is working really hard everyday to be a good role-model and a positive influence to her followers. Is it necessary for us to tell her how ”disappointed’ we are? Say your best friend of many years does something you find a little hard to understand, or disappointing, do you immediately call them out on it? Or do you allow the previous 10+ years of knowledge that they are an excellent person, temper your reaction until you, perhaps, get an understandable explanation for what they did. (For example, Cassey actually used two close friends for this photoshoot not two models) . We already know what she considers to be a “real” woman, she expresses that on a regular basis that you should love who you are no matter what background, size, etc. Must we judge someone so harshly who we should already understand? Is showcasing ladies who are fiercely pursuing their workout goals wrong? Does that really qualify as promoting an unattainable body? I’m not a thin person, but seeing the things that Cassey posts motivates me, not to pursue an extreme, unattainable goal, but to work hard and become the best version of myself. Let’s learn to praise ALL women’s bodies, I just because a woman is thin & fit, doesn’t mean she should be criticized! The online blogosphere seems to allow people to hide behind an anonymous face and say hurtful things, and not think about the fact that the person behind this positive, beautiful image, has feelings and works hard to give of herself to us. Let’s also keep in mind that this is a workout blog. Cassey I’m so excited about BodyPop! You inspire and motivate me to work hard and I know you promote a healthy view of self. Your online workout experience is totally unique and it kicks my butt in a way I had not experienced before! (Before I discovered Blogilates I had finished a popular 3 month workout program, but Blogilates let me see results for a better female physique sooner than ever!! ) thanks Cassey!
I don’t know about the others, but I think the problem is that actions speak louder than words. And talking about health and fitness and how everyone is beautiful in their own way and then choosing the most conventional model types for her line seem a bit contradictory to me, so yeah, I was a bit disappointed. It’s not that I wanted to have EVERY body type represented – but it would have been nice if the models would reflect the vibrant and heterogenous blogilates community a bit better. And yeah, I know that this is a business – but that doesn’t mean she has to go with the flow and just do, what all other companies also do – advertising one body type as ideal. She could have picked someone who was beutiful in a more unconventional way – beautiful nonetheless.
She had a chance to really make a statement, and she didn’t. Makes me a bit sad.
Still, I appreciate all her hard work of course, I love blogilates, love the community, love her FREE videos
I dont think it’s the whole “Real Women” issue that bothers me. I mean, your attitude justifies your opinion and we all have an opinion but I can say as a plus women, ive dropped 9 sizes since I was 15 (currently 23) and I am still plus size but 2 sizes. No matter how much I personally try, my breasts will always rival Pamela Anderson and I will always find myself obsessing about my weight than loving who I am as a person. Besides that, I saw this post and completely bypassed it. Mostly because it said real women and the only thing showcased were women with flat stomachs and abs. I dont hate on them, If you got it, flaunt it. But to me, if you dont show a bigger woman in the clothing, people will feel like its for just skinny people and they arent good enough. As lame as that sounds, Its true. I know I will never be able to buy your line but I dont hate you for creating it. I think its amazing that youre reaching out and achieving your dreams! Same with the models, Work it girls! But just keep in mind that not everyone is going to be happy because this world already sees women as objects, and if youre the wrong kind of beauty, you tend to be shamed.
I agree with you Cassey, that people aren’t using the term “real woman,” correctly, but I think you’re smart enough to know that what they mean is they want more diverse representation of body types. That would benefit both you and your consumers. It would make some girls with different, perhaps bigger, bodies happy and encourage them that they can be fit too, and it would also broaden the appeal of your product.
I agree 100%. Maybe not just bigger girls – skinny, tall, short, bigger, rounder, asian, african american, red-haired…just diverse 🙂
Well, no, bigger girls too. Don’t exclude women who are overweight from Cassey’s line of clothing just because you only want to see more diverse models.
Hi Cassey! I just wanted to say that I’m glad you’ve finally said what I’ve been trying to say to people. I’m 5’9, Size 2, and it kills me when people say that I have an unattainable body, or that women with my body type are “too skinny, too tall, too unrealistic”. I am who I am, no matter what I eat (Within reason, like I don’t just eat lard to gain weight) and I stay within that size. Yet, as far as I believe, I’m very much a “real woman”. I didn’t work out regularly until I found you, and my size has stayed the same, just my muscle tone is a little different now. I feel healthy and happy because of you. You’re not perpetuating a wrongful body image, you picked models who look healthy and strong. If anyone has a body image that’s unrealistic, I refuse to believe its created from people like you, who constantly preach about healthy body image. If women were just happy with themselves, they wouldn’t care who is the cover of that magazine you like.
Ok, Cassey, I’m a very avid follower and love you and your attitude but this post also made me disappointed. It’s not about skinny-shaming or whatever people are saying. It IS about the fact that even though you encourage women to love themselves and their bodies, you still picked 2 models who represent about 1% of the population in body makeup. I”m not talking about how much fat they have, I’m talking about the fact that you did exactly what the rest of the fashion/fitness industry does which is hire models that give women an UNATTAINABLE image. NO one is saying you have to hire an overweight midget, but what would be wrong with putting out a casting call to your viewers and picking someone with a real weight loss success story who is 5’6″ and fought to get her body healthy and happy? No one is criticizing the models, they’re beautiful and I’m sure we all want to look like them 🙂 But we’re frustrated that this choice in models is simply exacerbating the body image issue that so many of us have. We don’t want to see models who we will never look like in the clothes we’re going to buy, we want to see OURSELVES – the most fit, healthy, happy version of ourselves. THAT will give us the motivation to keep waking up early, eating clean and working out. When I see a woman who is 6’1, size 4 and eats anything she wants, I understand that she won the genetic lottery and I didn’t. That doesn’t do anything to motivate or inspire me. Seeing my next door neighbor or girlfriend adopt healthy choices and transform herself into an empowered, strong woman…that’s inspiring!!
I agree with everything that Bonnie wrote above. Had a hard time putting it into words myself, so it was wonderful to find a comment that I can whole-heartedly stand by already posted here.
Actually, one of the models is a friend of Cassey’s, while the other is a viewer Cassey met. Just wanted to point that out.
I caught that, and I get that they’re real women, obviously. But that’s not the point. It’s that she chose them because their bodies are eye candy…the “perfect” ideal that the rest of the beauty industry tells us we should look like. For Cassey to pick two super thin, tall models is, in my opinion, an insult. It just shows readers that even she herself prefers to look at tall skinny girls in workout clothes. She could’ve hired non-models and fought that traditional idea of “perfect” bodies, thereby shouting to the world, “Hey, ALL women can be fit, healthy, and amazing not just the naturally thin ones!”
Hey not everyone WANTS to look like those two women. No one here seems to want to address the issue that lack of self esteem is what is going on. Be happy with YOU. NO matter what! You are the only You – why is everyone so obsessed with looking like someone else?
People will keep using these kinds of models as long as YOU the consumer continue to feel “lesser” than the models. – Your comment directly represents this! You said you want to look like them, so of course people use models like them! Stop wanting to look / be everyone else… be happy with you and then they might start using models that look like you!
Amen sista!
Actually, one of the models is a friend of Cassey’s, while the other is a viewer Cassey met. Just wanted to point that out.
Thanks for putting that into words – exactly how I feel!!
I understand both point of views.. Something that bothers me is that a majority of the models nowadays have bigger boobs and super flat stomachs. I have been working out (with blogilates & other systems) and eating healthy for 2 years now.. I have never had a flat stomach like these girls. This is something that makes me feel like I’m not good enough, or haven’t worked hard enough. Many people argue on whether anyone can attain a “flat stomach” or if its genetics…. well from what I’ve experienced, it’s genetics. Even the “plus sizes” models appear to have flat stomachs…
You know….I’ve come to realize over the past while that women are our own worst enemies.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had this one particular thing posted on my FB wall. I’m sure you’ve all seen it, too. Y’know…the one that says “Real men like curves; only dogs go for bones.”
Excuse me, but…..what the ever-loving HELL is with that? And why are more women not angry about it?
Seriously. Why is it not okay to fat-shame, but it’s perfectly okay to be a passive-aggressive hosebeast and compare another woman to “bones”? Why? Can someone answer me that? Maybe I’m crazy, but in my eyes, that’s every bit as offensive as tearing down a woman for being overweight. Yet, things like this are apparently perfectly acceptable. And ironically enough? Every single time I have seen that garbage posted on my wall, it was posted by a woman.
When did we all become so hateful towards each other? Why can’t we all just be who we are, big OR small, and not have anything to say about it? Fat does not always equal unhealthy; skinny does not always equal healthy; and when it comes right down to it, it’s no one else’s business what “someone else’s* body looks like.
I really hate this idea of “real” women. Who the hell came up with that phrase? Who gets to decide what a “real” woman looks like? Do you need to have breasts to be a “real” woman? Tell that to the women who’ve lost theirs to radical mastectomies. Do you need to have a working reproductive system to be a “real” woman? Tell that to the women who are infertile. Do you need to fall within a certain weight range? Funny….three years ago, I weighed 225 pounds. Now I weigh 130. Did I lose my “real woman” status somewhere along the line? I don’t think I did, but *apparently* there are lots of other women who would disagree with me.
And that makes me sad. When did we women become each other’s worst enemies?
Wow, it didn’t even striked me as wierd or ”unreal”
Those 2 girls look fabulous and healthy. I kind of find it bothersome that some women tend to bosyshame skinny or fit girls. I am pretty chubby myself but one of my best friend is naturally really skinny. For all of our school lives, she was told to ”eat a sandwich” and that she has an eating disorder.
Truth is, all bodies are real, you don’t NEED to have curves to be a real woman and you don’t NEED to be super tight either… If your chromosomes and your gender are female then you are.
It’s amazing how so many are confused and so many are still disappointed. She didn’t have the resources for other models, #1 and #2, you guys are disappointed because the models didn’t represent the image of yourself. I feel sorry that Cassey even have to explain herself and defend herself. I’m overweight and did not find it defensive at all, because I know where I need to be to be healthy and the reality is, it’s not being overweight. Honestly, get over it and find some confidence in your life and not attack someone who is trying to help you. Cassey keep doing what you do best and don’t explain yourself, if they don’t like then they can leave. Because you cannot cure insecurity! Keep doing the damn thing Cassey!
Although there is a slight problem with the idea of, overweight = not healthy. MANY girls can be overweight (not obese) who eat right and exercise, yet that is the body frame and weight they have. This same idea applies for skinny girls who struggle to gain weight, but are 100% healthy. This idea that “being healthy means not to be overweight/underweight” harms the sentiments of those individuals. It’s not their fault they are unable to gain/lose weight. At least they eat well and are physically active, with no health problems. We need to understand their scenarios as well, and not tell them that they are unhealthy forms of women.
Also, she could have picked some popsters to volunteer for modelling – I’m pretty sure someone would have done it for free, or for less money. I don’t think money is an excuse. We don’t want her to represent 100 % of women – just maybe not pick two women who both represent the industry standard for beauty.
Serena Williams, Gabrielle Reece and Gabby Douglas are all super fit female athletes but yet their body shapes are drastically different. I believe women would like to see their body shapes represented not just one ideal but a broad spectrum of desirable shapes. I think the models you used are healthy and fit but only represent one fit body type. The obesity rate among 2-5yr olds has actually dropped 47% in the past decade which is positive sign since overweight children in that age group are more likely to be obese adults. The adult obesity level is finally leveling off after years of steady growth so this is a sign we as a country could be moving in the right direction. You would not show a size 14 women in a motivational sense? Does that mean if you had a 15 yr old that had gone from a size 24 to a size 14 you would not consider her motivational for others? She would have to hit her absolute perfect size before she would be considered motivating? I am confused. I feel your post are constantly sending mixed messages.
I completely agree Cassey! When I heard about the comments about “real women”, it made me mad, since they’re both leading a healthy lifestyles and model that. I’d be hurt to have someone say I’m not
“real”, because of the way I look physically. I can’t say I’m disappointed at all, and people are going to criticize either way…too fat, too skinny, etc. etc. I see why people would be mad with the tall thin model thing, but that’s motivational and encourages us to be the best we can be. I saw this you tube video once where everyone was athletic, fit, and skinny, and people started complaining, and in this other video, they had slightly heavier people who were still fit and exercising, but the people were complaining/criticizing anyway. That’s just people. We all want something to connect to and say – hey that looks like me, but like Cassey said, why don’t we become that person – the best version of ourselves, so we can say that. Besides, Cassey’s points are completely legible, but I mean guys, really? Calm your chiz down.
Amen fitness sister! When did it become the norm to call someone a “real woman” anyway? That’s such a strange statement. Thank you for calling this out and reminding your readers that we are ALL REAL.
“[Fitness models] all strive to represent fit, active, healthy people who work hard to look the way we do and feel the way we do. Let me make this clear too: We are not here to represent the ‘average woman’. Nope. Because I don’t want to be average. I want to be the best version of myself and I hope that you want to be the A+ version of yourself too.”
Well said, Cassey.
I have never considered the “real women” label as being derogatory for thinner women before. I have to say, it’s a great point. I’ll be dropping that term from my vocabulary, ASAP. All the women featured above are beautiful and deserve our admiration, hands down.
However, as an “average” woman, I have to also agree with some of the other comments here. It is disheartening to think that my dedication/strength would be discredited or less worthy of praise simply because I haven’t reached a size that is considered appropriate.
I have been overweight since the 5th grade. I have never in my adult life been anything smaller than a tight fitting size 8. I am now, at a 10, the strongest I’ve ever been, and I am incredibly proud of that. I would not trade this stronger, more capable body for that weaker, half-starved (say it with me: crash dieting) one for anything. It saddens me to think that only women who have reached a certain image are considered motivational. I’d like to think that change in the right direction (regardless of body image) is universally praise-worthy.
It’s like you’ve said a thousand times here, Cassey: We’re all on our own fitness journey.
We are ALL beautiful. We are ALL strong. We are ALL unstoppable. And we are all of these things through every stage of our fitness journey — not only once we’ve reached the endpoint.
I am, in this moment, the best version of myself that I have ever been. I may one day be even better. But right now, I am damn proud even just to be “average.”
Cassie I think your awesome, I love your positive vibe, your passion and your commitment to something that obviously very dear to you. I found you 3 years ago when I was mostly immobile due to a serious knee injury and was waiting for surgery. I am an active person, so being couch bound sucked, and the 15 llbs I put on with my new sedentary life made me miserable. The PT working with me suggested Pilates and I searched you tube for simple exercise routines I could do safely while I waited for surgery. I found your pop Pilates for beginners. Honestly I winced at first, your were so perky, and young, and fit…all the things I was not. I was a 47 yr old mother of 4…However your pluck, your knowledge of the body and your humor brought me back again and again. I did that routine for 6 weeks before surgery and grew strong, and after the PT was amazed at how fast I was able to recover. Thanks girl, you helped, allot. I continued to follow you and have become stronger and more confident. I am a size 12-14 depending on the style and brand, so it stung when you dissed me as being “out of shape” as keep a peri menopausal body fit is no small task girly. Gravity is a bitch, as is the wear and tear aging, multiple pregnancy and nursing can do to a woman’s body. See I am a woman, a mother, a grandmother even. If we are talking representation of all women here, my demographic is totally absent, but thats okay, Im not here to see that, I am here it get in shape, safely, sanely and have a little fun doing it ( I love your shout outs when working out!) I just want to say keep up the good work, the passion and desire to spread the word that women should strive for strength, dedication and happiness as elements of real beauty, and thigh gaps and other such media driven crap is a farce and gets in the way of the real picture. Love ourselves and love each other, respect ourselves and respect each other and strive everyday to be the best us we can be.
I support the choice of models, they are there to inspire. I know I am not the same body type as them but it is ok because I love who I am. I want to be as fit as I can be given my body type. They are as fit as they can be within THEIRS. Thanks Cassey, you rock!
My niece 2 years old chooses veggies ( broccoli, carrots) in front of candy
What does that have to do with anything?
It means this kid is going on the right way. Cassie talked about child obesity in the post and the fact that this kid chose not to have candy is a good thing.
“First we need to take care of ourselves, but as we get older and have children of our own, we need to teach them how to make the best choices for themselves. YOU HAVE TO BE THE CHANGE. Show them that veggies are yummy and that playing outside is better than video games and being stuck on your computer. Kids don’t grow up wanting mac ‘n cheese and soda. Someone feeds it to them. I’m not 100% blaming the parents because I know that the media and the food industry has a lot to do with marketing these sugar-laden things to our kids. They don’t want to see sales go down, so they will do whatever they can to continue mesmerizing us into buying their products.”
Keep it up! It’s going to build such important skills for her future health.
Dear Cassey,
One of the reasons I started to use your website and videos is because you were “real.” You have a “down-to-earth” personality and it is evident that you work hard to make every video approachable for the average person who is trying to improve him/herself. We are all different. Just seeing you transform throughout the years is motivating to me. I love seeing you model everything you discuss, from healthy eating habits to clothing. You make the program “real” and I have always appreciated that fact. Thanks for all you do!
DIVERSITY DIVERSITY DIVERSITY!
I would really like to see these clothes modeled on a more diverse range of body types.
I used to work in an upmarket women’s fashion shop that ONLY used very thin, very tall models in its ads. Do you know what the biggest battle for me as a sales assistant was? Convincing our target customer – middle age mums and business women – that they would look amazing in the clothes too. Because they would – the clothes were cut beautifully and would suit absolutely anyone, fat or thin. But because all the models were skinny and we’re so used to seeing only thin people in magazines in the latest fashions, they would never try or buy half the styles.
If your clothes suit a wide range of body types, use diverse models.
It would be more in line with the body positivity tone of Blogilates, and you’ll make more sales…
I agree with you, but I don’t think Cassey should go out of her way seeking different size women to use in her pictures and videos. I think that can cross the line of discrimination. No one should get an advantage just based off what they look like and how their looks will appeal to others. No one seems to bring this up. But what I think Cassey can do to reach out to a diverse line of women, is holding a casting of some sort. She only wants women who are pushing the envelope towards a healthy lifestyle. Of course there will be beginner’s who are overweight or underweight and that’s not what Cassey wants to show, but if they can show that they are on a healthy path, I think Cassey can put them in her ads and probably even include excerpts on where these women are in their journey. But I think it’s nice that she has friends that are willing to help her when she doesn’t have the basic amenities for a huge production.
Also, I always felt like thinner women are more likely to be cast as models because they’re the only ones showing up. They know that their body type is the “norm” in this industry so they’re more likely to show up and feel confident in their position for success. While women who are considered “plus size” only go to castings where they know that their body type is the “norm” and that usually doesn’t pertain to the high scale modeling opportunities. More women just need to find that confidence and they’ll be able to make the change we need. I’ve watched America’s Next Top Model countless times and there are some jerks that love their size zeros, but usually even Vogue will be impressed by a woman of any size if she just shows that she belongs there and she has what they need. TO ALL THE POPSTER’S: I know a lot of us are just regular people with regular jobs and we don’t have time to model and we have never seen ourselves doing a photoshoot, but if you want change in diversity for something like Cassey’s BODYPOP series, offer your assistance if you’re in the area. “Be the change you want to see in the world” and etc., etc.
Check this out guys: http://www.sizeable.com.au (article interviewing the creator: http://www.cosmopolitan.com/celebrity/news/sizeable-new-site-shop-by-body-type)
This is an online clothing store funded by a 25 year old Australian girl. The idea behind it is that before starting shopping you choose YOUR MODEL and you see all the clothes modeled by her. That’s such a brilliant brilliant idea and it’s just what some of us were trying to say here! This site is not promoting unhealthy bodies or shaming certain body types. They are trying to embrace them all. Different heights, hip, waist or bust shapes…. You can see how those clothes will fit you, it’s so great!
This girl just opened her shop and says she’ll be adding 2 more models in a month or so, she has to work with more brands to get more sizes, etc… but she’s moving in the right direction IMO!
It is posible to change the fashion industry, it’s possible to make women stop comparing themselves to others or strive for the impossible.
You said: “I mean in a motivational sense, I want to showcase women who are strong, beautiful, and unstoppable.”
My only issue with anything you said is this line.^^^
I have worked HARD, really freaking hard over the past year to lose 50 pounds. But, I am a size 14. Your statement above insinuates that because I am a size 14 I am neither strong, beautiful, nor unstoppable enough to be “motivational). I actually wouldn’t have cared much at all about the whole post if you hadn’t felt the need to go back and add this insulting extra note/comment.
I have busted my butt running, changing my diet, and sweating like crazy while running a household and working a daily job. Yet somehow because I have only gotten down to a size 14, I am not unstoppable enough to motivate people? At what size in your mind would I qualify as being “motivating” to someone? Because, my friends all tell me I motivate them, but apparently I don’t because I am not a reasonable tag size yet to you. Pffft screw that noise!
I think you may have interpreted what she was saying here incorrectly. She isn’t saying that because you are a size 14 you are not inspirational.
Those are some issues you may have with how people view you being a size 14 rather than what being size 14 means to you. Who cares what size you are anyway you’ve worked hard and I assume proud of your results it is that that makes you “strong, beautiful and unstoppable”.
Thank you for posting this Cassey, it has been bugging me that people have been putting down thin models now that they have realised that larger women are “acceptable”. They both are! No-one’s better than the other. It needed to be said, and you did it:)
I find this “thin shaming” is becoming a real problem. Remember the No Excuses mom? The average population is overweight and they resent being told that isn’t a good thing. How backward is our society becoming when obesity and unhealthiness is the norm? Norm enough that thin and fit women are told they “aren’t real women”? Women, as always are at war with themselves for no reason!
OBESITY CANNOT BECOME THE NEW NORMAL! It is unhealthy!
I don’t think people are trying to “shame” slim/skinny people. I think women are tired of society and social media defining beauty as being very slim. Even as kids, girls are trying to look like a barbie doll. It pains me to see my girl students dieting in elementary school, just because they think they are fat when they aren’t. I think women want to see social media women with diverse body shapes not just skinny women. I highly doubt women are complaining about not seeing overweight people when they are on this website to lose weight and become healthier. It’s not always about weight. Personally, I thought the photos were nice but I understand what women are arguing about because I feel that it’s important to not idolize one body type.
It just makes me sad that people think that skinny or athletic woman aren’t real woman. All women are real and beautiful, no matter what size they are. There is no such thing as unreal woman. Please stop judging each other! This post means a lot to me Cassey <3
Now that I’m done being upset over what others have wrote, I’d like to say that I love what you do and what you stand for, Cassey. I wish there were more people out there willing to speak up the way you do despite the differences in opinion. It’s important. I truly hope that one day your voice is heard loud and clear. Someone has to make a difference, and not everyone is going to agree. If my voice could be heard, I would be standing right there with you! You are in a position to do great things in this world, and I hope all your dreams come true!
