Define beautiful: Penelope Trunk
By · May 06 2010
I feel beautiful when I’m thin. I know this is not cool to say, but I think I speak for most women when I say it. I think I also speak for most women when I say that I wish I weren’t saying it. I actually have one of those bodies that is good from the start — tall, long legs, naturally slim, better than average face. And still, I decide if I’m beautiful by deciding if I’m at my ideal weight.
Here’s what I really think, though. When I’m at my ideal weight, I’m not dealing with my emotions with food. And when I’m at my ideal weight I’m not putting other peoples’ needs ahead of going to the gym for myself. And when I’m at my ideal weight I wear fun clothes that say, “Look at me! I’m happy with myself!” So it’s not crazy that I feel beautiful when I’m thin. Because the things I have to get to to get to get to thin are good for me. And wait. One more thing. I am smart and strong and generous. You can be that stuff and still feel like you’d be more beautiful if you were more thin. That’s how I am. And I think it’s okay. And maybe, somewhere, being this honest makes me more beautiful. Or maybe more thin.
- Penelope Trunk, of The Brazen Careerist
I read Penelope’s blog everyday. I love her honesty on the blog and I love her honesty in this post. I am loving this project for this very reason. She’s a newlywed (those were her shoes) and runs a successful company and blog, so I’m grateful she took the time to answer my question!
The Beautiful Project: More definitions of beautiful, posted on Thursdays. Send me your answer to “what makes you feel beautiful” to natalie at thebobbypin.com.
Life is scattered, like bobby pins in your bathroom drawer, no? Dance backwards in high heels with me. Let's talk clothes and news. I *love* clothes and news.
That was an honest post. I think the others who wrote about beauty were being honest too, but this post talks about a side of beauty that is not easy to face.
Bottom line is, I started going to the gym in high school because of vanity, but now that I am older and have been working with weights for years, I do it because it makes me feel good. Is that vanity? I don't think so
I think most people feel beautiful when they have a healthy relationship with their food, getting plenty of exercise, not having to worry about the emotional needs of others and have beautiful clothes!
Is it because of the resulting thinness that they feel happy? Or do they think they're thin because they're happy? Thin can be different things to different people. My idea of optimum weight is dramatically different to a supermodel.
Sorry to leave my first comment on your blog and fill it with pop psychology
Miss Penelope is rather confident about herself. Wouldn't it be nice if most people felt that way about how they looked?
I had to read the sentence "Because the things I have to get to to get to get to thin are good for me" four times to figure out what she's saying.
I didn't realize she wrote this just for you until you wrote in the blurb at the bottom. Very cool!
I couldn't agree more, and I love that she isn't afraid to say what she thinks. I feel my best when I'm thin, and I'm working crazy hard right now to get back there. I like that there are other people in the world who can admit it's okay to feel that way. I sometimes get tired of this "You should just love yourself for who you are!" mumbo jumbo. I can still like myself but want to improve. Actually I think all people should feel that way. When is attempting to improve ever a bad thing?
I love reading these entries. I totally agree w/ Penelope. If I throw on skinny jeans and my butt looks great in them, I feel beautiful. Actually, I feel HOT but that's pretty similar, right? And I'm w/ Adam on the whole gym thing. For me, I worked out in my early 20's to keep up w/ the skinny girls & date the hunky guy who is everything bad for me. Now in my 30's, I go to the gym to maintain a slim figure (ok fine) but more so bc I want to feel good, have more energy, and stay healthy!
The honesty and her doing it for herself not because she feels pressure from others to be a certain way is beautiful. It is beautiful to be kind and compassionate to ourselves. I love these posts, Natalie!