I have also subscribed to
Radiance magazine, &
Dimensions magazine, both from the US. (I believe the
last issue of Radiance magazine was published in December 2000, but
there are still plenty of interesting links from the Radiance magazine
web site, see link above.) (September 2001 seems to have
been the last printed issue of Dimensions magazine, but the web site
(see link above) appears to be current.) Mode magazine, also from the US, used
models on the lower end of the fat scale - but unfortunately Mode
magazine seems to no longer be in existence.
Closer to home
was New
Zealand Bella - the southern hemisphere’s
only lifestyle quarterly magazine with a fashion focus on
plus sizes. The NZBella magazine seems to have also folded.
I hope that soon there will again be an Australian
magazine for bbw - a glossy colour fashion magazine,
with size acceptance & appreciation letters,
articles, fiction & personals - but with models &
fashions in size 18 (US size 14) & up. After all,
size 18 (US size 14), or even size 16 (US size 12) is
where most fashion & lingerie manufacturers stop in
Australia - this I hope, will change in future.
I
felt more attractive after reading each magazine edition
- but the real boost came when I discovered the size
acceptance movement online.
On
the internet we can visit bbw friendly websites, read
about & see pictures of bbw who are happy with their
appearance, & share information, & support &
encourage one another.
There
are a lot of clubs, dances & other social events for bbw & those who appreciate them in the US &
Canada.
I'd like there to be similar events where I live in
Queensland, Australia - & all over Australia too. The
trouble is, even though, as in the US, more than half of
our female population is over size 16 (US size 12) - the
vast majority of those seem to be dieting, & hating
& feeling ashamed of their bodies. Accepting &
appreciating our bodies without trying to shrink them, is
perceived as a radical idea here, it seems.
There
now is a Queensland Size Acceptance Association, with thirteen members so far. You may contact the owner of this
list at:
Qldsize-acceptance-owner@yahoogroups.com
There are a few Yahoo groups which deserve a mention, because they have so many
members:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aussiebbwappreciation/,
which has 1,273 members;
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bbwsandtheiradmirersinaus/,
which has 558 members;
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/australiasbbw/,
which has 634 members; &
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/donttellmewhatsizeimustb/,
which has 1,091 members.
Some Australian men who appreciate women who are more than
slender seem to be "backward in coming forward".
Perhaps their admiration has been met with disbelief by
women they have fancied in the past?
If
you're an Australian reading this, please sign my guestbook or email me & let me know how
you feel about what I've written here. I'd especially
like to hear from bbw & admirers from the Biloela area.
No matter where you are in the world, I'd like to hear
from you.
22/10/02: I
started cycling eleven months ago, gradually working up by a minute a
day until I reached 40 minutes in January. For the last nine
months I've been cycling for 40 minutes a day. Don't let anyone tell you that you're fat because you don't exercise - nor that if you would only exercise for forty minutes a day you'll soon be slender! - because I'm still wearing the same size in clothing as I was before I started!
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