I’m not saying that these women aren’t ‘REAL’ women, skinny,athletic, tall girls are real too, but I just feel like there could have been a wider range of models used. She could have even used actual POPsters from her area or something too, just to make it even more easy for us to relate to. While the women used provide motivation – I hardly think that seeing someone with a little more curves would de-motivate me either.
She said in the article that one of them is actually a POPster and the other one is a friend from college… Those sounds pretty real and relatable to me…
You’ve missed the point, Andreanne- they are indeed “real,” but they don’t fit the “wider range of models” that Jenny is referencing here.
Well done, Cassey. This is a really challenging topic to talk about. Thank you for having the courage to address it. People’s heath is more important than their egos, and as hard as it can be to hear, it’s true that the average woman is not necessarily a healthy one.
As with any kind of revolution, the advocates of a truly healthy attitude and lifestyle may experience a pretty dramatic backlash, but I honestly hope that in a hundred years time (or hopefully less!), society will recognise people like you as heroes who were ahead of their time. Providing information like this can help to trigger a change in society long-term, and that’s more important than making everyone happy right now. Thank you for standing up for your beliefs 🙂
i can see both sides of this argument. on the one hand, i get that people want something to aspire to. and also, it is just as offensive to say that thin/fit/model type women are not ‘real’ women as it is to fat shame curvier women. however, i do feel that the ‘weight loss at any cost’ paradigm is unrealistic and demotivating. i don’t know about the US, but here in the UK there is a 3lb window for some heights between being underweight and overweight. to me that takes no account of differing builds and body shapes, and is unrealistic – just adding to the already overwhelming pressure on women to look a certain way. for this reason i would advocate the health at every size paradigm. personally, i weigh 180lbs, mostly due to thyroid problems beyond my control. what is in my control is that i eat clean and religiously follow cassey’s workout calendars and run 4 miles 3-4 times a week. i really push myself and though i am overweight when looking at the height/weight charts, i’d say i am totally healthier than some of my friends who are naturally slim. i really envy that they don’t work out and can eat what they like and still look slim and stunning; but i am 100% fitter than them. all women are real women and i have no objection to cassey using what ever models she likes; she’s amazing and has single handedly got my fitness back on track, and for free, after a period of severe depression. i just wanted to point out that weight is not the only, and not even necessarily the most reliable, indicator of health and fitness. to me, weight itself is not the problem facing our society, it’s inactivity and people eating unhealthy convenience foods and though there is often a correlation between the former and the latter, often there isn’t and an ‘overweight’ person may still be extremely fit and healthy.
I wish us women would just STOP talking about our looks, each others looks… comparing ourselves (positively OR negatively).
I don’t care HOW you talk about it, you’re just keeping the train of “looks are everything” going.
I wish what mattered was the colors, the design, the fun workouts, the refreshing, fun and yummy recipes you get on Blogilates. I wish no one EVER talked about the looks. That we all agreed to just never mention it.
I know we all think about it. But maybe that’s a habit we could change.
I just know that, whenever I’ve tried to do something in order to improve my appearance, it has made me unhappy, and I ultimately failed. But whenever I go on a run to feel alive, free, strong. Whenever I make my little playlist of blogilates workouts for the day, I am excited, I have fun. It feels good! And that’s what works: I feel happy and good within myself. When I start looking in the mirror too much. I stop listening to my body, to my intuition. That always leads to bad choices, overworking, bad mood, guilt, shame.
Like so many girls/women, I have been too aware of how I look since I was about 11. And it has caused me so much meaningless suffering, over so many years.
Please, let’s just stop talking about our appearance. Let’s stop arguing, let’s stop making it so important.
Preach honey! : )
I love the women you chose to model your clothing line. They look lovely!
My comment come from a different concern. I bought a zipper Hoodie the Heather Grey Train like a Beast Look like a Beauty, a little while ago. I got on extra large thinking it would be fine. The hoodie was super tight and really tiny like won’t zipper past my boobs tiny. I was totally disappointed and threw the hoodie in the back of my closet for a really long time actually. I am now considering turning the poor thing into a purse, because I never wear it.
My disappointment is in the people giving Cassie a hard time for this. The “real women” thing really bothers me. It’s like putting down a slim woman to make not-so-slim women feel better? How is that okay? And putting down Cassie…after all she does for us? Not cool.
Hey, Hun I understand what you were saying here, and I totally agree. Your girls are strong, gorgeous, TOTALLY real, and bright. No one should mess with your friends and you were right to be defensive. However, the way you put this was a little offensive. Quite honestly when I read this, it was hard to believe it came from you who is always so sweet. I’ve followed you for a long time but really, that quote on the “broad shoulders and huge bubble butts” and the whole relate thing felt like a punch in the gut.
Cassey-
I love your post and I love that you are standing up for yourself(although you shouldn’t have to-people need to have a little grace and step back and think about your standpoint before being so mean!). Your friends are beautiful and I am so excited to be able to see all of your hard work on display! I have been saving the money in my workout clothing budget for months for your BODYPOP line because I know it will be the best. I know I can trust you for the cutest and best quality workout clothes.
Thank you for keeping it real and not giving in the society’s many pressures:)
<3 Hannah
I understand your argument in the article and I agree that everyone should feel happy about their body and aim to be healthy that is why I joined blogilates in the first place. I notice something is wrong with my lifestyle and I need to change it. But I feel that people are disappointed not because you didn’t choose fat overweight people, like the average American but women that does not look like a stereotypical woman we would see in a health magazine. I know it looks better but it’s much more intimate to see someone who is on the short and have natural curves or tall and and have an average body frame. I think people didn’t want to see the average model in your photo shoot but someone who is more relatable. That’s why people love the last photo you posted that advertised underwear because girls can see themselves in the photo.
I am glad this posts exists because ALL shapes and sizes should be accepted. People need to be aware that while fat-shaming exists,so does thin-shaming. EVERYONE should feel accepted, but should try to have a healthy lifestyle! ALL bodies are beautiful.You know what’s not beautiful? Stereotypes and judgmental thoughts.
People are going to be upset regardless of your choice of women. The fact remains the average consumer doesn’t want to see a short, stumpy, overweight person showing off athletic wear.
The two women she chose look fit and as though they do pilates (which, hello, Cassey teaches & promotes). They look good and they’re very much real women.
I want to start of by saying I was not offended by your model choice. They women are beautiful and they are REAL and for anyone to say otherwise is offensive.
However, I was offended by this post. You’re saying that you don’t want to represent average women because you want to motivate the best version of yourself and you want us to want an A+ version, too. As someone who is a size 14, I’m offended that you don’t think I am the best version of myself, that I am something less than A+. I workout daily, I eat clean and healthy, and I am happy with where I am. No matter what body image you think is perfect, I am happy with myself and feel like an A+.
This isn’t the first time I’ve felt that one of your posts alienates rather than motivates average or above average sized women. I love your videos, your workouts, your recipes and while I am working on becoming the best version of myself through you, I hope you can work on becoming the best version of yourself through all of us.
Rather than being defensive, try to understand where those people come from because I think you have a lot of growth to do in terms of communicating to all body types. And you say the things you’re supposed to say about loving every body type, race, etc. However, your contradicting words negate that and makes me think it is all a front.
As a final note, I am not trying to attack or offend you. I appreciate what you’re doing and what you’ve done for so many women. However, when I feel like my body is being shunned and pushed away, it doesn’t motivate me to keep coming back or tell my friends about the website. I am not big on posting comments on the internet but I thought a few of these things needed to be said.
Took the words right out of my mouth. I LOVE Cassie and I truly appreciate everything she does. I think she is an extremely giving, lovely person. But- Being a size 14, or 26, doesn’t give you an F. I think what should determine your strength is how hard you’re trying to be healthy. Are you eating clean and working out and getting enough sleep and making time for yourself? GREAT! A+++! Notice how there’s nothing in that description about how much you weigh, what dress size you are, or how big your muffintop is. (BTW Lisa, none of these ‘you’s are directed at YOU, just in general). So. Try your best. That’s all anyone, including yourself and including Cassie can ask for. It doesn’t effing matter how your body looks after all that effort- everything is as it’s supposed to be- it’s what’s right for YOU!
youtube.com/sparklesandsuch26
I’m so tired of seeing “this is real women looks like.” Real women should be helping each other not starting battles. Girls that are thin and girls that are thick are beautiful no matter what they’re height,weight, and shape are. I usually don’t comment on things but I felt the need too.
I think it’s sad that on such a special occasion people decided to bully Cassey’s friends and call them unreal. How is it telling a girl to eat a burger better then telling a girl to put her burger down. You’re still hurting another human being feelings.
Well said Cassey! Although I am short and curvy I do think that people need to acknowledge that “real women” are all women, tall, thin, skinny, short, curvy whatever they are all real! And we should all learn to love our bodies! I am working towards a better body because I want to tone everything up but I am not interested in starving myself and being silly I just want to be fit and healthy. I know that I will never be really skinny because its my shape to have huge boobs, big bum and curvy hips but that’s okay that’s who I am. And women who are tall and slim shouldn’t be discriminated against and portrayed as unrealistic as they are just as real as the rest of us!
Hey Cassey, Unrelated to this post, I think someone is knocking off your stuff. https://www.etsy.com/listing/185619015/train-like-a-beast-look-like-a-beauty?ref=br_feed_44&br_feed_tlp=women
the train like a beast saying isn’t property of Blogilates.. ?
I agree with Cassie but I am slightly disappointed/ concerned for a different reason. I think why most people were so disappointed about this is because it doesn’t show necessarily what fit is. What you have here is two women with the very similar body types and statures that conform to what modern day society deems beautiful, they are both tall and thin. Just because you are tall and thin doesn’t mean you are fit or healthy, you can short and broad and still be fit and healthy. A better choice may have been to chose two models with body types that were different and maybe not what that standard idea of beauty is according to the fashion industry.
Why I am concerned is that Cassie has many young followers and they will obviously see this along with multiple other media outlets saying that to be beautiful or healthy you have to fit this criteria, although Cassie did not say this, people often put two and two together without reading, hence a lot of the outrage. The problem with this is that this standard is often unattainable for the average woman, whether it be because of their bone structure or health reasons. Most people will never be a size zero or two but they will still try to be and this often leads to the development of an eating disorder, which is frighteningly a common problem among today’s youth.
It is a problem among today’s society that our standard of beauty is often to the extremes and it often effects the young in a negative way. No one here wants their child,sister or friend to look at those pictures and think ” I have to look like that to be beautiful and/or healthy”. We want them to realize they are beautiful no matter what and not feel like they have to starve themselves or spend 12 hours at the gym to be “beautiful”. I am disappointed because you used models that fit the modern description beauty and in a way, reinforce the concept of having to be thin to be beautiful, even though it was not done purposefully.
Although both models you chose are extremely beautiful and model the clothing well; it may have been a wiser choice to use a woman in there who is fit and healthy but does not fit societies idea of beauty. Doing this would of helped with the negative comments and maybe made a young girl feel that she is beautiful even though she does not fit what society dictates as beautiful.
Sincerely,
A young girl
THIS THIS and THIS! Well said!!
It’s just as wrong to shame thinner or smaller women as it is to shame any body type. Its terrible. The media often teaches us to hate ourselves and hate each other. Tabloids tell us size 8 is too big but size 2 is too small and big boobs are good but not too big and you’re hair should be long but not too long, its ridiculous and we should be rising above this mentality instead of perpetuating it. I think blogilaties does a good job of promoting health and strength without limiting or associating health and strength to one specific body type. A size is just a size, and you know what? If you want to focus on a size then you should let blogilates help you realize and develop the size of your own heart, ambition and mind rather than obsessing over and crituquing the size of other peoples thigh gaps or perfect curves.
Looking great girls. 🙂
I really like this post! I think Cassey is right, and no matter your size, wieght, or skin color, you’re strong
And brave. I was never really obese, but my fat rested mostly on my thighs, arms and tummy, andi was
extremely uncomfortabĺe wearing pants or nice shirts. I measured myself every day and hoped to be a
Bit smaller. Since i began blogilates, i feel more comfortable and pretty in my own skin. I really admire
The people who, even though they’re bullied,cut down and everything else, they feel beutiful and confident. If we’re going to do this, LETS DO THIS TOGETHER!! and be as FLAWLESS AS YOU FEEL!
I LOOOVEE you for this post, people are so close minded some times and judgmental why is so hard to understand that there are so many different types of bodies and faces and they are all real even if its not what you are used too, fat short girls are as much of real women as thin super tall models and there are pretty girls every size and shape and people should just get over it WE ARE ALL LOVELY GIRLS really it just make them sound ignorant when they disqualify girls just because they thing models are some kind of weird made up aliens from some other planet, they do exist and it isnt fair to say that they are not real women just because most of us dont look like them
I’ve been reading through the comments since yesterday and now I need to say something:
I really don’t get why people are disappointed in Cassey. The unrealistic body images she’s always talking about are for my understanding photoshopped models, that might already be thin or “perfect”. They get their bodies from unhealthy diets and starving their bodies. NOT every model, but it happens. We all know that. She’s talking about beautiful people that seem to be not beautiful enough for the camera. And that young girls compare theirselves to models that don’t even look like what they look on the magazine cover in reality.
So I don’t see a problem with Cassey’s models for BodyPop. I’m sure they are 100% the same in pictures and in reality. They work for their bodies the healthy way – not skipping dinner or getting done surgery on their bodies. They are role models just like Cassey. Why should there be models who have the body that we already have? Where’s the motivation behind that? Look at them and say: “I can do this. I’m just as strong and I’m gonna be the best I can be.” As POPsters you should be smart enough to know, that you cannot compare your body to anyone else’s but your own and that you will become your own fit version. So take them as motivation, respect them and don’t be disappointed in Cassey.
I could say something more about financial issues but that was pointed out before more than once. If you’d work on a project that big, you’d also ask people you already know to support you and if I was Cassey and knew professional models I’d never get the idea to find strangers to model for me.
Yes exactly! These ladies modeling for Cassey are real women, and when I see them, they remind me of why I am sweaty, tired, and sore (and I seriously hate sweating!). They just inspire me to work hard because I know that it’ll pay off. I might not look exactly like these girls, but I know that in the end I will come out as a stronger and better version of myself.
So thank you for your comments and thank you Cassey for sticking up for your friends and reminding us to not shame others for what they look like and who they are (both personally and professionally). 😀
Well said!
I disagree. I think they the models are unrealistic, not because they don’t actually look like that in real life but because they represent a TEENY TINY portion of the population. Most women, no matter how hard they try to workout or eat clean, will NEVER look like these women. It’s not a skinny shaming thing – these women look amazing and most of us would probably love to look like them. The fact is, most of us CAN’T. We’d love to see models that represent an ATTAINABLE image. A woman of average height and build who’s worked her butt off to be strong, healthy and in shape. Then we’re inspired to do the same!
Exactly! I can’t just magically shrink my bust. I can’t just magically lengthen my legs. I understand why she chose those models from a business perspective – booty shorts look the best on people with a booty – but seeing a model with a little pooch or with short legs or with big boobs but still fit would be encouraging to me.
I already commented on this post but I’m commenting again. Many of you need to realize that these models are used because it just makes the clothes look better. Tall, slim woman make the clothes look nicer and fall correctly on the body that’s good for pictures. I don’t understand why some of you are so utterly disappointed in Cassey. Models are ALWAYS going to be tall and slim. It’s like comparing a small, thin man trying to get his way into the NFL, it just doesn’t happen. So stop expecting the modelling industry to change because the models don’t look like YOU want them to. It sounds really harsh but that’s the reality. If you don’t like it, don’t look at it. End rant. Cassey you’re amazing and I support all of your decisions because it’s YOUR CLOTHING LINE!
The fashion industry is never going to change if everyone thinks like you do. Clothes will look good in anybody if the product is designed with that body in mind. Designers adjust every piece of their collection for each individual model in fashion shows while in a store the same design has to fit us all. Obviously, it’s difficult to design clothes that fit everyone perfectly. So no, it doesn’t always look better on them just because they are thin and tall, we have been “brain washed” to perceive tall and thin bodies as perfect, and so, everything looks better on them.
Besides, a ‘model’ means: “a person who wears clothes to display them to prospective buyers”. Not “a thin and tall person who wears clothes to display them to prospective buyers”. Anyone could be a model if we wanted to. That models are tall and thin is just because of the beauty canon we have at the moment and because the fashion industry dictates beauty canons at the moment, just as artist did in the past. But it keeps changing, and in 100 years it will probably be different.
Beautifully said, Laura!
Of course it is going to change, like it did before. It goes through phases. But it is just fashion. I don’t hear anyone arguing about short hair being in style when there is so many girls with long hair. And you now what? when ‘curvy’ girl will be in, there will be the same discussion going on about discriminating thin girls.
Let’s be honest nor being super thin nor being curvy is healthy. That’s why being fit will never be in fashion, it is not controversial enough.
I am from denmark and to be honest, what many of you call a ‘real’ women, is associated with being a bit over weight here. There is not many women (or men) that size here. We work out and we eat healthy teaching our kids to do the same.
I think people became so selfish that they take everything too personally and are offended by too many things that shouldn’t matter.
to sum up, well I am 5’9, I work out, have a thigh gap and let me tell you i feel just as real as you.
This is a touchy subject and I’m only giving my opinion because I feel that my looks are not what people call “ideal” and every woman that I know would say the same. I am actually a size 14 and I’m looking the best I’ve ever looked, I’m 30 years old and I look better than when I was 18 and I feel happy and blogilates and you Cassey are a big part of it, you motivate me and I really want to be the best that I can be. I’ve been overweight my whole life but I was always healthy and I know a lot of people who are actually pretty active and they still are a bit chubby, so maybe people are changing due to various factors, not only they lack of activeness, but it’s true, we have to nurture healthy habits and I think you are an excellent whole model, the girls you used to showcase your line are beautiful and I’m sure they work really hard to maintain their bodies and their health, I don’t question that and I really hope the subject was brought up in a different tone…for me the important thing is I’d really like to buy your line and I hope there’s anything my size and bigger, I know is financially difficult to cater for every bodies needs and sizes, cause you’d have to have a variety of pieces on different sizes, but maybe you could study the market or pair up with a plus size line just for the plus size popsters feel that you’re paying attention to us too while we work hard to attain that wonderful physique we’re all after =D I really love your work Cassey, you help me more than you would ever know and I hope my comment don’t feel like an attack to your work, because I think your amazing and it really hurts to see people speaking their minds in such a harsh way. We’re all here because we love blogilates community and we want our voices to be heard to make it better, we need to look at things from different perspectives than ours so we can understand each other! I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us =)))
Why people always try to be an asshole when you are trying to make something you love and is exciting? Imagine for a minute that you are so happy because you are losing wait on your own and someone come and tell you: you are dissapointing and your hard work it’s not enough. I get Cassie. And I’m a big fan, I’ve lost a bunch of pounds working out with her videos.
Cassey, I’m so sorry that you had to deal with such negative comments. I guess it is inevitable that you will deal with comments as such when the community has grown so big and it’s difficult to please every person. But I love this post and I don’t think anyone could have said it better. I think your model friends are lovely and great motivation for us to continue striving to be the best versions of ourselves! I am also very excited for BODYPOP! I follow your instagram and the suspense is absolutely KILLING me! Can’t wait! xoxo
I don’t know why, and maybe I have not read you Cassey answering some of our comments, but I feel you are not trying to understand where our disappointment comes from… 🙁 I mean… I feel like you are only holding onto the negative people who commented on your instagram and said your friends are not real women and trying to defend your opinion no matter what. And I understand that, it was offensive for your friends and they attacked your efforts, enthusiasm and thrill on the whole production of BODYPOP… However, there are in between opinions.
I’m not disappointed because I don’t like thin and tall women modeling at all. I’m disappointed because I was expecting something different. Having followed your blog for a long time and reading how you are equally against unrealistic body expectations set by media and unhealthy habits being overlooked, I was expecting you to use not-the-typical-model-type-of-body for your line. And wanting that doesn’t mean I was expecting to see an obese/underweight/unhealthy woman as it’s obvious that as a fitness line you want to use fit healthy models. But there are not only one type of models out there.
It amuses me how some people here defend your choice of models by saying that obviously you had to hire professional models that get the work done much faster. Excuse me? Are they suggesting the only professional models are only 5’6″ft tall and a size 0-2? I’m well aware there are many models out there that are equally professional and beautiful and fit that probably don’t get much job opportunities because they are not tall enough or thin enough that would have modeled your line perfectly.
Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that lots of us were maybe a bit disappointed and had a valid argument for that without offending your friends or your work.
If you tell me, hey I chose them because I they are models AND my friends instead of hiring ‘non-friend’ models and they are my closest model-friends or the only ones available, whatever, then ok. But if that wasn’t the reason and you could have hired any model, I honestly think that if you had chosen 1 of your two friends and another girl who didn’t have the exact same body type you wouldn’t have received any (or not as much) negative comments at all regarding your choice of models…
As one of the people who commented about using professional models, I think you misunderstood (as I think many other are misunderstanding a lot of the topics here). I referred to the specific use of the professional models that she chose (her friends Alyssa and Monique), as opposed to us Popsters who would have done it for free, because using popsters for free seemed to be what many were suggesting. I agree that there are many other model body types out there. However, isn’t BodyPop a fitness line of clothing? Since it is a fitness line of clothing, shouldn’t it be modeled on fit bodies? And maybe this is where others are upset, because everyone’s definition of “fit” varies. Cassey probably wanted to portray BodyPop on models were not only fit, but living healthy lifestyles. Since she’s been in this industry for many years, it is not surprising she knows a multitude of people and actually has two friends who were a perfect fit for this opportunity. Frankly, how do you even know these models are size 0-2? They could be a size 6 but look smaller because they’re taller, who are we to judge? Easy to say what should have or could have been done in hindsight, or not having to make these decisions yourself with the other stress and pressures for promoting the line. Why promote what we already look like? Aren’t we striving to be a better version of ourselves? Don’t these women represent that?
I’m curious about what people would say if Cassey decided to model her own clothes. She clearly has a fit body and is gorgeous but isn’t as tall as the models she chose. Would people be upset then too because she doesn’t represent the “average” woman?
She did model her on clothes.
From what I can gather from this is that the people who are making nasty comments, saying “I will never look like that” or “I’m slightly disappointed” are the ones who are showing jealousy. Why wouldn’t you want someone fit to be modeling a fitness clothing line?
As far as parenting goes, I firmly believe that children need to be educated on eating fresh foods. I have already decided that when I have children I will be making my own baby food from fresh ingredients. When I was little I was asked to try everything at least once, and my mom always made fresh vegetables and lean proteins for dinners. Now at 28, I love to cook and experiment with foods, and try to help educate my friends and family on what they can do differently. Because of that, my boyfriend and I together lost a total of 85 lbs!
The “real” women fad is driving me crazy because last I checked we were all living breathing humans. If you want a change, you have to GO FOR IT instead of just talking about it. The whole idea of this community is for people to come together and help each other out, not bash one another or criticize what Cassey is doing. She’s here to help us, and she’s done a darn good job.
I think it is fantastic that you are launching your new line of clothing! I imagine it has taken a whole lot of hard work, dedication and possibly lack of sleep!
From a business point of view, it is so understandable to use fit models – would you buy active wear from someone who is obese? It just does not make marketing sense! And from the ‘true representation’ standpoint – if you go onto the Blogilates app, or social site – there are many of us (ok, not me at the moment) who do actually look like this – strong, healthy, happy and fit! And most of this is due to the help of Cassey along the way with everything from her motivating videos to the brilliant community she has given us.
We should all be congratulating her, not getting angry! You don’t go to Nike and argue that they should have a range of body types, do you? No!
So good job Cassey! And keep up the amazing work 🙂
While I agree we should all strive to be healthy and best versions of ourselves we can be, I don’t agree with this post. People aren’t mad because they don’t think you know what “real” is, they’re upset because you’ve done what all magazines and fashion companies have done, used lean and thin women to show case your clothes. And from a marketing stand point that makes since. What bothers me is that by just using tall and lean women it alienates all the women who do not and/or will not ever look like that.The problem I have with this is the same problem I have with all other modeling photographs, it creates this illusion that that’s what perfection is. That those women and how they look is what we should all strive for. Fitness isn’t a one size fits all deal, even in their best shape, some women still won’t look like that. And that’s perfectly fine. I think as being known as someone who advocates loving your body no matter what, your fans expected you to use several different shapes to showcase your work. And they were a tad dissapointed to see otherwise.
I actually 100% agree with Cassey.
I am (very) pregnant at the moment and cannot wait to get back into shape after I give birth. Blogilates has always motivated me, and trust me… pictures of women who are overweight are not motivating to me at all. This is not to put anybody down, but I want to see what I can achieve when I try.
I was in my fittest shape ever before I got pregnant and didn’t appreciate myself when I looked like that (that’s how insecure people made me feel.. I was fit, healthy, toned… but in this society there will always be something wrong with you), but when I look back I now see how beautiful I looked and how jealous people probably were. I can’t wait to get that rockin’ body back 🙂 I worked hard for that and when I do get it back I will definitely appreciate it more.
When I see pictures of fit women, I feel motivated. When I see pictures of myself when I was fit, I feel motivated. When I see pictures of overweight women, I feel nothing. I can’t relate. That’s not how I want to be. That doesn’t mean that I don’t think we all are beautiful, though. I just don’t feel that connection.
Why are we Blogilates fans? Because we want to become fit, strong and healthy in a FUN way. Cassey motivates us all and she believes we can all have that rockin’ body everybody craves if we do our best. She’s really not saying anything offensive in my opinion.
Hi! Cassie, I think you knew what the term “real women” meant when your fans used it. Of course they didn’t mean it literally. They meant it metaphorically (variety of women like shorter and have curvier and relatable bodies as opposed to talll and thin.) My only advice is please don’t twist your fans’ words to create a defense. You knew what your fans were saying….
Yes she did know. And if you would have finished reading the entire article, so would you.
“The other part of the argument is that y’all wanted to see more body types. I TOTALLY get that. For this shoot though, I was not able to financially afford many models other than the two (just so you know from a business standpoint how decisions were made). You want women with big boobs, short legs, long torsos, broad shoulders, huge bubble butts? You want to feel like you can relate. You want to see that anyone can be a fashion model, not just tall, thin types. I hear you loud and strong. When this line debuts, I want you guys to help me send the message across social media that ANYONE can wear BODYPOP as long as you’re exuding confidence in yourself and you’re treating your body right. I’ll come up with a hashtag, maybe something like #everyBODYPOP or #BODYPOPreal…or how about you help me come up with something cool actually!!?? It takes more than one to make this change. Let’s do it together.”
Did you actually read the article or just jump straight to the comments?
Imagine ppl calling your friends unreal woman JUST because they look tall and thin.
I was really, really excited for this line…until I saw the photos of the models. They are gorgeous girls. Tall, toned, and lean. Lovely smiles and perfect hair. That’s not me.
I appreciate everything you do for your followers, really I do. Sometimes, though, it just feels like you miss the rest of us. It’s almost as if you focus on the extremes: skinny and fit to morbidly obese. A lot of us fall into the middle…we’re working on ourselves to become the best versions of ourselves.
The issue with the models for me is that their image doesn’t represent my journey. They don’t represent me. I’ll never look like they do in those clothes, and that’s fine. However, I would enjoy it if…well, I guess instead of saying average since you don’t like that…we’ll call it…transitioning. I do wish the transitioning body type would be modeled. It’s more relatable.
I totally agree with you! Although these are real women, they aren’t what I can relate to. As a first time mom my body never went back to its original shape and its been a year I’ve been struggling with it. It would be nice to see a woman I can relate to while I’m trying to get back into shape after having my daughter.
Things I agree with:
-The world could be healthier
-all women are real
-media and nurture perpetuates habits
Things I disagree with:
-The smart way to motivate people is by *only* putting tall thin models in ads
I am a popster who has founded RealPeopleRealBeauty, a body image campaign.
There are a lot of unintended and misguided contradictions in Cassey’s reasoning. That being said, I think it comes from a misinformed place in her heart, and I think most people just don’t know about the things I’m about to point out. I mean she has a huge learning curve, she even said! However, I can’t keep my mouth quiet and not point out the inconsistencies.
So here goes:
There are over thousands of humans suffering of eating disorders
People commit suicide from body image issues, some of them after working for years to look like the people in magazines.
About 99 percent of the female population is unhappy with their looks.
Most of these complexes are caused by our constant comparison to professional models.
Now, you might think an easy way for these people to overcome their insecurities is to become fit and eat clean, then they can prove to themselves something about their personalities, dedication, drive etc and grow physically and mentally healthier all at once.
Hmm, how do we get these people who are unhappy with their image to join the popster wagon?
We can make a fitness clothes line and have it be modeled by people they want to look like but do not look like.
This will be like the same thing they see in those glossy magazines, you know, one of the factors that got them to that unhappy place in the first place.
I hope you’re starting to see the gaps in this reasoning and the places where it could be much much better.
I get that Casey wants us to be better than average, I want to be better than average at everything I do. Her fault, and I think the reason most people are lashing out about this, is because she assumed they should be inspired by the things that already intimidate a lot of these young girls. The two models have no diversity in body types. If she wants to show strong fit women with healthy diets, why did she not just chose women that are not tall and generally thin? The ones that aren’t already plastered in all of those other outlets we popsters refuse to subscribe to.
There are stalky women stronger than the women in the picture.
There are short people that are fit.
How about people who are healthy but overweight?
And then there are people at the beginning of their fitness journey. Why not include DIVERSITY from what is already heavly covered in the mainstream media?
Anyway, Cassey seems pretty open to constructive criticism so I’m hoping she will embrace this new light on things. I’m always particularly sensitive to body image and beauty comments because of the work I do on my campaign and I can say that Cassey is also on her own mental fitness journey. In her old videos, most of her comments are about looks and impressing a crush, and in her newer videos she clarifies that positivity and confidence trumps all of the above.
When I saw her “muffin tops are for muffins only”, I almost ditched the whole popster movement. But I watched her in another video and saw how different she was and what a positive change she made in herself and the women in the community. I realized her old comments came from a naiive place and that people can change their way of thinking for the better.
She is a great role model. But this community would be nowhere if people didn’t challenge the way we think constantly so that we work out our minds and perspectives here too! She has room to grow.
So my advice to whoever ended up reading this:
– You are thoughts and actions, not what you look like
-all women are real. Come on, that’s a no brainer.
-be inspired and motivated not intimidated
-don’t body shame others and especially never body shame your own magical vessel of a body
-keep up being healthy
-keep challenging the way you think and the way those around you think
In my opinion, Cassie is allowed to choose whoever she wants to model HER fitness clothing line. However, I won’t lie and say I was very surprised and slightly disappointed when I saw the pictures. Those women are 100% real, as every woman is. Cassie speaks very often about how no one should be criticize or criticize others based on what they look like, which I agree with. I know no matter how much I eat healthy, or work out I will n
I will never look like this as I do not have the same body structure, height, or same anything else for that matter as those women. The notion I do not support is the implication that overweight is unhealthy. Someone can be obese in fact and still be completely healthy, as obesity is only another more severe form of overweight, which by the way, is based on how heavy you’re “supposed to be.” Every woman is different. Also – healthy does not necessarily mean “fit.” Someone can have healthy blood pressure, cholesterol level, weight, etc. and still not be able to run a mile. I agree Cassie can do as she pleases for her fitness line, and those women are real and beautiful, but the paragraph above is really what disappoints me in that these words do not match up. Overweight, unhealthy, healthy, fit, strength, beauty, and power. These words are not DIRECTLY correlated, as there are cases where there is no correlation between them. Yes, America’s society needs a wake up call to change, but once again, I feel as though there is no direct correlation between these things, and for that I am disappointed.
Obesity is never healthy. Sorry.
“Someone can be obese in fact and still be completely healthy.”
Yeah, no. You might try to say that you haven’t gotten sick “yet” because of your obesity, but being obese still puts you at a higher risk for many diseases and conditions where obesity is the sole contributor. Even if an obese person can run a mile, that doesn’t mean that they can outrun diabetes or heart disease.
“Someone can be obese in fact and still be completely healthy, as obesity is only another more severe form of overweight, which by the way, is based on how heavy you’re “supposed to be.” Every woman is different.
Read more at https://www.blogilates.com/blog/2014/06/03/what-does-a-real-woman-look-like-anyway/#QcRrjCw6GgpObly2.99”
This is problematic.
1- Yes, every woman is different, but the difference in weight that is normal and healthy still fall within the “normal” BMI range. Women simply don’t put on enough muscle to end up in the ‘overweight’ or obese categories without a severe lack of activity or being very fat.
2- There is indeed a causal link between BMI and early mortality and other illnesses. Doctors have these numbers and all agree. If you have healthy blood pressure and good cholesterol, this link is still there.
3 – Theres no reason to be obese, so why not simply correct it? If your diet is indeed healthy, and you are indeed active, theres not a single ligitimate reason not to be a healthy weight, unless having to hold your breath to tie your shoes is your hobby.
2 years ago I lost 65 pounds. Not because I saw a bunch of models, not because anyone told me to. Not even because I was unhealthy. I did it because I didn’t like who I saw in the mirror. I felt like that girl, wasn’t me. That was my motivation. So I made a change. It’s my body. I’m the only one that has to live with it and care for it. I’m going to be in it the rest of my life, might as well be happy with it. These girls in the pictures? They are the only ones who live with and care for their bodies. And all you other girls (or guys) out there reading this? Guess what, you live with and take care of YOUR OWN BODIES. Who gives a flying crap what other girls look like? The only person you should compare yourself to is the one in the mirror. You don’t like the way you look? Change it. And be proud of what YOU can accomplish. You’re happy with your body? Great! Be proud that you can do that! I don’t understand why people get so hung up on what everyone else looks like.
Damn straight. You speak it, sister! People just like to blame someone else for their problems. Being insecure and frustrated with yourself is no reason to attack other women who are making an effort to take care of themselves!
What speaks to me the most in your response Cassie is your very well said truth on parenting. Children don’t come out of the womb asking for a pop tart. Someone fed it to them and someone then continued to feed it to them. As parents (I’m a mom of a toddler) our children’s health has to be a top priority. It dictates how they feel, both physically and mentally, and in many ways how the rest of their lives will be. I am “real” 5’9″ woman, who has had a child, and can still rock a bikini, and I have the metabolism of a hibernating bear. I work, very hard, each day to be the healthiest I can be, and to share that healthy lifestyle with my daughter. We run together (her in the stroller, but she’s still with me), and she sees me not only feeding her healthy food, but ME eating healthy food as well.
Here’s the thing: anti-fat shaming/real women/call it what you want, should not mean validating unhealthy habits. Lying to ourselves and our daughters by telling ourselves and them that they can have full, healthy lives and be significantly overweight is not OK, because it is an absolute lie. I have been 220 pounds, and very unhappy, both physically and mentally. Being fit, active and full of real, clean food is a key part in living your best life. Barring some serious medical conditions, if you eat clean, and are fit and active, you will be far below the average weight and size of the average American and will feel far better physically and mentally. So fess up. Are you haters mad that your lie has been unveiled? Do me a favor. Just don’t pass your lies onto your children.
THANK YOU for teaching your kids how to make healthy choices. This is how we begin to create change for our next generation.
As a mom, what stands out the most in your post Cassie is your perfectly spoken truth: no one but YOU the parent can feed or allow your child to eat sugar filled crap food. Your child doesn’t come into the world craving pop tarts. Someone teaches them that that
I’m 5’8″ and can wear some size twos and mostly fours. I hate when people say people with my frame aren’t “REAL.” I even tweeted something similar to this earlier today. I also hate the phrase” Real women have curves.” Umm… I’m real. I’ve always been this size. I can’t help if other people are unhappy with themselves and deem anyone that is like a “model” not real.
You know what? Just coz a woman has a lean body which some people see as “perfect” or aspirational, doesn’t mean she isn’t real. All the hard work and effort is real. All her self-control not to have a cookie or eat that huge portion of pasta is real. Everything she has done to get to that goal is real. Her happiness is real.
I bet the people who made these comments hate being judged. Do they realise though that they’re being the most judgemental? Its sad to see. Ladies need to group together, and support each other. Not judge and make rude comments.
Thank you, Cassey. This is post reflects something I admire in you so much, which is the ability to defend yourself and talk about things such as weight and conceptions of body images in a very real way. I too, for a moment, was a little shocked when I first saw your picture. But, you have made the point: why aren’t those women any MORE real than any other woman!? And why shouldn’t bodypop be modeled by strong healthy women who have fought hard to get there and maintain their health?
Thank you for all you do for us, Cassey, you really are changing lives in so many ways!
Hey Cassey,
I actually like that you chose those models, cause they inspire me, they motivate me!
Just like you Cassey, you’re an amazing motivation!
By seeing pictures of those thin, strong woman, I want to be like that too and start working out harder! So I can be the best version of myself!
It’s good that you wrote this, I hope everyone can relate and understand your decision!
Keep doing what you do, your amazing!
Love,
Fie
I can see why people are disappointed, not saying I am personally, I’m rather indifferent. While some may view these women as motivation, I know that even with my healthy veggie-based diet and working out 4-5 times a week, I will never be able to look like these women without compromising my health and sanity. I’m not saying they are unhealthy at all, more kudos to them for having the dedication, time, passion, etc. to look they way they do and they are beautiful for it. I would find it more motivating to see fit and toned women modeling fitness gear here and in the mainstream media and who are a size 6-8-10 in addition to sizes 0-2-4, and women who are not professional models! How many of us are professional models? I’m guessing not very many, so seeing these body types yet again being promoted as “ideal” is rather typical and not very forward thinking. Most of all, it’s not inclusive of other body types and can be de-motivating because most women cannot achieve these bodies, even if they are considered fit and healthy by their doctors. I know so many women who workout regularly and frequently, are in great health according to their doctors, eat healthy, but do not look like these two girls (or even Cassey)! So, I’m not saying overweight or obese people should be modeling blogilates gear, but for someone who emphasizes confidence, health, and the non-physical aspects of being “fit”, it would be nice to see more inclusive notions of health and beauty.
Everything you’ve said is wrong.
It’s perfectly reasonable for 90% of american women to be a size 8. It has been that way before, and there is no real reason not to be that way now.
Just because we have reached a point where most americans have an unhealthy weight, this does not change the ideal weight or what should be considered reasonable. It is just as easy for you and every other woman to be healthy as it was for your grandmothers.
Personally, I don’t have an issue with the models. It’s a fitness line–a fitness model makes sense.
But I think the issue here may be that “real” isn’t meant to mean “average” in the sense of: weight, height, etc, but “average” in the sense of “my #1 job requirement isn’t to look amazing.” I don’t know these women–maybe they only go to the gym for an hour most days of the week and eat a mostly clean diet–in which case: I hate you both. (kidding…maybe) But, really, when your career is predicated upon appearance, and your “job” is to look good, you’re probably playing on expert level when it comes to your exercise and clean eating. And while there’s nothing wrong with that (who doesn’t want to kick a** in a job they love/like) I don’t think this is the case for most women. I’m willing to guess that for many women (me included), exercise is something you do in addition to the many other things you have to do –like not get fired from my full-time non-fitness related job because I’m not tough enough for life on the streets, I don’t care how many times I do the “On Fire” series. I. Am. Not.
I was thinking the same thing as I read this! It would have been nice to see models who are striving to do better health-wise, like many blogilatees followers, rather than people who have been at their peak fitness level for a long time because their lifestyle allows them to put that effort in and even requires it. It is disappointing to not be able to relate to the people wearing the new gear at all because they are models and they are able to put all of their energy into looking their best, which I am obviously unable to do because I have a lot going on in my life that I find more important than my appearance.
http://vimeo.com/97043006
just wanted to share this video that a girl on my facebook posted to show people her totally normal body, with cellulites, and everything. because it is normal, and it is beautiful, i sweden it has got an amazing response I just wanted to share it with you too 🙂
Thank you for sharing that! I don’t feel so alone now. I finally see another women with my body shape. Cool!
Brilliant! Thank you for sharing this!
I get both sides of this argument. However, I was surprised to see that you chose to hire “models” for the shoot, just based on how frequently you talk about not obsessing over thigh gaps, and loving you body for the way it looks and etc etc…so I expected to see you use women who showed more variation in their appearance/physique etc. So when I saw you standing with “model bodies” in the image I thought “huh, thats interesting..”
I have a business so I get that its expensive to hire people. I think it might have been refreshing to do a call out for popsters who wanted to donate their time to model your clothing line. This could easily have been done through social media – put out a casting call asking women who would like to showcase the clothing with out payment. We do this all the time in photography, a TFP shoot. The people donate their time in exchange for prints or a digital file of the image. You have such a strong community here that I bet you would have been inundated with responses of eager women of all ages, shapes, sizes and backgrounds that it would have been overwhelming!
The way you chose to go about it is by no means wrong, but it just wasn’t what I was expecting.
I totally agree with you about the models! We are such a huge community willing to help and support Cassey, like she helps us every single day on this journey of being the best version of ourselves. It would have been nice to have like a Popsters casting.
What an awesome idea, Jenn, and how perfectly put. I love your workouts, Cassey, because you do exude so much positivity and say so much about how it’s all about becoming strong, confident, and healthy. As a girl recovering from bulimia, this is a message that helps me SO MUCH. Choosing models for your shoot wasn’t wrong. I guess it was just average: what everyone else in the industry would do. You seemed so NOT average, Cassey, by promoting genuine health and wellness over looks. I just expected more from you because historically your message has been so much better than what we usually see and hear.
I agree with Sarah and Jenn. Well said ladies, eloquently put.
I’m pretty shocked at all the comments I read on Facebook and Instagram. Girls, instead of staying here and there complaining about Cassey’s friends, why don’t you grab your mat and do your WO? Why don’t you go to your kitchen and make a cheap clean meal? I’m on my bed right now and my muscles…OMG, they’re dying because of today’s WO! You know what? When I look at the models I only see the gracefulness and the elegance of their bodies and this MOTIVATES me even more! So, come on. This is envy. Peace and love! Cassey, you changed my life. I hope you’ll read this, because you are the person that actually makes me begin the most beautiful journey of my life. Thanks, with all my heart.
XOXO
If there’s one thing I don’t like about the Internet, it’s (*imo*) overthinking. You picked your models for your activewear line, not photoshopped, very healthy and trim. There is NOTHING wrong with that. Gosh, so much “skinny” shaming as of late. And these models aren’t skinny–they’re FIT. That’s what you are all about–Fitness and Health. Carry on, Cassey, carry on.
Casey, you are awesome! It drives me crazy when I even hear the word “real woman” all women are real women. I constantly see things like “real women have curves”. Yes, some women are curvy, some women are slender. To me saying things like “real women have curves” is a defense mechanism. And it can also be negative saying, what about girls who have small breasts and are very slender, but eat healthy and exercise? Ladies, stop saying these things, and you should not have to create slogans in order to defend your appearance. I never hear men say “real men have curves”, because a man’s fitness goals is to be strong and fit not to look hot in skinny jeans. A lot of women I know exercise just for the sake of being thin and looking good. Ladies stop putting all your emphasis into what your body looks like, and more into how you feel and your health. If you are an unhealthy weight, over or underweight, you need to get it in check, for yourself. All men and women should exercise and should eat right, these are basic things. So please please please stop body shaming yourselves and each other, care for your bodies in the best way possible. Make your goal to be strong and healthy!
Thank you! I’ve always hated that term “Real Women”, as if women who are naturally slender are somehow fake, or NOT “women”? Poor things. It’s such a petty, spiteful, and (in my opinion) self justifying sounding phrase. If you feel threatened or made to feel that indignant by a woman who is of a different body type, or in better shape then you consider yourself, then you need to hug and love yourself. Not lash out and judge.
My main problem with this post is the implication that you cannot be large and healthy. There are plenty of Olympic athletes who are overweight and still win the gold. There are plenty of normal athletes who are overweight and still successful. There are overweight people who can run an 8 minute mile, do 100 push-ups, 200 crunches and so much more, and I’d say they’re pretty damn healthy if they can do all that. Fitness is not determined by your size, and I feel like that is what you are saying in this post. Having fat and being stagnant is dangerous, but I don’t think there is anything wrong with having fat and being active.
Thank you so much for saying this. And this disappointed me so much in Cassie’s argument.
I struggle with PCOS. I am overweight, but I take care of myself. I just completed 63 days of Insanity, for crying outloud, and tested my VO2 max for an Exercise Science friend and discovered my cardio is just below a performance athlete (or was, still gotta get back into the routine since coming back entirely from college after graduation).
I understand that Cassie’s friends are /naturally/ skinny girls. It happens. What I do not like, however, is the judgement she CONTINUES in her article that overweight=unhealthy. Did you know 1 out of 10 women have PCOS. And one of the largest factors is struggle with weight due to hormone in balance? We struggle everyday to eat right and live healthy lives. And then we are bombarded with this ignorance?
I loved Cassie’s movement when I first joined, but now that she is making these accusations and kinda being a fitness snob, I’m thinking about unsubscribing.
I am a size 12/14 and people claim I am one of the healthiest people I know, including my doctor! I am doing all I can to try to get my weight down, but if this is what I am, then I will continue to exercise and eat healthy even if I don’t /look/ that way.
Cassie, I understand you were defending your friends, but please do some more research and educate yourself before saying anything about people who struggle with weight issues.
I can’t help it that I lost only 2 lbs working my butt off while my friends lose 20 changing their diets. And I don’t need people perpetuating that I am unhealthy because of how I look. I thought your campaign was all about that.
I guess it was too good to be true.
You two both make very valid points; however, I believe you are describing anomalies. Yes there are people that are overweight yet live extremely healthy lives and strive to be healthier everyday, regardless of whether or not they see a change on the scale. However, this is most likely a minority of the overweight population. I am a medical student and have had a lot of experience with people who are overweight. In general, people who are overweight suffer a variety of health issues as a result.
Cassey never says that it is impossible to be overweight and fit. She is discussing how complacency has led to an increase in the percentage of people who are overweight. She is pushing for people to become more proactive in how they take care of their bodies instead of treating them like pieces of garbage.
I completely agrees, Lydia. It’s odd to see to many women talk about “fitness goals” in terms of their dress size and weight, when I’ve always strived to be able to keep up with Cassey’s insane workouts because I find the things she can do and her positivity much more motivational than her appearance.
I don’t have a problem with Cassey using models to model her fitness line because that is what models do, but it does send out a bit of mixed message to say that you should strive to be the best version of yourself, unless that version is a size 14. Isn’t it more important to keep your heart healthy, be conscious of what you eat and to love yourself? I may be a freak, but I think being happy is more appealing than being a size 2.
Cassey come back was really a disappointment to me. I thought everyone was entitled to their own opinion. I do not believe that any of ladies who posted a comment was being mean or malicious. I simply believe they were expressing their point of view. When did having an opinion became such a bad thing?
Actually there is a problem with being fat and active.
The negative health effects are not simply skin deep. Visceral fat increases risk of cancers, and even with activity the cardiovascular effects of fat are not completely fixed.
It’s been proven in many studies that even when you control for healthy behaviours like eating vegetables, not smoking, and getting exercise that being overweight is a massive health negative.
Your other point of olympic athletes being overweight is simply not true, either, in the vast majority of sports, the athletes are slim. being slim allows you to move faster with the same strength level.
Most look like the models in this post. There are some with bigger frames, but they’re not over 35% bodyfat, with the only exception being heavyweight weight lifters.
If you can do 100 pushups while overweight, you can do 150 when you’re not.
I just don’t get how these people can be rude enough to tell you they are disappointed. Everyone is here to get in shape and be toned. It seems to me that having you and others popsters in this shoot is the perfect motivation. If we stick to the program long enough and commit to yourself to improve our life. Your model are not photoshop and therefore are real people!
I’m sorry but Cassey has a company she has to run, which credit will she have, if she offers model with ++++ size? What those picture will tell the girls that need motivations? Curvy is sexy, obese is not. She’ll have different type of girls next time what’s the big deal seriously? Do you feel threaten by those girls?
I see this girls as motivation to go on with my journey. Obviously I weight much more than they do, but “knowing” Cassey and seeing how much she enjoy her life is a great example of healthy happy living.
Thank you Cassey, and I can’t wait to see these new line
I follow you on Twitter and just saw the Instagram picture from the photo shoot a few minutes ago. WOW! I was highly offended. I just find the term “fat” so absolutely offensive. Not to mention – no one in that picture is fat (I prefer the term overweight). Before I posted a comment I did read your post above. You even mention about half way through your post that you are a huge advocate of loving your body and reaching potential regardless of size, etc. but still chose to use the term “fat” in that Instagram picture. I do hope you’ll reconsider the use of that term. You always seem to be so positive and happy – but (in my opinion) missed the mark on that one. Thank you for allowing us to post comments and provide feedback. It is refreshing. Take care and I look forward to continuing to follow you on Twitter.
Fully agree with you. I truly hate the phrase “real women”. As someone who has boobs and carries a little extra weight, I totally appreciate wanting to see the clothes on a range of different sized models, but to call insinuate these women somehow achieved their body through unnatural means or go to extreme measures to look this way is disgusting.
Since the first Blogilates video I completed, I have been a huge fan. Cassey’s response to people asking for “real women” for her clothing line ads when in reality they wanted to see “average U.S. women”, made me love her even more. Just because you are a healthy, skinny woman you’re all of a sudden not a “real woman”? Come on people, that’s BS and you know it.
Anyone who identifies as a woman is a real woman. Dress size, height, weight, skin colour, body type; none of these matter. You identify as a woman? Great, congratulations on being a real woman! I’ll never understand why people make such a big deal out of these things.
That being said – keep doing what you do. You’re awesome.
How about a real average woman after giving birth?
Reading the negative reactions about how people are “disappointed” or “surprised” at the models kind of infuriated me a little bit actually. I think everyone in the Blogilates community knows that Cassey genuinely cares about us, our health, and how we feel about ourselves – so why is it so easy for some of us to bash her for her hard work?
The paragraph that talks about going above average really speaks to me, because that’s what all of us should be striving for anyway. To accept that average is “good enough” or should be the real norm is the problem I think, and I think it’s a poor excuse for not trying your best to better yourself.
For those people who think that these models are size 2s…Honestly, I don’t think they are. Size 2 are normally very petite people, and it’s more realistic if they were size 4 or 6. I work retail, and I’ve seen amazing strong and fit women in size 7, and that’s not exactly a “small” size.
And a message to Cassey~ lots of lovely vibes being sent your way, I admire everything that you do for us and yourself, and thank you for being there and motivating us to be the best we can be 🙂
“To accept that average is “good enough” or should be the real norm is the problem I think, and I think it’s a poor excuse for not trying your best to better yourself.”
Amen! Excuses, or progress.
I just found this blog today, read this and other entries and I must say you’re my new favorite person! I danced ballet for 18 years, was a gymnast and an athlete and then I got very sick from a genetic disorder that now prevents me from being as active/fit as I once were – but I still go on, now getting my MD.
So every single time I see the “real women are x or y” trope I get very angry – models, athletes, dancers, gymnasts, we worked hard as hell, through injuries, disease, everything, to be healthy and have the bodies we do, and sometimes that gets stolen from us – and even then, we still go on and keep fighting for it. And whoa, don’t get me started on how insanely depressed most healthcare providers get when we have to encounter very very young people dying from entirely preventable diseases at mid-20s because of obesity related diseases…
The healthy “ideal” is what should be promoted through and through – the pursuit of health and fitness, the betterment of oneself, the mindset of not giving up, not the acceptance of mediocrity. The next generations depend on it 🙂 Your message is awesome, the post is awesome and the girls that modeled are amazing! Congratulations to all of you!
Hi, Cassey!
I just want to tell that I didn’t and still don’t have problems with this photo. I get why you choose them.
I only wish to ask you that maybe in the future you could use women who are shorter to promote your line?
I get that there are a lot of body types and it is not easy to accommodate them all in your promo, and I don’t care about body type but I myself is 5’1″ and it is hard for me to relate to someone so much taller than I am. Because all of us can lead a healthy life, but getting taller is beyond our reach.
I also want to thank you for all you hard work! It really helped me. I’m just in the beginning but I believe I could become healthier with your help.
+1 for this! I’m 5′ and would be overjoyed to see models closer to the average height of 5’4″. I can change my fitness level and be as fit as the next person, but I’ll never be 5’10” and would really love models I can relate to.
I have to thank you, Cassey. I’m really tired of people saying “real women have curves” and “only dogs like bones.” I’m tired of underhandedly being told that I am not a woman just because of my body type which I, just like everyone else in the world, cannot change without undergoing surgery. I understand where the comments about “real women” and “normal women” were coming from and I very much appreciate that you challenged us POPsters to think about what we’re saying. What is normal? What is real? There’s a deeper issue at hand, one that’s ingrained into our mentality and I’m so glad you’re trying to help us see the issue and then initiate a change. Thank you so much. (:
Go Cassey!!!
Now that’s a great blog post! I love your philosophy!
Girls complain, women deal with it. That’s it, people. What I see in those two models is motivation. They are tall, strong and beautiful. Now I know that I will never be tall and I’m OK with that. But I CAN be strong and beautiful and nothing will stop me! Now stop complaining and start working, because you can do it and you can rock those clothes!
Cassey, seriously, you’re SUCH an inspiration! Thank you for staying strong, happy and positive. 🙂
I get what your intentions are, but I wish there was a different body type that displayed the blogilates image for BODYPOP. She can also be fit, but I wanted something more relateable, not something that we are bombarded with everyday, because they are both drop-dead gorgeous but also make me feel like shit about myself.
Cassey,
thank you so much for this! I am improving my health (and losing weight), and all those commenters sometimes make me feel like I’m doing something wrong, trying to be “unrealistic” or “fake” or “shallow”… thank you so much for encouraging being the best version of yourself, thank you for being so kind in your words, thank you for taking the time to write this!
You’re really making a difference and I am so happy that you are vocal about all this.
I feel that if you are a promoting a fitness line, fit models should be used. Seeing fit models would not motivate me as much as a person that already looks like me. I mean, how would that make me get off of the couch if I already looked like the model. That means I’m model status already, lol. A fit model gives me the drive to get up and move. Now, I will stress that I know that I will not look like them in any way because we are two different individuals, /but/ I know that I could be just as strong as her someday, if not stronger. I mean, those models worked just as hard as any other person who works at the gym. I see no problem in the models/friends you used. To me, if people identify with a negative message within your photos, that says something about how they feel about themselves and what they’re doing about it. Continue doing what you believe in and good luck to everyone doing day four of the #reJUNEvinate calender! 🙂
I think the big issue I have, is the fact that you talked a lot about how important designing the Body Pop line has been and making sure that the fit and fabrics are perfect, but for me the big issue with using fit and healthy models is the fact that I feel like it is acting as motivation. I don’t want to see active wear being modeled by someone who is clearly already fit and healthy. What’s more motivating for me, is to see someone who isn’t the picture of clean eating and a healthy lifestyle. When I see someone who looks like me in just a sports bra and short shorts, getting her sweat on, it’s a hell of a lot more motivational that seeing an attractive healthy model wearing/doing the same thing. And I totally understand where you are coming from and that it costs a lot of money, and I’m actually not disappointed or upset about it, I actually think people are overreacting. It also opens up the debate over what a “real woman” is, and the fact that people throw that term around so loosely. The women you chose are real woman, just like myself and everyone else who identifies as a woman. Anyways, this is just my two cents. Again, I’m not upset about this or the models you chose, just thought I’d add in my opinion. I still love you Cassey, no matter what you do. Also, I think the hashtag you should use should be #iambodypop! ♡ ♡ ♡
Loved the article! Very well written.
I really hope all the hate wasn’t coming from fellow popsters… We are suppose to be a supportive family.
It makes sense that for a fitness clothing line you would have strong, fit and healthy models. You can’t represent all body types through 2 models. Either way people would have their shorts in a knot regardless the models you chose.
Good job on your clothing line, and everything else you have accomplished. I’m so proud to see how far you’ve come. It’s so inspirational!
You go girl! You explained that really well. People are dissapointed that they don’t look like that and then you get these reactions. That’s to bad, but maybe also a sign that everybody wants to look and feel better! More POPster!
http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=4ZYVogCYsdA
Just a video I saw recently that gets one thinking about body image
And I’m completely okay with that! I understand you used the people you did in your photos for motivational purposes! 🙂
Hi Cassey, in a few words : you are totally right and I am so honoured to be a POPster right now. I haven’t gone through the whole comment section so I assume a lot has already been said, but your initiative to clarify your choices is truly making the whole goal of Blogilates clearer (is that a word ? not sure >< #FrenchProblems) : I feel like you are pushing us to be a better version of ourselves, we want to reach a healthier, more toned body with a healthy and strong mind. I am already quite thin and doing Blogilates more to tone up, but these photos do motivate me. Because I may not look like them (yet) but in my eyes, they are truly beautiful and this beauty can be reached thanks to you.
All women are real, that is true, but how about promoting a healthier ideal ? Is it a bad thing to show toned models , POPsters, for Cassey's new brand ? Personaly, I see these pictures as a motivation, as a state I want to be able to reach.
I love you Cassey, what you do is amazing and everyone should be grateful that you are so into helping others getting fit. You are a fitness instructor (you're actually way more than only a trainer but ^^ ) so you show us what we could achieve, through your idea of beauty. And that is really awesome to me. Please keep going ! For now, I have my workout waiting for me 🙂
xx
Im loving everything cassie is doing, and trying to be a positive voice about such a touchy issue. Im not ity bity…i stress…i work hard…sometimes i dont, but I’m on my own unique fitness journey. I am a real woman…and so are these women…There is no “one body size fits all” in fitness, but we generally do take the…you are unfit and thats ok to a little bit of an extreme. Am i a bit overweight..yes…do i wear my cute outfits and strut it like i dont giev a damn..yes…do i look at women like this and get inspired to work harder…HELL YES! I think Cassie has done a great job with embracing everyones unique struggle and body type, as well as promoting women and girls to do the same…It just seems like even here, people are size bashing. Yes its understandable people what to see bodies that they can relate too. But personally, i dont want to see someone who looks like me as my inspiration…I will tell that woman she is beautiful, and support her is she does, or noes NOT want to loose weight. But what i do want to see as inspiration for me to be as fit an insane as i can…is other women from break those boundaries.
We need to join together as women..
And cassie…Keep doing what you do…POPsters are behind you…Your line…do what you want…live your dream and know you cant please everyone…the ones who love you..LOVE AND APPRECIATE YOU!
Cassey I understand where you’re coming from with this but there are real women who are a bit bigger struggling to achieve a healthier better lifestyle by using your videos. I love that you reach out to everyone trying to better themselves. The models you chose were beautiful but I can’t help but noting they have similar body types. It’s more powerful that you use people who are passionate about your videos that can say hey this is what I did because Cassey made it easy for us to work out on a regular basis.
Why not have a contest using 100 words or less why there are strong and amazing to be in the photo shoot? It’s inspiring, Blogilates inspires real people.
“Real huh? Well…one is actually a Blogilates fan and the other is a friend from college”
I think the commentator here has a valid point — POPStars come in all sizes and, presumably, so does the fashion line, so it would be nice to see models who also come in varied sizes. This line of thinking is NOT putting down the models or Cassey , it’s simply asking that in a community who embraces everyone, that “everyone” been shown.
I sense from your post that you feel defensive about thin women modeling for Cassey. These women look fit, but who knows, they may have been a bit bigger or struggled with their weight at one point too. They may have similar body types, but isn’t that what we are all striving for? To look fit and healthy? That’s why Nike uses fit women to advertise their gear- because they are selling the idea that it’s attainable if you purchase their clothing.
“It’s more powerful that you use people who are passionate about your videos that can say hey this is what I did because Cassey made it easy for us to work out on a regular basis”- Why can’t the girls she picked be passionate about her videos, too? They are real women with real struggles, too. Just because someone is thin doesn’t mean they are perfect or unreal.
I think you are amazing Cassey! You are such a motivator and you help so many girls (and guys, I’m sure!) with your videos. I think the models you chose were perfectly fine. It would have been perfectly fine if you chose models that weren’t as fit too. It shouldn’t matter either way. We aren’t shopping for the models, we’re shopping for the clothes. Honestly, I already know what I look like, and I’d rather look at fit chicks while I’m shopping than someone that looks like me. Haha I’m not hating on myself, I just know how to appreciate other people’s bodies too. It’s not that hard to measure yourself and know what sizes you’ll need regardless of the size of the person modeling the clothes.
Keep on being awesome, Cassey! And thank you for all that you do!! <3
I just want to say, I Love you Cassey Ho!
The first time I saw you was actually on Dr. Oz and you did a demo work out with “real” or “average” American women and even the Dr. Himself. I was mostly taken by your personality and genuine desire to help women reach our full potential. I skimmed through the comments and read the full article, in my point of view times have changed for humans spiritually, mentally and physically. We have many challenges each and every day, in all of those aspects. If we all take the time to focus on ourselves and love one another we’ll see we’re all the same. REAL women with REAL challenges trying our hardest everyday to make some sort of difference. The sooner we accept ourselves, the sooner we can change ourselves to be our best and help others do the same.
THANK YOU Cassey Ho and THANK YOU fellow popsters for making a difference & keepin it REAL.
#everyBODYPOP #weBODYPOP #iamBODYPOP
I don’t think you did anything wrong, those are lovely real women who care about their bodies, and you have a business to run. However, I think I was a little shocked to see that you weren’t using more variety, of which you encourage among the community, in your photos. I’m sure plenty of popsters would have posed in your clothes, if you did not have $$ for models.
Aubrey, I totally agree with you. Your point could not have been more well said.
I think there are a lot of people who are misunderstanding those who are asking for “real women”.
People want to see someone they can relate to, not someone they wish they could look like.
It is much more motivational for anyone to see someone who looks more like them than to see a woman who is so far away from the goal they have set for themselves. To see someone just like you who is trying to achieve the same goal is an excellent motivator. As Cassey has always said, we all start somewhere and it would be beautiful to see women of many shapes and sizes. I know that weight watchers displays photographs of different types of women, including those who would be considered obese, and they look just as stunning as the women in this picture. And I have to say, those photos have motivated me more than any tall and slim model out there.
Just 3 words: YOU ARE AMAZING!
Thank you so much for all Cassey.. you’re working so hard for our activewear line and I hope it will be payd back cause you deserve it! I sometimes think about what do people think while writing comments like those you’re referring to. It’s unbelievable how they can write so superficially and not caring about thefeelings of the other people.
Love you Cassey! Kisses from ITALY 🙂
Cassey,
I think what you are getting at and what so many other popsters (such as myself) would agree with is NO SHAME. Shame is an extremely harmful emotion and is always perpetuated by people who feel ashamed themselves. For those shaming you and your models, I think that I and so many others are disappointed. Blogilates is a no shame zone–let’s keep it that way! I think the reason blogilates is the only exercise that has been able to catch my interest and keep me engaged is the fact that you feel like a FRIEND. All those other fitness instructors make me feel judged and, subsequently, I feel shame and never return to their program. I feel such an absence of judgment from you that it even defends me from feeling judged by others in my life who would scoff at my new attempt to take care of my body with blogilates. I’ve never seen vanity from you. It comes through quite clearly what a good heart you have.
Congratulations to you, friend.
-Courtenay
I understand the whole thing about models know how to model, and they will get the job done faster, which means less money spent. And I also get that the average size has gone up significantly in the past few decades. But I think we also have to think about why that is. 50 years ago, a lot more Americans had labor-intensive jobs (for the men) and women were homemakers, so they were constantly moving around the house or walking into town to buy fabric or whatever. No one was “working out” and there was no concept of “fast food.” I agree that home-made, clean meals are better for you, and as soon as I get out of college I am going to make that happen for myself. But the fact is, today is a lot faster-paced society with a lot more desk jobs, and a lot more stress all around, which physiologically increases fat buildup. I love that you have always put the emphasis on strength rather than weight, and I think that you should continue to do so. Like I said, I don’t have a problem with how you conducted your photo shoot (and frankly, it’s none of my business – I’m sticking to t-shirts and Soffe shorts for the rest of my life, cuz I’m cheap like that.) And I agree that labeling one type of woman as “real” and others as “not real” is hurtful and all that. But I also think that the obesity epidemic is bad. But I also think that before people bring out all these weight and size statistics, they should also look at stats about manual labor, desk jobs, hours worked in what type of conditions, etc. Statistics very seldom stand on their own. Just my 2 cents.
Hi Cassey,
I love what you have to say here. I do agree that it’s important to showcase a wide array of women’s bodies because like you said, we are all real. I have a lot of friends who are overweight and I sometimes feel like they unintentionally make me feel uncomfortable about my body. Let me point out that I am not a a size 2 model. I am 5’3″ and 120 lbs, a healthy size. I wasn’t always healthy though, I use to be a size 13 and I decided it was enough. I started slow, just cutting out soda and fast food then started adding in cardio and weights. It wasn’t a fast process, It took me almost 10 years to go from a 13 to a 4 (it could have been faster if I was more motivated back then). Now that I am here, I still work hard, I realize that I can’t eat all the food I want, that I have to workout to maintain it (I do not have a fast metabolism). But I have friends who are not at the point where they are motivated and rather just complain about their weight. They tell me things like, “You can eat that because you’re skinny.” or “You can wear that because you’re skinny.” As if I magically became this size overnight. I work hard to maintain my body and be healthy, but now that I have reached my goal, instead of voicing my excitement, I feel like I have to keep quiet because “I’m skinny” and they are not confident about their own bodies (I’ve recommended blogilates to all my friends, none of them have tried it yet).
I love reading your blog posts because you speak the truth. We are all real, we are all beautiful. We need to support each other instead of putting each other down. Thank you for all that you do Cassey!
(My new favorite internet meme)
How to be skinny:
1. Notice that your body is covered in skin.
2. Say “Wow! I’m skinny.”
Congratulations you are now skinny.
Sounds like your friends are making you feel ashamed of your body. So messed up! Of course, it is probably due to their own sorrow. It’s an amazing thing to learn to love and care for your body and when you start.. it will bring out the insecurity in others. They won’t understand and they won’t like it. They want to love themselves, too, but they don’t know how. This kinda seems to be the way of things when an individual starts to better themselves. It can be so lonely. Keep it up, dear heart. You have solidarity from the blogilates community. 🙂
I just wanted to say I found that meme hilarious XDDDD I love the internet…
Sorry for being off topic lol
Hello 🙂
I think you have a lots of people who have a very different body from your models, like me .
And I can’t imagine me using the cloths that they use. Seeing that pictures make me think “that will never fit me ” or ” that never will be good on me “.
And I think you have a lots a people who think like me , and that make then feel angry and sad, and make then do that kind of comments.
They don’t want “real womans” , because that is relative . We want models, who make es feel sure that your cloths fit to in every bodies .
I hope that my comment is understandable because my english is not very good
😉
So many things I’d like to say but will probably forget something.
— CONGRATULATIONS on your continued success Cassey! Hard work, dedication, and patience truly do pay off and I’m so happy your dreams are coming true! GOOD FOR YOU!! Shouldn’t we be PROUD of the goals you are achieving instead of insulting the decisions you’ve made? How disrespectful and unappreciative. It hurts my heart that people can put down the hard work of others.
— I’ve noticed many are focused on the size 14 vs size 4 debate. Keep in mind a size 4 OR 14 looks different on many different shapes and sizes!
— Women have many different body types, as we can see in the photo Cassey has in this post. How possible do you think it is it to depict every person’s body type unless you have a bunch of models? I see nothing wrong with including people who share the same fitness views and goals, especially if they are friends of yours.
In Cassey’s post, I don’t see at any point where she says anything negative about anyone who is a size 14. In fact, I’ve always seen Cassey advocating positive body image and loving your body for what it is, and to view fitness as a journey, not a destination.
Maybe we are so used to seeing models whose bodies are altered via photoshop, that we have forgotten to appreciate beauty in its true form. I’ve been following Cassey’s Blogilates posts for 7 months now and have seen how much she promotes positive body images. We read it in her posts and we hear it in her videos. I have seen this also put into action. For the launch of this fitness line, I anticipated the same approach and have not been disappointed. I see two women who look like they are in the best form of their bodies. As we ALL know, that does not come easy. It takes motivation, dedication, and perseverance. In Alyssa and Monique, I see what can be accomplished through these.
I am appalled that such a positive moment in someone’s life was turned into such negativity. One of the many things life has taught me is that what we criticize in others is often a reflection of what we criticize in ourselves. Something to think about before finding faults in others achievements.
Love you Cassey! No matter what you do, someone will have something to say about it, and I’m proud that you do not let it affect the choices you make and what you believe in. (:
I think people wanted someone that isn’t a size 2 or something that is really small because other sizes that are a little bit higher are healthy too. We weren’t trying to say that obesity is a good thing. I am sure we understand how things have changed in the United States in the last 50 years too.
Thank you Cassey, good writing.
Healthy is what we are on the inside, how we feel. But often there is complaints like:
“Too skinny”
“Too fat”
Too tall”
“Too short”
“Too perfect”
Nothing seems to be okay. It sometimes also depends on what’s popular for the moment and sometimes we’re just jealous, that’s sad.
We are different and we look different. We will be happier and make other happier if we respect that.
Hi Cassey,
I understand why you chose the models. They’re your friends and you wanted to include them, which is awesome. Also, they look like the American ideal: tall, skinny and healthy.
Next time, (if it is in your budget, which if it isn’t, I totally understand) would you please feature some models that aren’t just tall and skinny? Like an array of people that range from short to tall, with curvy to tomboy-ish? There isn’t anything wrong with skinny people, It just would be nice to other body types featured. Curvy and short is almost never represented, and it’s a bit saddening.
Also, some of the people that are looking to lose weight will want to see different people represented as a way to connect with the line and business. Like personally, the first thought I had when I looked at your new clothes was that “There is no way I would be able to fit into that” and I’m a size 16. If there was various sizes represented, I might feel a bit more comfortable buying your clothes.
Please understand that I’m not skinny shamming at all. Just trying to add helpful thoughts to help your business.
Thank you so much for this! I am so sick and tired of hearing people talk about “Real Women”. Ha! They don’t mean real women. A real women takes care of her body and doesn’t stuff it with junk food every chance she gets. A real women maybe isn’t a size 2 or a size 4 (since our bodies are all different) but she certainly isn’t a size 3000 either. A real women has confidence in herself, is hard working and doesn’t badger others into telling her she is sexy. Your friends look lovely and it is easy to see that they are hardworking and very healthy. I also applaud you in your endeavor to use different types of real women, I’m only 5ft and while I wish my legs went on for miles, the definitely don’t. I honestly believe we should be publicizing and praising what normal and strong looks like. Not Hollywood size Anorexic and not Big Mac poster girls either, but real women in all their heights, shapes and lengths. Don’t listen to complainers, keep fighting for strong women.
Thank you so much for this! I am so sick and tired of hearing people talk about “Real Women”. Ha! They don’t mean real women. A real women takes care of her body and doesn’t stuff it with junk food every chance she gets. A real women maybe isn’t a size 2 or a size 4 (since our bodies are all different) but she certainly isn’t a size 3000 either. A real women has confidence in herself, is hard working and doesn’t badger others into telling her she is sexy. Your friends look lovely and it is easy to see that they are hardworking and very healthy. I also applaud you in your endeavor to use different types of real women, I’m only 5ft and while I wish my legs went on for miles, the definitely don’t. I honestly believe we should be publicizing and praising what normal and strong looks like. Not Hollywood size Anerorix and not Big Mac poster girls either, but real women in all their heights, shapes and lengths. Don’t listen to complainers, keep fighting for strong women.
I think all women have to come to terms that there will always be someone (in real life) who is thinner, smarter, and prettier. In no way does that make us ugly or dumb.
We have to be ok with seeing and accepting people who are blessed with these attributes. Instead of jealously, let’s look inside ourselves and make ourselves the best we can be. This is not Cassey’s job nor the media’s nor any magazine’s job. It is our responsibility.
Loved this post! I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been thin-shamed or made to feel inferior because I don’t have large hips or breasts, things that are traditionally seen as “womanly.” Friends have referred to themselves as “real women” in front of me while blatantly excluding me. Thin-shaming and accusing thin (and healthy) women of having eating disorders has become very fashionable because, like Cassey points out, the trend is headed toward obesity. What we need to remember is that only eating fatty, refined foods in enormous quantities is as much an eating disorder (and epidemic) as starving oneself. Just as it would be in poor taste to show an obviously malnourished model, it should be equally frowned upon to display obese models. Just something to consider. But we are all real women regardless of weight.
I’m going to be honest. I think the negative comments came from people who are jealous or downright insecure about themselves. I think people forget sometimes that those are REAL people they are downgrading and they have feelings that can be hurt. It’s so rude. I never ever body shame. It’s not right. No bodytype is “better” or more “womanly” than another. Cassey you got this right on the money!!! Great post and you explained everything perfectly. Those models look beautiful and 100% healthy and fit. They don’t look starving at all and I’m soooooo excited for your new line!!!!! (I actually put in my second order week ago and i’m patiently waiting its arrival) so I’m pumped for your new BodyPop Collection 🙂 thank you for being the best!!!!!! much love xoxoxo
This article is perfect. “Real” is being thrown around these days, like a measurement. You have a body–it is a “real” body. Everyone is made different and people criticize others only because those people are everything they’ve ever wanted to be. As long as someone is happy and confident about their body, you have no right to judge it.
Thank you for this article Cassey, I wish more people could see it from your point of view.
I used to use this website for motivation and inspiration. Cassey, your attitude in your videos was so refreshing. I used the beginner’s calendar and worked my way up to more challenging workouts, I did the 90 Day clean eating challenge (and recommended it to so many people!), I did one of the DietBets and lost almost 20 pounds. But now I’m out.
The criticism you received? The way you felt attacked? That is the message plus sized women receive all day every day. And you couldn’t even handle a day in our shoes.
To go to the website I use for inspiration and see the word scary! SCARY! is what you call the state of my body. I come here to be motivated to workout and eat better, and get called scary.
To go to the website I use for inspiration and motivation and be told I am not the kind of body you want to see, to be told you and your skinny lady friends are the “best version … I hope that you want to be the A+ version of yourself too.” So sorry that I am an “F” for not looking like your version of the best. That kind of talk does NOT motivate me one bit.
And NO I will NOT give you free advertising across social media for your new activewear, and I’m insulted that you’d ask us to do so under the guise of “motivation.”
Well then goodbye. The POPstar community doesn’t need a negative nancy like you.
Hi, Ashley!
I think there may have been a miscommunication. When Cassey used the word “scary,” she was referring to the trend of soaring obesity rates in the U.S. on account of our sedentary lifestyle and bad eating habits. (A friend of mine works in health policy, and she talks a lot about this too!) I truly don’t think that Cassey was referring to anyone’s body as “scary,” no matter how fit or unfit they may be.
In the paragraph about being the A+ version of yourself–I don’t know if you saw this or not–but the paragraph that came in italics immediately after explained that she was no longer using the word “average” to refer to body types. She was using the word “average” in that paragraph to refer to women who don’t challenge themselves, who don’t try to be the best version of themselves mentally, spiritually, personally, etc. She wanted to clarify that she wasn’t talking about “average” body types when she said that she didn’t want to be average! I hope if you see that paragraph again, it will help clarify her meaning.
As for stopping POP Pilates, that is your choice, but I hope that if you do that you will keep up with another workout routine! If you stop POP Pilates it won’t hurt Cassey- I mean, she doesn’t make money off of her videos or meal plans or workout calendars. I hope that you’ll see what I believe Cassey wanted to express in this post and keep up with POP Pilates simply because it sounds like it has been working for you, and that you are making some good progress towards a fitter lifestyle- congratulations on that, by the way! But even if you feel you can no longer be motivated by Cassey, I hope you keep working out! Otherwise, the only person you will be hurting is yourself.
Whatever you decide, as a fellow woman trying to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle, I wish you the very best!
Of course she makes money off of her videos… It’s called ad revenue.
You are so inspiring Cassey! I’ve been watching your videos for almost 2 years now and your progress has been so incredibly motivating! Keep doing what you love and the rest will follow! Love you!
Oh damn guys!! (sorry for may english, it’s not perfect! I’m from Germany but I really want to say something if you let me 🙂 )
For me it’s inspiring to see how far women can go and what they’re able to reach!
There was a time some years ago when women were NOTHING! They couldn’t elect in their country or work harder for ther career than their husband allowed it. They were “made” to be treaten as working animals for the household and the children!
Even today in some countries women are still nothing. Where the families have to PAY something to the other family when their girl get married. Or much worse: Where babies lay on the streets all around the town because they were born as girls and not as boys.
THAT is scary, but it’s our past and even our present.
Time has changed but many prejudices against women are still all around us!
Or why do you think there are still so many guys who think that they can mistreat or beat women – because we’re so weak and naughty?
No we aren’t and we must be proud of what we are! We have to show all the stupid guys what we’re able to reach!
It’s not that “show them what we are/what we can look like”-thing because every woman IS a woman with a personality and a special body doesn’t matter if she’s black, white, small, tall, thin, thick.
Every woman looks different, so the “look what I AM/what I look like” is always something very personal and different for every woman/person in general!
What is much more important is that we know we are something! Something very important!
And that we start to SHOW the world what we are able to REACH! We can suffer pain to get muscles, we can look at our meals to lose weight, we can do self-defence to be stronger and more confident, we can reach high goals in career, WE CAN DO EVERYTHING!
So don’t be so angry when you see beautiful models with wonderful bodies.
Of course every body is different and has other proportions but please think about what you say about them. The fact that they may have longer legs than you don’t make them less intelligent, less normal, less strong, less worth than you.
Take them as a friend to see what we’re able to do! We souldn’t all look exactly like them! That’s stupid, impossible and morally not acceptable!!! NOBODY WANT TO SAY THIS!
Only YOU say this! YOU think that if you see such a model in a magazine that you have to look like that woman to look beautiful but that’s bullshit!! (sorry for that) The beauty comes from the inner strength and love and confidence! That’s why they laugh and smile and look beautiful on their photos because they know that they are something wonderful – because they are alive.
Do a experiment: Look at you in the mirror, at your whole body how you stand there just as you always do. Now try to rise up, bring your shoulders back and make your upper body long. Know smile a little but – just try it. Do you see the difference? Do you see how confident and much better you look like? Because it’s the posture of someone who knows what he/she is and that ALWAYS makes beautiful and a much impressive way! 🙂
Take them as a friend to think about what we’re able to do in our minds, with our strength, with our love to our body, with our self-confidence! Not with our clothes sizes!!!
They worked for it, too and this can make you to a kind of “team” pulling in the same direction! You may not know each other and do your thing on the other half of the earth but you can have much more in common than you think 🙂
Love you guys, and start loving yourselves! Than you can love others and respect what they reach in their life and to see that we all have much in common!
Now I’m looking forward to my clean salad with salmon and vegetables!! 🙂
I loooove to cook now because I’ve learned very much about my body and my soul this year! Thank you Cassie for every day you’ve showed me what “love yourself and bring the best out of yourself” really mean!
My body is glad everyday when I feed him with GOOD food and I don’t even need the bääh stuff I ate before! Okay sometimes of course 🙂 but that’s completely normal and okay! At the next day my body says “Okay Romina, the chocolate icecream was veery delicious but honestly… I don’t want more of it because it makes me tired and not as powerful than I was before…. please give me some salad and fish again 🙂 😀
I love you all, the Popster-Team and of coure you Cassie! ♥
Nice day everyone 🙂
Ah I forgot something!
The new “my.blogilates”-website is amazing! Good work Cassie!
Very inspiring to see all the other POPsters being active/online whatever!
It’s really motivating 🙂
I’m just confused.
I’m I getting this right, we all write Amazing job, you look wonderful ans so on on he girls in the Before and After forum on the Blogilates App. Asking them how they did it.
And here are two girls (one is actually doing Blogilates) and now it is “wrong” to look like an after pic?
Why??
I am so glad you posted this. I am also over people shaming thin women. My best friend is tiny, and I remember when everyone was mad about how Abercrombie wouldn’t make sizes for “big” women. She felt as though it was more wrong that she couldn’t go to Wal-Mart and find pants that didn’t fall off of her, since those clothes are actually affordable. Everyone has their struggles. Even if it was an unhealthy person modeling, who are we to say they are anything other than beautiful?
I’m sorry Cassey but this post kind of makes it look like YOU think that women that are size 14 or above size 4 are not strong, beautiful and stoppable. I promise you that not all overweight people is sitting in front of their sofa eating mac and cheese and drinking soda.
Overweight women are also strong, beautiful and stoppable. Some of them work their asses off the gym
and struggle to lose at least 500g. Some of them work even harder than a lot of us.
And yes, those women you chose to model your clothes are very real, but it is kind of discouraging for me personally to see that women that dedicate their lives to their bodies and have a figure like that are modelling them, and i will never know how those clothes would look on me, a person with an average *NON AMERICAN* body.
I’m not sure about this, but I assume that size 14 women won’t be able to wear or buy your clothes after this, maybe your size chart won’t even go that big, idk.
Anyways, good luck on this project of yours.
Thank you!! I work my ass off to be fit and healthy and it’s insulting to imply that I’m less of a woman because of it. Yes, everyone should love their body. In fact, they should love it enough to take care of it and work toward better health. That doesn’t mean looking like a model, but it does mean watching what you eat and being active.
I love to see fit models, it gives me a little bit of inspiration. On the flip side being bombarded with only fit women in workout clothes gets discouraging.
It makes me think that I can’t look good like that, That only people who are fit can wear things like that. For the most part that is true. If I wore what you are in your picture above people would stare at me. They would laugh and jeer and unfortunately thats just how it is. It becomes something that makes me uncomfortable in my skin. I would just love to see someone who is in the process of change too. Workout wear is for people who look good in it. The best thing I can find to wear is a baggy shirt and any type of pant, because frankly the shorts are either too long or too short. Or any line that is ‘plus sized’ is $100+ for a shirt. Not going to happen. But realistically speaking how would you know this? People don’t realize that you would have never had to deal with this problem. That as much as you try to put yourself in everyones shoes, someone somewhere is going to be left out with no fault of your own.
People shouldn’t thrash at you about what your saying, because statistically wise its very accurate. Sadly I don’t just want to be a statistic. I want to be someone who has the option to wear things that fit me right and work right with my body. I’ve found that being heavier I need more durable material. That something that might work for a size 4 body type makes me feel like I’m wiggling around with no support. It soon becomes a waste of money because I will not wear it. My rolls and my curves don’t keep it where it needs to be. I feel like people mistake the idea of using the phrase for “real women” as to say “I want options”. Regardless of weight. I know many friends who stand shorter than 5ft, and taller than 5’7 and whatever we wear will look different on all of us, yet there is typically only one cut, one kind of it. (The concept of options is represented in multiple colors)
Regardless I think people get really bent up about things like this. Instead of being rude about it, people just just try and do something about it instead of putting you or your friends down. Its not like you don’t work hard to be as fit as you do so no one can say otherwise. Its just hard for people to not complain about something, regardless of what it is. If you would have said the sky is blue someone somewhere would have said “Oh well, I think its more of a cerulean”. Because as wonderful as people can be, they can be just as cruel in the same breath.
Cassey, Keep doing what you do because it’s perfect regardless of the hate. People will always try and dull your shine.
I don’t know if someone has already suggest this or if you’re already do this but how about linking to instragram and have us, real woman of all sizes, take pictures of ourselves and link it to Blogilates #realwomanmodeling or something like that. We can show off the clothes either at the gym, at home or outside. Anyways, I do like what you wrote and I think we should all work to get to our A+ self. And a shot out to all the ladies who are working it and who have reach that goal! <3
I totally agree that we need to stop referring to women as “real women.” Everyone, like Cassey says, is REAL. Cassey has to keep fitness as a top priority for the people who take part in her activities and love Blogilates, however, it would be nice to see average, every day examples of women, including the friends who modelled for the look book in this post. Something that I have to take issue with is this comment from your post, Cassey (I’m not sure if it’s been brought up before): “The other part of the argument is that y’all wanted to see more body types. I TOTALLY get that. For this shoot though, I was not able to financially afford many models other than the two (just so you know from a business standpoint how decisions were made).” I REALLY have a hard time believing this, not from a financial point of view, but from the fact that THOUSANDS of women around the world who follow you, Cassey, would DIE to be in your look book FOR FREE. I bet you that anyone living in your area who follows you and is inspired by you would have loved to freely volunteer their time to help you with this look book and I think it is somewhat a slap in the face to a lot of readers that you would overlook them in this way considering you’re all about interacting with fans and that’s something I absolutely adore. From a “business standpoint” the idea to pull girls from your classes or from your before and after section on the app and the social site would have been a great move, but you instead chose to showcase women who, while absolutely beautiful and total inspirations, portray the standards that MOST women are unable to ever achieve living the “average” life that a woman who reads Blogilates does. Getting your “average” reader to be in the book would have freed up money for makeup artists, different shoot sites, etc. to help make the book that much better overall.
TL;DR? Love Cassey, love the look book, think better decisions could have been made to include an array of body types and better live up to the Blogilates philosophy that we are all beautiful.
Look, Cassey is not simply making a few clothes – she is debuting her first, professional fitness clothing line. It won’t be only for Blogilates fans, it’ll be a fitness line for anyone, so she will be entering the very competitive clothing/fashion business. This is something professional. I know it sounds easy to be a model and take pictures, but it isn’t that simple – a professional model gets the work done much faster than someone who isn’t used to modelling, which means that the work will turn out cheaper (because time is money) and faster. She is working with two models who are her friends and you are bitter about it because they don’t have the same body type as you? Honestly, it is impossible to please everyone and I think y’all are being unfair to Cassey, who is obviously trying to make a great job. I hate how women always find a way to bring another woman down – even somebody as positive and as engaged into helping others as Cassey. Can’t you just be happy for her without being butthurt that she didn’t put an oversize model into her first lookbook. She is going to have more lookbooks and then she can make one with women of different sizes, but this is her FIRST lookbook and you guys are already criticizing everything.
Girls have to support each other and I’m sick of seeing this kind of behaviour towards women. Nobody would say ANYTHING if this was someone else’s lookbook. If it was someone else’s lookbook they’d probably even say: thank you for not putting skinny girls in your lookbook.
Stupid hypocrisy.
Hi Julia,
You know nothing about me. Actually, I have a very similar body type as the girls in the pictures. I never said anything about putting oversized girls in the lookbook, nor did I say that I don’t think these girls “belong”. I actually stated that they are inspirational. Clearly you failed to actually read. I made a suggestion and if you actually read my whole post, I did not say anything to full out criticize Cassey. I love her. I love what she does, my post was a suggestion of what could have been done. I’m not really sure about your comment “thank you for not putting skinny girls in your lookbook” considering these girls are thin and in shape. I think that you need to take some time to read in full and to understand another person’s point of view considering you are talking about supporting other women yet are attacking people for their opinions at the same time. What’s stupid hypocrisy is your entire post.
When I first saw the photos, I didn’t see anything wrong. While I understand where is everyone is coming from with this real women thing. Because to be real women, or real women have curves, is only part of the world. There are also women who are just naturally thin. And its sad to think that we as a society put them down because they don’t look like us. When I was younger my friends would tease me about my wieght because I was naturally peite which lead to an unhealthy lifestyle to becoming over wieght. What does that have to do with the models? Because now you are doing the same. Just because someone doesn’t look like doesn’t mean they aren’t average everyday women too. There are so many online stores with thin average models, I don’t understand how because Casey didn’t use someone with cruves would change how you bought the clothes. Meanwhile so many other sites do the same. Casey already said that these models are healthy women. And thats the goal for each of us, Healthy and fit. So what is so wrong with that.
Cassey, don’t let the people who are unhappy with themselves try to tell you how to run your BUSINESS. You’re lucky that your business and your passion are the same thing, and it’s upsetting that there are people who are so miserable that they feel the need to try to drag the positive people in this world down. It might be important here to remind everyone that “you can’t please everyone all the time”. I know that my body isn’t anything close to the bodies of the models you chose, but that doesn’t tell me that your new line isn’t for me. It doesn’t make me feel bad about myself. It reminds me to keep it up and I’ll see my own results. I feel the world today is full of people who want to be told they’re okay the way they are (complacency) instead of wanting to be motivated to change and improve. It’s also full of people who want to point out the negative anywhere they possibly can. Just remember that these types of people are stubborn who likely won’t be moved by your positivity no matter how much you might amp it up to try to help them. So just keep doing you and remember that for every hater or negative commenter, you have at least 10 fans and admirers. Thank you for always being positive and REAL!
I’ll tell you what I’m fed up of: Labeling one person a “Real woman” because she has curves and skinny shaming. I see this all the time on and it’s so stupid. Honestly, in my opinion a real woman doesn’t define her feminity or status by anything other than her actions. Not her appearance, her weight or anything physical. It’s who you are. Not what you look like.
Hear, hear!
I love blogilates and Cassey and what she has done. I don’t see anything wrong with the models. And the reaction of some people is telling of how insecure they actually feel about their bodies.. I mean when you feel offended when someone shows fit people, who happen to also be a small size (a.k.a. “skinny”) then you should definitely work on your self-esteem along with your body. We have been so brainwashed by society and by advertisement which tell us to lose a few pounds, or get the new sexy look, that in the end everything reminds us of how “flawed” we are. Everyone chill seriously
I don’t agree in that these girls look like VS models like previous commenters have stated, sure they are on the fit side but VS models are nearly paper thin as they are lingerie models and that is what they have to look like to work for VS. I do agree that it’s not in the norm for Cassie on blogilates to choose fitness models to show us anything, but you know what, they might be models but think of them as a taller version of Cassie because to me thats what they look like, healthy and fit I don’t see them as thin or VS Model like, plus Cassie has never released a full on active wear line, she has yoga pants and tanks but she’s never done anything to this level and she had a chance to say instead of paying other models that I would probably have to cast why not just support my friends that look beautiful, healthy and fit themselves so that women can aspire to be the best version of themselves.
Plus, when I see an active wear line I don’t want to see a woman that’s up to US Average, I wanna see someone healthy and fit, to make me wanna be like damn I gotta get my things together and stay on the healthy train, even if I might not ever look like that, no one should want to, everyone should just want to be the healthiest and the best version of themselves.
Ladies! All of you express you work hard and don’t look like that and that’s fine. You don’t need to rip apart these girls. I’m also a naturally petite person and have all of you ever though how it makes us feel when people say we song look “real”? It hurts. It feels like everyone hates you for no reason. So you won’t show leg in shorts. Or go to the beach at that bikini. Instead, being such a target of criticism makes you develop body image problems and even eating disoers. I’m so disappointed to see people from this community responding to this the way you are. Can’t you be happy for the one girl developing her hard earned modeling career and also casseys friend working her butt off in school and still finding time to also work her. Butt off? Shame on you all for judging these beautiful ladies so harshly. We’re all different wo embrace it.
Of course women of all sizes are real women. I think people should just stop being so defensive and nip picking on every little aspects of points and opinions. The world doesn’t just revolve around one person. If someone talks about lets say a size 14 and addressing issue in regarding size 14, it doesn’t mean that he/she is specifically talking about you. It’s just general speaking. AND of course there are exceptions. You are big boned. Your body was built differently etc.
I think people should just take things lightly and not be overly offensive about every little thing people say. It’s good to share your opinions but most of the time what I see is that people always speak up with their exceptions and in a way say “hey, you’re talking about me!”
I was practically a size 0. After 2 kids I went up to size 7 and slowly ( 6yrs ) I lost the baby weight and now a size 4. I still have a muffin top. I don’t like it, but I don’t get offensive when people talk about weight or even mention the muffin top that I have. It’s my problem and I don’t complain or make any excuse for it. I barely exercise. The only thing I try to do is eat healthy.
If Cassey had used a size 8, 10, 14 model, then I’m sure she would be criticize anyway. Not a lot of people use a plus size model to model fitness wear. Does that look inspirational?
What I think Cassey should have done is instead of hiring models, ask her fans, the ones who have gone through a long journey to lose the weight and are in healthy shape. That’s inspirational and real.
If the average size 50 years ago was equivalent to a size 4 today, how come your celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Ava Gardner, Jayne Mansfield etc all much “thicker” than our celebrities today. Marilyn wore something like a size 10 and I guarantee you she couldn’t squeeze her knees past a today’s size 4. Also keep in mind 50 years ago the cultural make up of the United States was far different, and different cultures see women differently. Today we have a lot of middle eastern and African countries all of whom think skinny women need to eat something.
Marilyn Monroe was 5’5 weighed 118lbs and had measurements of 35/22/35. Her clothing is displayed on mannequins which are a modern size 2. Tell me again how she was huge?
If Marilyn Monroe was a size ten (was also in movies in the 50’s), then she was only one size above the average at that time. Therefore in todays standards, she would have been a 6, and could have easily squeezed her knees and thighs and butt into a 4. Yes, the cultural makeup was very different, and continues to change today. The problem comes from people putting their own beliefs of what their definition of a healthy person is, onto other people. Everyone comes in different shapes, sizes and colours, and who are we to determine what is right for someone else.
Actually upon further research I found she was a 12…..and there is NO way that woman would fit into a today’s size 4. She wasn’t fat at all, but she had hips. I got this from a fan site, so keep in mind it my or my not be accurate:
Height: 5 feet, 5½ inches
Weight: 118-140 pounds (Hollywood studios listed her between 115-120 lbs.)
Bust: 35-37 inches
Waist: 22-23 inches
Hips: 35-36 inches
Bra size: 36D
There is NO WAY her hips were getting in a size 4….Actually most sites say she probably would have wore a 12 by today’s standards. My best friend wore a (before she got pregnant, that is) and she was straight up and down, very athletic build.
http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2012/04/marilyn-monroe-was-not-even-close-to-a-size-12-16/
No, it’s really about today’s size 4. From here: http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2012/04/marilyn-monroe-was-not-even-close-to-a-size-12-16/
As to what size Marilyn Monroe would be in women’s sizes today, that’s not an easy thing to answer due to the differing sizes from brand to brand, country to country, and the fact that her extreme hour glass shape would have made it difficult for her to find the perfect size while clothes shopping. Lucky for her, she could afford to have her clothing custom made, which she usually did.
As a direct example of her size, the white dress she wore in The Seven Year Itch was recently auctioned off and was put on a mannequin that was a size 2, but they were still unable to zip up the dress as the mannequin was too big. Many of her other dresses that exist from throughout her career match up to about the same, give or take an inch or two. That being said, Marilyn Monroe at times would have her dresses so tight they’d have to be sown onto her, so something more comfortable in a size 4-ish (American) and something like an 8 in the U.K. is probably more accurate with most brands, though it should be noted that a 22 inch waist in many popular American jean sizes today would be below a 0. So, again, the exact size is difficult to nail down thanks to the non-standardized sizing system we have today.
Actually when they auctioned off Marulyn Monroe’s dress that she wore in the Seven Year Itch, they tried to fit it on a modern day size 2 mannequin and they couldn’t zip the dress all the way because the waist on the mannequin was too large for it. She had an incredibly tiny waist while having a huge chest and hips and her body was definitely unattainable for most women in her day. She would not have fit properly into the clothes we make today, nor would she have fit properly into clothes that were manufactured in her time. Her clothing had to be tailored or custom made. The pictures that are most often used to support the idea that Marilyn was a “larger” woman were taken when she was pregnant. The average waist on her dresses was 22″, she was quite slim, which is nowhere near a size 12.
There was not too long ago an auction which included a large amount of dresses worn by Hollywood actresses, such ad Marilyn Monroe. It was noted that the waist of the dress was 22″ and they actually had to shave down a size 2(in today’s sizes) mannequin because the dress was too small for the mannequin.
A 35-36″ hip is not a 12, I easily wear a 4-6 with that hip size and I’m 4″ shorter than Marilyn Monroe..
Marilyn Monroe’s Stats as per her dressmaker:
Height: 5 feet, 5½ inches
Weight: 118
Bust: 35-37 inches
Waist: 22-23 inches
Hips: 35-36 inches
Bra size: 36D
Marilyn Monroe was ~5’6″ and ~140 lbs at her heaviest. Most of her career was spent on the lower side of 125, with a waistline of 23″ inches. A current size 10 corresponds to a 30″ waist, so I really have no idea where you’re pulling that number from, especially since her measurement are well documented.
Marilyn Monroe had a 22″ waist. Her waist was so tiny that when they tried to sell/auction off some of her dresses a few years ago they would not fit on a standard manekin. She was not fat. She was not a size 10. a 22″ waist today is equivalent to a size 000 (since size 0 is a 25″ waist). There are only a few pictures of a “thick” Marilyn out there (white one-piece bathing suit?), and that was when she very pregnant.
FALSE. Marilyn Monroe was not a size 16. Get your facts straight. Do a little research; hell, just freaking Google it. I am so tired of people trying to claim that actresses from the past were ‘thicker’ and ‘large women’ and ‘wore a size 16’. The sizes translated into today are completely different. Here are five websites of hundres explaining this fact that no one ever seems to pay attention to:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Vintage-Sizing-vs-Modern-Sizing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanity_sizing
http://news.discovery.com/human/health/alley-gunn-sizing-110928.htm
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2127189/Womens-trousers-grown-inches-past-40-years.html‘
http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=174071
Marilyn Monroe was a size 8/10.
http://www.snopes.com/movies/actors/mmdress.asp
Ava Gardner had an 18 inch waist.
http://www.avagardner.org/index.php/2013-02-06-14-58-47/faqs-about-ava
And Jayne Mansfield had 35″ hips yes, but a 21″ waist and an hourglass figure to die for.
http://www.bodymeasurements.org/jayne-mansfield/
If you’re going to try and claim that being obese is healthy and try to claim that all of these famous actresses were ‘healthy and not stick thin’ then at least have actual proof to back it up instead of your words. You are also making cultural assumptions about Middle Eastern and African cultures by trying to state that they think skinny women need to eat something. At least offer some sources and some information to back that theory up. And how the correlation between cultural makeup in the US and your statement ‘Today we have a lot of middle eastern and African countries all of whom think skinny women need to eat something.” don’t even correlate. You didn’t say ‘Middle Eastern and African CULTURES’ in the US. You related it to completely different cultures. And also just for the record the largest growing populations in the US are of Hispanic and Asian decent.
And I think the women that she posted on her blog modeling these workout clothing are an inspiration and are beautiful; I can only hope that through hard working and proper eating that I can one day look as lovely, fit and healthy as they do. They inspire me when I see them and Cassey I hope you keep posting your two beautiful friends all of the time!! These images make me want to buy your workout clothes; I will look just as good as them one day :).
Marilyn Monroe et al simply weren’t ‘thicker’ than celebrities today. I suggest you do some research on Marilyn Monroe’s actual size. In spite of your guarantee, she most certainly could fit into a contemporary size 4.
I think you’re sort of missing the point with sizes ’50 years ago’ if the average size back then was a size 8 (today’s size 4) than a size 10 would be much more like like today’s size 6.. or even an 8. Yes they were not statistically average by standards back then but they certainly still fall no where near today’s average size 12-14. Many of our celebrities (not models), are realistically probably averaging a size 2-6 which is not much larger than those icons from 50 years ago if we measure them up to todays standards. The difference? working out and diets. 50 years ago those things were not a craze like it is today. Celebrities today are much more ‘toned’ than they where 50 years ago. Back then everyone ate meat and potato meals and no one really cut out dairy or went gluten free just for a lifestyle change, where today people do those things all the time.
Congratulations on all your success!
I too workout daily, eat clean, and stay motivated. It’s a way of life for me. I’m 5’2 and 100 pounds. I’ll never look like a VS model and I’m ok with that. We need to be accepting of our own bodies. We are ultimately responsible for how we look and feel.
In business we’re taught to use our resources and you did by using your girlfriends…Awesome!!
Cassey,
Unless you were able to use models that represent every single shape, size, race, hair color, etc. (so, literally every woman in the world would need to model for you), then someone, somewhere is going to be offended. Body shaming goes all directions and stems from our insecurities in ourselves. Someone who is happy with the way they look should not care how someone else looks. It’s a shame that your beautiful friends and you were attacked, when you’re all just working hard like the rest of us. Keep doing what you’re doing to promote healthy lifestyles and healthy body image! Thanks for everything, Cassey!
I feel like we shouldn’t use the term “real women”. No, the models used during your shoot aren’t the size or shape of any average woman. The problem here is, although you want them to be fit, it doesn’t give a clear idea of what it would look like on someone who has 0% body fat. Even after working out and dieting, many mothers struggle to achieve a thinner body, which is totally fine. After you’ve brought a human into the world (or two, or three), why should we feel the need to look like underweight models. You do have the choice of putting any given individual into your workout clothes and snapping a few pictures. However, it won’t give someone like me (who is in the target age and gender as well) the idea to hurry to your site to purchase a few outfits. Why? Because purchasing those clothes does not mean I will look like those women. Sometimes it isn’t fast food, sometimes your weight and body shape is determined by family history.
Someone who doesn’t have 0% body fat ***
I agree with previous posters, especially Alice, Carolina, Babs and Stephanie. You can obviously do whatever you want with your own business, but I agree that this definitely doesn’t reflect the “love yourself” message that you put across. I do NOT agree with calling people “real” or “not real,” so I agree with you on that point, but honestly, we don’t need another fitness line modeled by women that just fell out of a Victoria’s Secret catalog. I’m guessing I’m within your target audience (young, female professional with disposable income for buying “high fashion” workout clothes) but honestly, I’m not going to spend $$$$ getting tons of this stuff shipped to my house when I’ve only ever seen it on a size 2 model and can’t try it on in store.
I CrossFit 4-5 times a week, and eat clean 90% of the time. But I struggle with weight gain from PCOS (finally getting manageable), as well as a full time job, running my household, and an adoptive child on the way. I could work every spare moment of my day, and eat only lean protein and vegetables and never in a million years look like these women. I agree it would have been nice to see a refreshing look in terms of models for fitness clothing.
You struggle from weight gain from an adoptive child that’s only on its way? You aren’t carrying it yourself and it’s not even here yet and you’re gaining weight? Damn, good luck girl!
Ummm, I actually struggle with weight gain from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, which is the reason for my infertility. I cannot have my own biological children without extensive medical intervention, so I have chosen to adopt. Thanks for your comment though…I’m quite aware I’m not carrying a child, and never will be able to.
I’m so glad some one explose the meddle point of the desapointment. The thing is that most women don’t feel related to models any more. And even more the women who are following you Cassie. I think that more than take it as a critic you could take it as a bussinnes advice.
What do you mean most women don’t feel related to models anymore?
Are you saying there was some point in the past when most women did relate to models?
Where are the comments by Alice, Carolina, Babs and Stephanie? I can’t find them anywhere.
I think you can either choose to find inspiration from these models or choose not to. They are obviously real, and super fit. I Iook the woman who is looking out the window and I see toned abs and legs – wow! Maybe I can feel like I ‘relate’ to her better as I am pretty proud of my own progress at the moment. Perhaps someone who was not even close to looking fit and toned would find less motivation in it. But Cassey had the budget to choose two models and those two models couldn’t have been ‘relatable’ to every POPster, someone would always find something wrong with them.
I think the work skinny has earned a bad rep and as a result is not considered normal or real. I have been skinny all my life, without any effort of working out or eating clean. In fact, I was born into a Latin home, where voluptuous women are considered to be beautiful. I was always criticized and mocked in my teenage years for having long legs and a slim built. My family would always tell me how being larger and more voluptuous is better and prettier. That a real women should have more meat on their bones. So I grew up hating my body for being skinny. I ate like crazy to gain weight, including all the bad food you could think off, only to make my self sick, just to fit into the idea of what my family believed a real women is.
With my own experience the definition of “real women” is so subjective. My parents had such a different definition of what a real woman was until they learned that what the Latin culture defines fat as real women to encourage and keep all the bad fried food they eat.
Now I am still slim, but fit and strong. Cassey it seems to me that you got so much backlash because you used slim fit models, when viewers that are weight sensitive cannot comprehend that being slim is being a real women. They want to see not real women, but overweight women to convince people that that is real, when in fact it’s a result of a poor and unhealthy lifestyle. The same goes for super skinny almost anorexic looking women……two sides of the spectrum. Minds need to change and not be so sensitive to think that being slim is a bad thing. We all come in all shapes and sizes.
Thank you Cassey for using real women as models and not making us slim people feel like total outcasts or like we starve to death to look the way we do cause we don’t. Slim women are REAL WOMEN! I know I am!!!!
Thanks Cassey and keep doing what you’re doing!
So, let me get this straight…
You only had a budget for 2 models.
You happen to have two friends who are professional models.
You choose to support them in their career by hiring them to be the two models that you have a budget for.
Cassey, I think that’s wonderful! It’s a lovely thing to do!
I have to admit that I was a bit surprised to see that the two models for the shoot fit the description of a more stereotypical view of beauty (it’s not your usual style), but I don’t think that there is anything necessarily wrong with that. Your mission all along has NOT been to express that culture’s stereotypical view of beauty is ugly or unhealthy, but to express that any woman can lead a healthy lifestyle and be beautiful regardless of her body type. In your food journal, you expressed that with drawings of women who had pretty average figures, and by “average” I mean to say that they were neither skinny nor overweight. Here you are demonstrating it with women who are tall and slender.
And you know what? Neither in the food journal nor in this photo shoot do I see a single woman that looks like me: short and slender… but a little soft around the edges, if you know what I mean 😉
And Cassey, that’s okay! There are SO many different body types out there! I think it is great that over the entire span of your projects you do show a variety of body types, whether that is in the models who fashion the clothes currently on you sold on your website (yourself included!) through your beautiful friends who are helping you model your new line, or through illustrations in a food journal.
You have always showed us that “healthy” and “beautiful” can describe a variety of shapes and sizes. This photo shoot is no exception.
Personally, I can’t wait for your line to be released! I’m about to start grad school, so I may not have the money to become a customer right away, but you can bet that once I do I’ll be buying myself up a whole new fitness wardrobe!
Thank you for all that you do, Cassey, and keep up the good work!
Seriously, these women who complain need to get a grip. As Chef Gordon Ramsay says on MasterChef…”GET A GRIP”
Thank you for your wonderful post, Cassey. I loved what you said about real women and I agree with all of it. I found the part about the average American woman and how that is an overweight size very interesting and I understand why you wouldn’t want to use that. But I’d still like to comment on what bothered me, when I first saw the pictures.
The pictures of your friends are great and they are gorgeous and real. That’s out of question. The picture that bothered me, was the one showing the three of you and seeing how they were ‘making [you] look like a tiny human’. They are way above average (and typical model) height and that bothered me more rather than their great shape. Maybe I have a complex because I’m just 5’2, but I would have been excited if you had used models around your own height or ‘average American women’ height.
Maybe you can keep this in mind for a future shooting. I’m sure there are many beautiful POPsters around average height with a nice and fit body in the LA area that would be happy to shoot with you. I’d love to see you give girls a chance to model, that are gorgeous but don’t have a chance with agencies, because they consider them too short. 🙂
These models are healthy and athletic, not skinny or starving. I find it interesting when people talk about being thin as if it is a bad thing or not natural when it comes to someone else, yet some talk incessantly about wishing they looked like that. I am 5’2″, 106 lbs and recovering from a year and a half battle of a knee injury. I used to do HIIT training for fun, but now all I can do it modified Pilates. I eat healthy, don’t diet and I stay within the 104-106 range. And yes I have my wine and chocolate. At age 32 I am happy. I used to be a weight loss consultant and I can’t tell you how many woman would berate me in my office saying I was thin so there was no way I could help them or do my job. I did have years of being overweight for my small structure (135 lbs) and was so tired and felt sick a lot. I did lose weight by reducing my calories, eating more veggies and started to lift weights. I have a set point now where my body is happy. The point I am getting at is with my body naturally healthy at a lower weight than the “norm” I still have people picking on me for being thin. Even clients of mine will do nothing but talk about how thin I am. (I am normal looking, not bone emaciated) because they are insecure. I had one tell me my sciatic pain was because I sat on my bony rear for too long. No, it was because I tore my knee and my leg/hips were off balance from walking on it for a year. Really people. Picking on anyone for being healthy, thin, overweight hurts just the same. Bravo Cassey for saying what is always on my mind.
I looked at these photos and went WOW they are incredibly fit and sexy, but they do look healthy. Ive been there, and I know what it feels like to have people question you because of their own insecurity. “Thin Privilege” isn’t this another way of saying thin shaming. Half of my family is obese, not overweight, I have seen their quality of life and in my life I make the necessary decisions so that I do not become overweight.
There is a difference between Fat Shaming and trying to let women know that the “average weight” is not healthy, because it’s not. Hands down. Cassey must deal with this everyday. She has done a great job of this….imagine if we had to do this everyday. With people who workout only to go home and undo all the work they do everyday. It is exhausting. Maybe this is why she shouts the statistics. Anyone would get frustrated.
We have our struggles to deal with on a personal level but think of her. She has to walk that fine line between helping people love themselves and also promoting a healthier America and World.
I never once called my mother/grandmother/great grandmother fat, never. BUT i did say things like maybe less lard or can we drink water please or I want the baked chips. We can lead by example. I guarantee you Cassey did not choose these women to make anyone feel bad, but I also would bet that she wants to show you what you can achieve…which is being healthy. Plus she wants to sell clothes….so if you are working out to get thinner/healthier wouldn’t it make sense to use people that exude this. I have this something close to this (5’8 and about 115-116 with huge hips (birthing hips)) body shape and I feel in awe of these girls…Seeing these women motivates me…why shouldn’t it motivate you. That’s what shes doing….and trying to make money too!
You had no reason to respond to the idiots who are writing hateful comments against you, your friends and their beautiful bodies. What idiots. They actually got mad because you have two, in shape, and healthy friends who you chose to shoot with? Like you seriously HAD to call up every size friend and model u could think of just to pacify THOSE JEALOUS, INSECURE, AND HATEFUL commenters? Yeah right. Cassie, you did nothin wrong AT ALL. Keep it moving and dont let the ignorance phase you. Please. Please. Please ignorne the ignorant comments!
Hi Cassey,
Everyone who has been following you for a while already knows you always have the best intentions and would never purposely offend anyone.
I think whenever someone says something mean about someone else e.g. “she’s not a real woman”, it’s more of a reflection on that person’s insecurities. The people complaining that you didn’t use real women are probably just insecure themselves. One of the reasons they might complain is that they’re worried that they wouldn’t look good in the clothes. They want to see someone their size wearing the clothes so that they can see it would look good on them.
All in all, everyone should just strive to be the person version of themselves, as you say. If people aren’t comfortable enough just yet to wear your clothes, they don’t have to. You can’t cater to absolutely everybody’s needs. Everyone can see you’re making a huge effort though and it’s much appreciated.
Well-said. Well-written piece. Thank you for speaking up. It is a problem and it’s costing 190 billion dollar annually to the tax payer. People have no problem shaming the smoker, the drinker or those they feel “aren’t entitled” but shy away from addressing a problem because it probably effects them. Half the people crying foul about your piece probably….to put it mildly…have a weight problem. Yes people are fat and no it’s not “normal”. Mass doesn’t produce itself, they aren’t fat by magic and no matter how much they would love to blame “genetics” or a “condition” the responsibility falls squarely on their shoulders.
Cassey, the models you chose are beautiful, but I think it’s worth noting that they look like Victoria’s Secret models. On your blog you have addressed how the Victoria’s Secret model is an unrealistic body type. Yes, those women are fit but they also do some extreme things to look the way they do. Things that (while they could outrun me) might be harmful in the long run. (I’m looking at you pre-runway fasting and dehydration.) And that lifestyle is definitely not sustainable for the every-girl who works, goes to family parties, organizes her sister’s wedding, spends time with her partner, etc. I think it’s understandable that people reacted strongly to see the Victoria’s Secret-esque model advertising for this community, which encourages health and fitness, not a certain female ascetic. Perhaps it would have been helpful to introduce them as your friends and fellow popsters with an interview or video?
It’s really disheartening to me to see people using the words “skinny” when what they mean is fit. I know skinny people who I leave in the dust on the track and who can’t lift as much as I can. I also know skinny people who make me look like a wimp. Our appearance is only one indicator of our fitness. Yes, there are skinny people who are unstoppable and strong but there are average people like that and even people who are “over weight” according to BMI. Skinny is a goal. Fit is a lifestyle. I think it’s helpful to remember that picture of female Olympic Athletes standing side by side. There is no one body type. They are all represent strength and dedications – just in different sizes and forms.
How dare you call these women unreal and hold your own insecurities and jealous of their natural body types against them. Just like no one can look at you and your body type and say you are “unrealistic”, you can not do the same. Read a book, would you?
You say our appearance is only one indicator of our fitness, yet you said, with regards to models, “Things that (while they could outrun me) might be harmful in the long run. (I’m looking at you pre-runway fasting and dehydration.) “. Of course, you may not be referring to the above two models, but why then even bring that up. Are these two women to have their health judged based on what some women (but hardly all women) who look a bit like them do? Are Victoria’s Secret models to have their health judged?
I’d like to respectfully disagree. I’m actually quite offended by the models chosen and I feel alienated by the campaign (which in turn makes me not want to purchase any of the clothing). I believe it to be vapid and shallow. From a business standpoint, I get it. You’re showing the “ideal” woman, hoping that consumers will think “If I buy these clothes I will look like Monique and Alyssa!” Advertisers use this tactic all the time, but it really doesn’t apply to your target audience. I was stupid to think you were above all that “media ideal of beauty” BS. Earth to Cassey, a majority of your fans are women who are still in the process of losing weight, not women who look like your models. I have never met a woman in real life who look like Alyssa or Monique.
I’m 5’8″ and a size 14, with wide hips and big breasts. I also run marathons and am addicted to Cross Fit. My husband jokes that in the event of a zombie apocalypse, he knows we’ll be safe because I’m his wife. I look NOTHING like these models, nor do I relate to them. I will never look like them, nor do I aspire to. On top of keeping health a priority, I also work full time as a nurse on a night shift, and I’m in the process of getting my masters degree to become a nurse practitioner. I also have two kids. I’m an example of a relateable woman, and your average fan. These women that you chose to promote your line are models whose job is to look great. My job is working in an Intensive Care Unit at a hospital, and saving people who are in critical condition. I don’t need a thigh gap to do that.
I also do not buy your “I can only afford 2 models” excuse. You have a HUGE fan base, I’m sure if you posted any open casting call for volunteers you would get PLENTY of willing people of all shapes, sizes and ethnicities for you to use for free. I would have done it in a heart beat.
Looking like these models is a 24/7 job that Alyssa and Monique are blessed to have. Along with being a size 14, the average women does not have the time, resources or support to put in the hard work to look like them (i.e. a lot of times I want to go for a run, but I have no one to watch my kids for me to do so). You shouldn’t assume that this makes them any less healthy or spectacular.
-why are a lot of you freaking out over this?
-just because she choose someone who doesn’t look like you means that she’s putting you down
-why is it that people get offended when someone calls someone else FAT but it’s okay to call someone SKINNY?
-those two words are both equally offended
-if Cassey all choose an “average American woman” how do us “skinny” folks feel?
-you can’t just get offended all the time just because it doesn’t involve you.
-Cassey always write stories about amazing transformations so idk why you guys even complain.
Hi Cassey!
First of all, congratulations on your continued entrepreneurial success! As a woman, it’s inspiring and motivating to see another woman out there being a successful business woman while STILL pursuing her dreams AND being a role model for others.
THANK YOU for taking the time to help clarify why you decided to act the way you did in this situation. The fact that you’ve put out another whole blog post to help clear up misunderstandings and hurt feelings shows you understand where others are coming from.
And you’re right — they ARE real women. You had every right to choose whichever ‘real women’ you thought to be the best fit for the job. The fact that you chose two slim, tall women does NOT make them any less real or vibrant or healthy. As women, we need to embrace every other kind of shape, size, and body build out there, regardless of how much they might resemble us or not. Those of us who have followed you for years know WITHOUT A SHRED OF DOUBT that that is EXACTLY what you have taught other women to believe. And that first and foremost, it’s about loving your own body and taking care of it. The fact that you chose two healthy, slim women for your model shoot does not at all challenge your values, and I hope that other POPsters understand that as well.
I don’t think you need to worry about ‘displaying’ the average POPster in your model shoot because what you and I and many other women have been trying to explain for so long is that we shouldn’t be trying to define ‘average’ or ‘better’ or even ‘too fit or healthy’. We’re all going at our own pace, and should respect other women’s bodies as we respect our own.
Way to go. 🙂
I agree that the models you have used are real women. They are beautiful, physically fit ladies who are typical for activewear shoots. I completely understand why you, especially considering this is a business, would choose such models for your campaign. It’s advertising 101.
Although I understand, appreciate and fully accept their use, I am put off by your post. You want to rely on social media to show that anyone can wear your brand, but you don’t want to pay for your brand to be advertised that way.
In addition to that, it seems that by trying to justify the use of typical fitness-type models, you are alienating and insulting a base of women and men you look up to you for inspiration – those exact people that you want to promote your brand for free. You state that “we all strive to represent fit, active, healthy people who work hard to look the way we do and feel the way we do.” I am fit, active, healthy and I work hard to look the way I do, but I do not look like you. You then you go on to say that “I just want to clarify that I didn’t mean I don’t want to ever show size 14 women. I mean in a motivational sense, I want to showcase women who are strong, beautiful, and unstoppable.” – So a size 14 woman cannot be motivational?
I’m sure your heart is in the right place and I completely understand the need to speak out about the “what makes a real woman” issue (hint: being a woman pretty much covers it), but I think you should have just owned the fact that these two ladies are sensational and typical activewear models. That is no insult to the models and it shows that you respect your community enough to be honest and authentic with them.;
I totally agree that all women are real women, and I’m not one of the commenters being responded to in the blog post, but I’ll admit that looking at the photos from the shoot, I’m concerned that, just like when the sports bras were released, none of this collection will be marketed towards people with my body type.
Cassey, I am sorry to hear that your friends are being put down like that. For a POPster to say that another POPster is not a “real” woman is not only disappointing but very rude to EVERY POPster out there. We are a fitness family and we need to stick together to all become healthier people.
Why is it that fitness enthusiasts get blamed for “fat shaming” when they try to encourage people to live healthy lifestyles but it is totally fine for others to tell a healthy woman that she is not “real”? Are you telling us that we should be unhealthy? Heart problems run in my family’s blood. I saw the terrible effects it had on my grandparents’ health coupled with their other genetics, which are also mine. If I can do anything to live a long, healthy life and hopefully break that cycle for my children and my grandchildren, I will do it. When you make fun of my food and workouts, are you telling me to have a heat attack?
If we all stand together against people that try and make us feel bad about our lifestyles, fitness and healthy living will become the new “average”! More and more people will get on board. My sister, who swore that she was never going to work out now goes to the gym with me as often as she can. Stay strong, POPsters! 🙂 And good luck with BODYPOP, Cassey!
Thank you Casey for posting this. It hits home for me because I am built like a model and am a real women. I am 5’9 and a size 4. People always say to me “Oh you have it easy. You have the perfect body.” It’s not true. I just want scream and yell at those people and say I workout everyday and eat healthy 90% of the time so no it’s a lifestyle! I make the choice everyday to workout and eat clean. Sorry went on a little rant there but thank you for speaking up! We Love you!
Exactly! People say that to me all the time, when I take transformation pictures they all tell me that ” oh it’s easy for you because you’re already skinny” like really ? -.- I’m sorry that I like to eat healthy and work out and not wait until I’m out of control then start working out.
Completely understand. I eat very healthy with meals designed for my particular body and workout regularly with cardio and weights. I’m almost 48 and wear the same size I did in high school. It’s not easy, but it’s not hard. It’s simply work. Consistent effort every single day. Have it easy??? The people that make comments about having it easy have NO clue. They don’t know the half of it. I’m not motivated by a numerical size, just fighting my family genetics and want to avoid any pills as long as I can.
OMG, Cassey, preach it!! I feel that our society has moved from fat shaming to skinny shaming. There are too many people who get too comfortable with being average- just because you fall in the middle of the bell curve doesn’t mean that’s ideal! I am not going to lie and say I am not jealous of ya’lls fine physiques… I mean, I am much closer to the current average than the 1950’s version… But you and your lovely models are an inspiration to me, and while I may never attain a gorgeous body like that, theirs are no less real than mine. So please keep showing us inspiring, hard working ladies because I definitely want to be the best I can be, and I need that motivation to keep me going. 🙂
I just have to say one thing, cassey i love everything u do and stand for and i do understand where u r coming from but being a size 14 doesnt mean your fat or unfit…….in the begining when i first got to my perfect weight i was a sizs 14 and i was healthy and thin……but i was big boned….and im short so i will always be a bogger size even my doctor said so……i was 150lbs and a size 14….and was told tht tht weight was a good healthy weight for my body type……so plz dont give girls who r like me the wrong impression tht being a sizd 14 still means.your fat and. Unhelthy cause it doesnt…….
Cassey isn’t trying to give women the impression that being a size fourteen is unhealthy. She just wants everyone to strive to be the best that they can be. If you’re your best and healthiest at a size fourteen, that’s perfectly fine. That means that you’re pushing yourself to set that example for others. No, not everyone is going to have those small numbers on the tag of their pants, shirts, or dress. But that doesn’t mean that they’re unhealthy or not fit. From what I can tell, Cassey has a mindset where she always wants to do her best no matter what. And shouldn’t we all have that type of mindset? A mindset where we try to be our best and set examples for those who struggle or those that come after us. We’re all here for a very short time, even though it may seem like an eternity at times. So while we’re alive, shouldn’t we try to build our world up? And this isn’t just a fitness thing. It’s health awareness and global awareness as a whole. We all need to try to be our absolute best in everything that we do (recycling, organic foods, etc.) so that the generations after us can live lives that are better than ours rather than worse. And worse is what it will be if we continue to just be outright selfish. We have to start thinking about our actions will result in because we can never take them back.
*And on a personal note, being a size fourteen does not label you as unhealthy or not fit. I’m actually bigger boned too. And this can always be used to your advantage! Soccor and rugby are great sports for you to play because being bigger boned usually results in higher strength and even endurance. And I’ll admit… I will NEVER look like those girls that she had in her photo shoot, but I will do my best to be my best, not theirs. It’s all about pushing yourself a little bit further each day. (At least that’s my viewpoint.) But I hope that you didn’t take any offense to this comment because I honestly did not mean any towards you or anyone else. I just wanted you to know that Cassey was not trying to send out the wrong impression, that she just wants everyone to strive to be better each and every day.
I am really slim person. I have curves but really small- small breast and petite butt. I’ve always felt good about my body until I started to look at all these photos with curvier, rounder and bigger girls that now are “only real women in ther world”. I know some people show these kind of women body image to convince women not do starve themselfes for a body of a model. I understand that but I started to feel bad with my petite and slim body beacuse now “real women have curves” and from the image I see in pictures I’m not one of them. Is it the same in your countries?
I like that you’ve addressed this issue, but I still have a strong comment. I know I have a bit of weight to loose and enjoy your videos, however, I will probably never be able to purchase your close (shorts/pants at least) because I cannot ‘shave’ my hip bones and reduce my muscles in order to fit in to them. I think that’s where my issue is with some of the models that are chosen today. Not that they aren’t fabulous women, but that they are quite literally a size I can never achieve based on my bones and muscles no matter how fit I actually am.
Thank you for this post! I lost quite a bit of weight this year and I look better than ever, but I know I can still do more I a healthy way, but now everyone looks at me with disgust when I do so much as eat a salad or work out. As if I’m anorexic or as if I’m discriminating against them somehow by striving for my best. I’m barely a size 6 and I’m just trying to be healthy, but I get called “skinny” and “anorexic”. It’s very discouraging how our culture has shifted toward skinny shaming and people will put the anorexic label on anyone under a size 8, even if they’re healthy and fit.
Leah I totally understand where you are coming I am a size 4 and I get the same thing.
Yup. I’ve been told by people that I need to stop losing weight. I’m a size 8! I worked hard on my body to get into shape but I am not done yet by any means. I am 5’4″ and 130 lbs. I still don’t have abs and I have cellulite. I like exercising so I can improve my body and muscles. And I can definitely lose 5 more lbs. However, some people seem to accuse me of over doing it. I eat a lot and I exercise a lot. I just try to live healthy.
I think u nailed it cassey. U used women of different shapes & sizes but with a common denominator. They all look healthy for their height /shape. I had a friend who was fixated on being thinner. Not fit not healthy, but thin. She would ask things like how much weight do I need to loose to be ur size? I tried explaining that she’s built differently, her shoe size was 2 sizes bigger than mine, she was taller than me ect. I even showed her the difference between other friends of ours. For instance another friend is very tall & slim & next to me ( I’m curvy petite ) she looks much ‘thinner’ than me but is actually a dress size bigger than I am. I think that expecting to see unfit over weight women modelling fitness wear is ridiculous. Well done cassey for fulfilling another of ur dreams. U r inspirational
@blogilates First of all I am happy for all the success you have had over the years Cassie. Now a music video wow just amazing. You have inspired thousands of men and women to get into shape and eat better. But some of these people started out at size 14 and up and over time got in better shape with you and were inspired by you . It would have been nice to see pictures of people from different points in there journey to fitness. Yes you say you could only afford 2 models but I am sure a lot of your popsters would have done it for free. It is very disappointing ….a size 14 women who is working out every day just starting her journey and a size 4 women who has always been fit should have been shown…all journeys all walks of life. Isn’t this what you were all about ? I am disappointed …
To be clear all women of all sizes in there fitness journey are REAL WOMEN.
Also we should love each version of ourselves if we cant appreciate and love our bodies at our starting fitness point weather that be a size 8 or 14 then how can we love it at a size 4. Ladies we need to love every inch of us no matter what size we currently are.
I there is a problem with this statement. I’m a 4 naturally, its just how I’m built, but I am in no way fit. Size does not equal fitness level, its part of the equation but its not the entire thing. I just started working out and I cannt hardly finish a video and I have to do every modification Cassie gives us. And I’m hot and sweaty at the end and feel disgusting, but I press on. I’m just like you… I work at this because I want to be able to go up two sets of stair without dying and I want to swim laps and dance for hours without being a frozen brick the next day. Yes I want to be represented both physically and as a person working towards a goal.
I completely agree! Cassey always talks about how they should thin girls in the fashion industry yet she does the exact thing. I know MANY people who would have modeled for free. It would be great to show a range of women, not two similarly sized ones.
You say that you want to show “motivational” people who are strong and unstoppable. Guess what? That size 14 “average” women you talk about, I see them every morning working their asses off running outside and guess what? Those women are the most strong, motivational and unstoppable women I’ve ever seen. Not some size 0-2 woman who has been working out for years and watches everything they eat and post topless (with sports bra on of course!) IG selfies showing their abs.
show not should ***
To Colem: So because someone has been working out for years, they aren’t as unstoppable? Shouldn’t we be proud that they never let themselves go in the first place? I get this all the time. I’m 5’7″, and 125 lbs. And EVERYONE takes one look at me and says I don’t have to work hard to have my body. I HAVE BEEN BUSTING IT FOR YEARS! Are you saying other girls like me aren’t as credible as bigger girls who just now decided to be healthy? I’ve been following Cassey for over four years. And maybe that’s what she’s trying to say. How do ANY of you know that her models weren’t bigger girls in the first place and it took time for them to get this way? Sure they have small frames and of course they’re going to be tiny. But Cassy herself doesn’t have a teeny tiny body frame, and she’s working it just as well as these girls. She obviously isn’t trying to put down girls who structurally can’t look like these models.
Cassy has always talked about you being the best you that you can be. If you have a big frame, why would you even try looking like one of those girls? My whole life I’ve wanted to be a thick girl with a body worthy of an Olympian…but that’s never going to happen for me. So I seek motivation from slim girls. We are all adults, and are all capable of critical thinking and deductive reasoning. LISTEN TO WHAT CASSY SAYS. If you can’t have THAT body type, go for the one you can have. And maybe she picked these girls BECAUSE of their lifelong dedication to being healthy. That’s the whole point of blogilates. It’s not just for people who decided to make a change now. It’s for everyone. Even the skinny, unrealistic twigs such as myself.
I’m not trying to put down anyone who doesn’t have my body type. But this is a battle I’ve been fighting since I was 12 years old and told I would never get a boyfriend because I don’t have any boobs (still don’t, still single). But the fact is, people see ME working out, and laugh at me because I apparently shouldn’t be working out. No one gets motivated by me, I don’t get high-fived for trying to better my life. I get told to stop running because I look like spider with all the leg I have, or told that I’m gonna fly off the treadmill if I keep running. Don’t think that skinny girls who have been trying for years to be beautiful are less credible, because we have been made fun of just as long and just as ruthlessly as bigger girls. And we don’t even get to have nice boobs.
Rant over.
Goldie, I hope my comment doesn’t come off wrong, but I don’t agree with everything you said in your first comment. How do you know these women were always a size 4? Even if they were, does that mean they don’t work as hard as people who start off at a size 14, 8, 24? I’m just trying to say that no one should be judged by their shape or size as a measure of how hard working or deserving they are. I do agree with your latest comment about needing to love every inch no matter what size we are. It’s one of my favorite phrases to keep me loving myself.
Perfect, Cassey! Thank you for this.
Hi Cassey!
First of all, Thank you so much for all your videos and workouts, you’ve really inspired me to get fit,strong and healthy (even though my muscles get so sore!!). It makes me sad that people have been putting you down for your choice in models, they are beautiful women! I think sometimes people need to remember that everyone is different and (sadly) we can’t all look as amazing as you an you’re models. But that isn’t an excuse for not trying to improve ourselves. I don’t want want to be “average” I want to be the best person that I can be. So don’t let the negative comments get to you because you do an amazing job at inspiring other “real” women like me to be better.
Thank you all the way from New Zealand!
P.S I hope you ship to NZ cause your new line looks amazing!!
People are always going to have an opinion on everything and anything, whether it is good or bad. Cassey Ho, you have all rights to choose who you want in your photo shoot. It is your project and at the end of the day it is your hard work and dedication. People are often too selfish to see the underlying depth of putting all this together. Rather they want, want, want! I don’t want to be average. I want to be the best version of myself. In addition, everyone has their idea of beauty or what is “real”. I however, don’t need a representation of myself because there is no one else like me. So no matter the diverse girls Cassey brings in to please these selfish, always complaining people, there is only one you. So who really can represent you?
Thank you so much for this post. So many people can’t seem to grasp the fact that we are all real women. Models especially. Modeling is their job and just as other women work hard for their jobs, models work by keeping themselves fit and healthy. Some people seem to stand for loving your body as a woman but then bag on models as being a negative influence and as you say not being “real”. Most of these models are naturally petite. When you see them on the runway, you are looking at the REAL body that they worked for. It is just so frustrating to me that models are not considered real women. Thank you for understanding that we are all real.
Cassie, my daughter introduced me to you videos when she came home from college, and THANK YOU! I think you are super inspiring – when I’m dying, I’m always amazed that you are cheerily chatting away!!
Anyhow, I’ve never commented – but my thought was reading this post was that if you are a so-called “real woman” as people seem to want, and you do make time to work out, eat healthier & take care of yourself, do you then transform into a “not-real” woman? I made the decision to take better care of myself when my doctor wanted to put me on blood pressure medication – I did NOT want to wind up on medicine for something I felt that I could resolve. (this is not a judgement on anyone else for their choices, this was MY choice). I started (slowly) working out and eventually lost 40 lbs and have felt much better ever since. I am no less real than I was before.
I’m going to have to say that I don’t agree with this post very much. And I’m not trying to be a “hater” at all because I love what you do, Cassey, and I really respect you. But although these women are real and really should be given merit for taking care of themselves and being in such great shape, it still advocates a certain type of body we all should want. I will never look like those women because my body build is different and I think women of all shapes and sizes can inspire and being the average weight does not make us any less beautiful, determined or unstoppable. If I saw a girl with a body closer to mine on these ads, I could firstly see how I might look in it and also feel like this campaign is really raising awareness towards the fact that not only fit women exercise. I’ve seen too often how women who are not deemed fit are ridiculed for exercising so please let us stop that. I’m sorry to say it but this post just felt like a justification in perpetuating stereotypes to me. Of course I may be wrong. Have a nice day 🙂
I totally agree with you, Casey. In my opinion, it doesn’t matter the size of those models, it’s more important what they wear and what does represent: your new collection designed to active people. And everyone, model or not, can wear those clothes! The major problem is comparing ourselves with the people in the ads, because we all are different. Embrace the soul of blogilates and stop judging this superficial things, please.
I love this post Cassey, however I feel like your Popsters were hoping for a more DIVERSE range of model. We are all on journeys and I think maybe some people wanted to see other people on their journeys as well. Use models that represent Small, Medium and Large; models with large chests and hips, models with more slimline frames; short models and tall models. The world of fitness and the world in general is diverse, something you remind us of frequently. They were just hoping you would reinforce that with a little more emphasis in your product range.
This is not a negative point. Just an unbiased look at the other side of your argument.
Exactly 🙂 While the size of you and your models (who are lovely) may be a goal it’s not reality for most of us so ladies in all sizes and clothing in all sizes would be greatly appreciated. (plus as you point out sizes have changed over the years and there is soooo much pressure out there already to look a certain way).
When I read thru the comments on instagram, I had the feeling that – between the lines – some people were maybe just concerned whether the clothes will look flattering on them too even if they’re bigger than the models; and that bigger models (or models of different shapes & sizes) could have been a good way of proving that the gear will look great on you no matter how slim, big, tall, short etc. you are. 🙂
I don’t completely agree with you on this post. You’re models are real people sure, but they are working models that dedicate their whole time to work on their bodies and their look.
We- your popsters- are working women , mothers and students. Most of us aren’t models, fitness-instructors, PTs or born with that kind of body structure. We do not have all of our time working just on our health and our bodies.
We are healthy, work out probably more than average and have a regular jobs to maintain. We are very real.
So my suggestion for your next photo-shot or clothing-line: pick from your popsters! By popsters for popsters!
Best
/Carolina – CG- animator, health-nerd, cat-owner.
I’m asking myself if you even really read the article just now, because if you would have, you would know that only one of them is a full-time model (her friend monique) and the other is actually a popster doing her masters (alyssa). So it IS by popsters for popsters. I don’t even know what to say because your comment is basically saying again that they aren’t real women, which is really upsetting. I think it’s really sad that the message didn’t get through to you.
I cant agree with you more ! popsters would have done this for free.
To a point I agree… popsters will do it for free….but not many popsters have the time to go to a photoshoot because they have to go to their day time jobs or take care of children, pick up medicine, run an errand. And popsters under the legal age need actual permission from their parent/guardian to attend a volunteer job.
Photoshoots don’t take an hour or two. It take A LOT LONGER, hence why so many models wake up at 5 am just to get to work. These kinds of projects start early in the day, not in the middle of the day or at night.
It doesn’t hurt to have extremely fit girls in one photoshoot and then women currently on a journey in another shoot. She already asked popsters to be alongside her on Dr Oz and the other TV shows. Variety always looks more tasteful. This round goes to her friends.
Agree with your point on how we have other things which hinder us from potentially seeking that kind of body type. Being a fulltime student and working a part time job means that my health sometimes has to take back seat. If I had the time, I sure would strive to look like that, but for now I just focus on being the best I can be while fulfilling my other life goals.
I’m glad you addressed this as this is relatable to me. I have been bullied all throughout my whole life for being “too thin.” Claiming that I’m “less of a woman.” Resulting in many insecurities and unhealthy attempts to gain weight. Blogilates has made an impact on the way I see myself and my outlook on what is a beautiful body. Even though I still carry some of those insecurities, they are all slowly, but surely, disappearing. Seeing the negative comments on instagram for this picture really hurt me but looking at the input of others here, I understand that maybe some of what these commenters are really saying they want more diversity in your models. I do have to agree with that there. I think it’s important to represent a variety of healthy, beautiful women besides the ones you currently have.
Well done! I think you said it best when you said ‘be the best version of yourself’. I completely agree!
.Cassey!
I have to congratulate you on your on-going success!! And to us POPsters that have been following for a period of 2 years and a more, it’s a real amazement to see what you’ve achieved and continue to achieve throughout the years.
With that aside, I have to say I agree on what you say. Despite the statistics of an average an “American” women, you have to realise that you cannot fit the body of a woman into mere statistics. Besides, if that applies for most American women. What about the rest of the world?? Surely, POPsters come from all over the world too!
And I think, its also a bit of an overreaction by saying those two beautiful women whom have been picked to do your photo shoot aren’t “real women”. My point is, who are we to judge whats real and whats not? This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed in the fitness world. We talk a lot of about not putting other women down for their body shape and structure and how is this any different??
Besides, I trust that there are many more photo shoots to come. I don’t think people should get their panties in a bunch over just one photo shoot.
Cassey, when I saw you post your friends’ picture I thought they looked amazing and very inspirational. Of course, not everyone will look like them no matter how much they work out but that doesn’t make them less “real”. I’m only 5’1″ and will never look like someone who walks the runway but I’m ok with that since I workout regularly and eat pretty healthy. I know I’m treating my body well and I think that’s the message you’re trying to sell. You’re a very great motivation and I admire how you promote a positive and healthy lifestyle. I’m very excited for your new active wear line!
I seriously look up to you, I admire such a strong woman like you.
I am so proud of Cassey and I am also really proud to be a Popster! Cassey, you are so strong, so positive! I admire you Cassey! Love you and so happy to see the Bodypop project growing everyday! Keep going Cassey! You rock!!!
Thank you for addressing that. I’m so sick of the fact that in today’s society it’s rude to call someone fat but people seems to have not trouble to call others skinny or you need to eat more or they are not real women. Commenting on other peoples weight either way is RUDE! I try to eat healthy most of the time, drink lots of water and exercise 3 times a week aside from taking walks every day. And my family have slim build. Although I’m not promoting frail looking runway models. Fitness models that has a waist and abs look amazing and if people think that’s not real, maybe they should hold off on that burger they are shoving in their mouth. Some people work hard to look fit and healthy. They don’t need to put on weight for others to feel better about themselves. If they want to feel better, they should do something about themselves, typing on a computer doesn’t count as exercise.
I 100% agree with you. I have friends who are both slim and curvy and they all have their own insecurities and low self esteem because of what people deem acceptable to say to them. Just because someone is naturally skinny doesn’t mean that you can guilt them about their body, say that they need to eat more or make passive aggressive jokes. No person, no matter what their natural body type is, should feel embarrassed. We all have the power to change our bodies for the better. It’s up to us. Don’t settle for ‘average’. You have one life, make the absolute most of it.
Readin this makes me love you even more cassey im naturally thin I have 2 kids I feed them healthy and we dont do juice or soda in my house I want my kids to eat right I work full time 7:30 to 5pm everyday I make that time to feed my kids a healthy breakfast and dinner every single day no excuses my parents never fed me crap and I am so grateful my mom always had a healthy cooked meal for us everyday cuz I am the same with my children. I am 25 weigh 115 and am 5’5 and im a A cup I get shit all the time that I have no boobs from other women but I look at them and I look at myself and I have a very big butt due to the fact that I am a weight lifter I do cross fit I do dead lifts I do clean and presses im a very tone and fit lady and other girls see me as skinny or say ugly things like im a women trapped in a 12 yr old girl body and that hurts me I cry to my husband saying maybe if I get breast implants ill be more of a women but my husband tells me everyday that thats not what makes a women what makes a real women isnt the size of her boobs and he didnt marry me for that he married me for who I am and how im not average im healthy and I take care of myself and im beautiful inside and out it doesnt matter what weight I am. And this is sad everyone is overweight everyone eats out drinks smokes we live in a horrible society that girls criticize each other this way its so ugly but I guess we need to be unhealthy to be an average women nowadays so stupid I swear. Great post cassey I love you so much your a true inspiration you say it how it is and I love and respect you for that! !
I am so glad you addressed this because I was getting so frustrated with the comments on this picture! I do not understand everyone who always has to be so negative. Saying these women “aren’t real” is offensive. Saying that shouldn’t make whoever said it feel any better. My favorite quote is “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Why do we have to compare ourselves to other people all the time in order to feel better about ourselves? The only person we need to strive to be better than is the person we were yesterday. I would like to know how any one of the people behind those comments would feel if they were told they “weren’t real.” I get that people want you to show health in all sizes and that is fine and their opinon. But they don’ t need to attack you or the models in sharing it. End rant. Keep up the good work!!!
Hi Cassey,
I completely agree with your post, and I’m really glad you put it out there. I know so many people make excuses about genetics or body shape, but they don’t work out HARD and CONSISTENTLY for long enough to see results, and they don’t eat CLEAN 95% of the time until they get to where they want to be. Losing weight is MUCH harder than maintaining, and people often chalk it up to genetics or body shape when they don’t get down to the size they should be. Having a healthy body fat percentage is an excellent indicator of if you are working out and eating clean enough. Woman 1 on the left in the picture may be the average American woman, but she is not yet at her healthy and best place. You can tell she has a high body fat, so why use that to model your clothes? It’s not that she won’t look cute in them, but shouldn’t the models symbolize our goal to be our best? To look slim and toned is extremely difficult if you are starting from an overweight place but so many people have done it and I hate to see people settling for mediocrity by making excuses. Women in many other parts of the world are thin on average. Most Americans have been eating unhealthfully and too much for years. Thanks for taking a stand and caring enough to say that this is wrong and we shouldn’t be settling! We can all do better!
Hey Cassey!
Thanks for the inspiration and good luck on your journey!
And don’t forget: Haters gonna hate.
Umm… I think you had a typo when you said “About 50 years ago, the average American woman was 5’3-4” with a waist of 14-15 inches.” I checked on your source, and it is actually 24-25 inches. Just so people don’t start freaking out…
Thank you for pointing that out. I reacted to that too and was like “no that can’t be right.” 14-15 inches is not healthy or possible?
Congrats on achieving a dream! So excited for you! 🙂 Your friends are beautiful and it’s awesome that you knew some professional models who are trained to display your work in the most flattering way.
As far as the rude comments go, I think part of what people mean when they say “real women” is that it would be nice to see other body proportions like a pear or an apple. I may be giving them too much credit, though. It’s entirely possible they’re just insecure and bullying people to feel better. Saying your friends aren’t real is a really nasty way to go about asking for different body types to compare. It’d be better say they want something like Aerie has, where you see bras on models of different cup sizes so you can see how the bra changes as the size increases, etc. You know, actually articulating a constructive criticism.
Hi Cassey — I follow along pretty quietly, and I just wanted to chime in to say congratulations on the line of clothes (they look great!!)…and own your decision to use the women you did for the photoshoot — really, stand strong behind all of your decisions. You’ll never please everyone, which I’m sure you know by now. That’s the beauty of being human — we all have different opinions, and both sides have valid points.
Won’t it be incredible when different popsters of different shapes and sizes start ordering the clothes and modeling them on Twitter, FB, and Instagram? Maybe your first 2 models were a more stereotypical body build of a fitness model, but think about how many hundreds of other models you’ll get as soon as the clothing line officially rolls out.
I think it’s time we as women stop creating artificial divides between “us” and “them.” No type of woman is more or less real than any other. We’re all here for the same reason — to feel alive and to learn to value and take care of ourselves. We can accomplish so much more when we come together than when we segregate ourselves, but we have to break down those barriers and accept not just ourselves, but each other.
Great comment! Real women come in every shape and size, full stop. Negative comments come from people who feel they look different from the models you used, but…I look nothing like those girls either.
I still thought your models were stunning, beautiful and looked strong. No one should say anything about them to begin with, but let’s also give credit where it’s due: their bodies didn’t happen by accident! I’m betting they worked hard for them, and their dedication really shows through. I’ll be honest though–I didn’t even think about their bodies until I saw the negative comments, because I was looking at the clothes! I’m so excited for your new line and pleased for your success. Keep it up Cassey. You and your friends are inspirational.
Completely agree with both of you ladies! It is sad how there has become a divide between “us” and “them”. It’s not fair. To be honest, I am definitely envious of their bodies! However, that’s why I am in this Blogilates community; so that I too might one day have the body I’m working so hard for. I also agree they are stunning. I did not give much thought to their bodies either, and I look nothing like either of them. Launching ANYTHING is a lot of work. Launching a fashion line of any kind is bound to get a multitude of scrutiny. I’m sure Cassey expects that, but probably was not expecting it from us POPsters.
I’m very excited for your clothing line, and am so glad you’re having fun working on your music video! I think your models are beautiful 🙂
With that being said, I remember when you first announced this, and I had commented that I was really hoping you’d open yourself up to hiring very diverse models to showcase your line. These women you’ve chosen are indeed real, and wonderful, but I do admit that I’m disappointed. I don’t think anyone is advocating obesity, but the truth is that overweight women workout. All the time. I’m 5’5″, 175lbs (down from 235), and I do kickboxing, weightlifting, Spartan races, half marathons, you name it. I’ve also had a baby. I wear a size 14, and I like workout gear that fits well, supports and looks great. And I so rarely see that represented in my size. I’m happy that these women can wear your line, and look good in it. But I need to see that it will work for me too. And the 200lb girl who crossfits, she needs to know she’ll like how your clothes look on her. The 250lb girl who does yoga. All of them. Thin privilege is getting to see your body shape everywhere, in every fashion magazine and every exercise clothing line. Why don’t YOU be the change, and encourage all women to exercise by showing that you AND your line support their body shapes, literally and figuratively.
THIS.
The ladies you picked for your shoot, Cassey, are beautiful. They are real women. But they are not representative. Honestly I have looked at your clothing line time and time again because the clothes look pretty – but the models suggest your clothes are not meant to be pretty for ME. I have no way to see what they would look like on ‘someone like me’ (5’10, muscular and athletic, but a size 12-14).
I love your video’s and I don’t think you mean badly, Cassey, but this post has really put me off. I don’t think you understand what everyone’s problem is (you’re making it all about the ‘these women are real women too!’ thing and don’t seem to want to listen to the problem at large) and you’re showing a lot of thin privilege…
Thank you so much for writing this! You have said so many things that I have thought and always wanted to say about the “real woman” and the “average US woman.”
Inspirational… and completely true! The sheer fact that people look for “average women” proves that they are chaining themselves to one “proper” image…
on a different note Cassey, i’m a bit new here and all but i have a problem; i cannot post/like/comment/ do anything except view on the blogilates app because it says i need to sign in with a facebook/twitter account… but i do not own such accounts and am in a situation where i can’t make a facebook/twitter account. I did make an account on my.blogilates.com but it seems this account cannot be used for the app, only on the internet. could you change this please?
They are models. They do this for their careers. Just because I know I will never look that way doesn’t mean they should be denied job opportunities. I am aware not everyone looks like that and I am aware that not every woman can attain that.. I’m over it and I encourage others to just be aware and be okay with that!! They sure do make Cassey’s clothes look good and isn’t that what is all that matters?
Hi Cassey,
I would also like to congratulate you on the success and excitement you have for your new shoot! I do have to agree with some of the other comments. I eat healthy and exercise every day (I have to- I am in the military). I, unfortunately for me, will never be a model. I am 5’5 and weigh 130. I have problem areas that are difficult to manage and I struggle sometimes with my body image compared to that of models/actresses. This is easy to do when you are surrounded by men who talk about what women “should” look all the time (Angelina Jolie or Megan Fox- if you were wondering…). While this bugs me sometimes I try to look on the bright side. I am strong enough to carry a large amount of weight, and I am thankful for my strength, as there are many who do not have the use of their limbs (especially vets returning from war). I try to always feel blessed for this instead of complaining about not being 5’11 and having super long legs, large boobs and yet still maintaining 115 lbs. Yeah, that will never happen without risking my health with surgery. Not worth it to me.
While I agree with you that modern society faces a problem with unhealthy choices and obesity, I try to make healthy ones but I will never look like the above ladies because of genetics alone. I have respect for their careers, and of course I am well aware that they are people and not holograms, I think it would have been cool if you used them (as I agree the clothing looks great on them!!) and ALSO those of many different body types so we can see a representation of how the clothes might look on us with a different structure. Just a suggestion, but still love your blog.
Hey Cassey!
First of all, congratulations on this huge new project you are starting and finishing soon!! I am so proud of you not only as my instructor, but as a successful businesswoman who has built a whole empire on her own.
Now, about the whole “real women” issue. It is disappointing that people think its okay to bash these girls just because they look like what the average woman nowadays doesn’t look like. I agree with everything you say, how their size and body shape does not make them any less real than a woman who is a size 14 or has bigger proportions.
But, I will disagree with you when you said you didn’t want to portray the average woman because you don’t want to be average. I understand you write this as an encouraging and motivating way to promote dedication to your followers. But, realistically, more than 90% of your followers, even with said dedication that you promote to them, will NEVER be able to look like the models you chose for your campaign. Not because they’re lazy or not dedicated enough, but because their anatomical structure and genetics won’t allowe them to look that way. And that is not a bad thing, because they can look different than your models and still be healthy, and maybe even healthier, than they are. Now this is not about bringing down your prospective clients, but about uplifting them and wanting to make them buy your clothes!! What better way to do that than to include women who are healthy and fit, but just have a different aesthetic??
You’re always telling us POPsters how we need to embrace our differences and not try to fit ourselves into a mold, rather make the best of us and take what we have and make it amazing. It would be awesome if you, Cassey, could promote this even more by including women, who, again, are fit and healthy, but have a different aesthetic than what we are used to seeing in every other fitness campaign.
Good luck,
Babs
Hey Babs, wow, this is perfectly written!!!! It was the exact thing on my mind and of course, like you, I agree/disagree with both Cassey and everyone else with those comments. It’s okay to have women who are genetically SHAPED differently (ex: shorter necks, shorter torso,etc.) as fit examples. And then yes, we should all strive to be the best version of ourselves in every aspect of life like Cassey said. Still, good job handling this topic Cassey!
Totally agree with everything you just said Babs
Very well said! I agree with Babs.
Hi Babs! Thank you for your comment. When I said I didn’t want to represent average, I didn’t mean to say I didn’t want to represent anyone who was a size 14 (whether they work out or not). Sorry if it sounded that way. What I meant was, I wanted to showcase strong, beautiful women who were going against this obesity epidemic that has brought us from an avg. size 4 to avg. size 14 over the past 50 years in the US. Does that make sense? I totally agree with you that women come in all shapes and sizes (as an instructor, I’ve seen everything!) and that yes the clothing should be seen on all types of women. You will see in the music video shoot that more bodies are represented. Also, from a business standpoint, I was not financially able to hire all types of models for my photoshoot but maybe next time I certainly will incorporate them.
Hi, Cassey – don’t know if you saw above, but several gals suggested that you select POPsters as models…. you might be able to afford a wider variety of body types that way.
Cassey this was such a great post addressing this issue! I can’t believe people gave you grief for such a thing considering how positive and body friendly you are! You even have plus size clothing in your store, which a lot of athletic lines don’t have. You are amazing and such an inspiration to me, I’m so grateful for everything you do and the motivation you give each of us to continue to be the best person that we can be! <3
I don’t think there is anything wrong with the models used. But the thing is other women may feel excluded. When you see fashion models and super models, 90% of the time they’re super slim and it gives off the impression that you have to be that way to be beautiful. Social media says slimmer is better. You could still be a bit curvy and healthy. When the word curvy is used, a lot of people assume it means being big. You can still be curvy and healthy.
I really like your website and the fact that you are so down to earth…what you represent is attainable. However, the women that are shown above are no different than what is shown in magazines and they do not represent most of the population. To the average woman being 5’10 and super thin is a dream that we see plastered on every page of magazine, billboard, and advertising. Perhaps you should consider at least showing some girls with curves along with the runway type. It would be nice to see petite women, round bottom, or big breasted women showing off your wonderful fashion and how it highlights their shape. Personally, I’m petite, muscular, and also have been blessed with a nice hourglass figure. I sometimes get put off shopping online when certain clothes are worn by people with a complete opposite body type of me. Anyways, thanks Cassey for your videos. I really love all the you do. <3
Okay, I hear ya girl!
I can’t wait to see your line Cassey! I am so proud of you. Look at how far you’ve come and continue to go!
I didn’t write any comment about the pic, but I will say that did think sth similar…
I thought ‘Well… I wish she would also use models with other body shapes to model her line.”. I NEVER thought those beautiful girls were not a representation of real women… for god’s sake… they are real, their body is as real and perfect as that of a girl who is shorter and measures a few inches more.
But yeah… your friends are the representation of what we often see in catwalks and media, and thats their body after eating well and working out… the thing is not everyone will get their body type after eating clean and working out. I’m not saying you shouldn’t have them to model your line as they represent a perfectly valid type of body, that’s absolutely perfect, but I’d prefer to have them AND other body types.
I’m obviously not suggesting using unhealthy models just for the sake of it, because they are the average american woman or to make other people feel better… But my preference would be to get models with different heights and body shapes as long as they are healthy and, as you said, the best version of themselves.
Aura*
Cassey, thank you so much for being here for us! You ALWAYS encourage us to love our bodies every step of our journey. It is OKAY for someone to decide not to exercise – that is THEIR decision. BUT, blogilates is here for those of us who want to improve our level of muscular & cardiovascular fitness and physical STRENGTH – not just shape – and a “REAL WOMAN” comes in all kinds of shapes and sizes.. We need to remember that some women can be at the peak of their fitness level and still not look like that skinny model! That would be a great way to push FITNESS without inadvertently pushing what has become a media standard of beauty that is – while naturally possible for some women – genetically impossible for others, just because of our bone structure and musculature! Here is a GREAT example: Olympians!! http://deeperbreaths.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/olympic-women.jpg
What a great post!!!!
I agree that no one should be putting women down for the way that they look and your message that the average weight has increased and it’s not good, especially with the rising obesity. However, your comments on how “you hugged your models and they didn’t disappear into thin air” and you “had lunch with them and they ate the whole meal” isn’t an accurate portrayal of eating disorders or unhealthy habits. Nobody that has an eating disorder is so thin they disapper and that comment makes it seem like only really thin girls can have eating disorder. Also, eating an entire meal doesn’t mean anything if that’s all they ate all day, or if they binged afterwards. Not that I’m saying your models do that. These ideas of eating disorder stereotypes are what make people think they’re not thin enough to get help or that someone can’t have and ed if they eat a meal or aren’t underweight. I appreciate your message and the idea that women and people in general need to become more healthy, but these ideas of what and ed is isn’t accurate.
I am SO glad you wrote about this. My husband and I have been having a lot of conversations about the “real woman” issue because of the grief I (and other women) have gotten from being fit after having children. Thank you!!
This is PERFECT; thank you Cassey once more for getting me motivated! Everybody needs a kick up the butt unless we want to face a global health bomb. People are too scared of facing the reality of ‘normal’ vs healthy and if waking us all up means showing the world glowing, beautiful women who are also in education (thank you very much!! to the instagram comments) then personally I can’t see how a better role model could be found. Role models are those who inspire us to do better, no? Surely being ‘better’ is being stronger, happier, more energetic?!
Also would just like to say thank you to Cassey for being so wonderful <3
Great post Cassey! I think you meant to put 24-25″ for the waist size though, not 14-15”. 14″ is… like… what my cat’s waist size is :0
My head is 22″ around… I definitely hope they weren’t 14-15″!
omg..too funny! Thank God someone can find some humor among all of this
sorry, fixed it!
I’m sorry to hear that people are attacking you on this kind of things. All you want to do is to give us a motivation and to be a good role-model to us. Because it’s true!
We’re all getting heavier, but is that a reason to think it’s normal?
If you’re living healthy, exercising and you’re happy, that should be the standard.
We should go back to the time when the majority of the population was healthy and not stuffing themselves
with unhealthy, processed food (most of the people have no idea what kind of junk they are putting into there bodies).
That’s why I appreciate what you do so much. You try to change people into someone healthier, happier
and better than they have ever thought they could be (just like you’ve changed me).
So, don’t let them get to you! Just keep on going and change the World, make the world a
healthier and happier place 🙂
If you ask me, I think you’re going the wright direction !
Lots of love,
Jikke
Love this! I am naturally thin, and I have actually had people yell at me to eat a cheeseburger out of their car window. I work out, so that I feel good and am healthy. I am no less a real woman than anyone else. Can’t wait to see your Body Pop line!
Thank you for this…it is terrible that so many women (and men) are participating in the normalization of unhealthiness. I have always been “skinny” but only became strong and fit in the past few years, so I have had a lifetime of experience dealing with unhealthy people who try to bring me down to their level. My usual response is that I am not a robot, but an actual human with feelings, and a particularly strong feeling that I should do everything in my control to stay healthy and alive for my family as long as I can.
Normalization of unhealthiness? I think the point here is that people want to see different, various body types. Most people who use these videos are not model height and model weight. That’s the point. Healthy body types don’t just come in model sizes. I don’t think anyone here is justifying being unhealthy at all because they want to see someone who is 5’5 or with a muscular build (like many fit women have). It’s NOT unhealthy if you aren’t model size…unhealthiness is totally different than what is being discussed here…
And I’m so excited for your Bodypop collection!!!!
OMG, what a great post (again)!!! It’s like my mind and my thoughts have voice!!! “I want to be the best version of myself” like you said and seeing those girls from your lookbook give me the motivation that I need to keep going! I am a “real woman” too, but I want to be a better and healthier “real woman”!!! And that’s the main reason why I love you so much Cassey, because you give me the boost to achieve that!
Love and respect from Greece!