Poor Jennifer Hudson. She is the true personification of damned if you do, damned if you don’t. For years Jennifer Hudson was a bigger girl. I can recall guys saying that she had “knocked knees” and was fat and unattractive. Recently she decided to lose weight and become healthier. You would think that after everything Jennifer has overcame with the loss of her mother and brother that people would be happy that she decided to make this dramatic healthy life changing choice. She has even been able to maintain this decision after having a baby. Well, not everyone is thrilled with Jennifer’s new size 6 body. Particularly members of the “big girls” club. Some bigger women are saying that Jennifer sold out and has left the “big girls” club for greener pastures. Well, ain’t that some s**t.

I can vouch that many of the women who said this comment to her were sista’s who were overweight because I KNOW how some of us sistas think. Not all, but some. Why do we promote unhealthiness, particularly in the African American community? I have some theories. It is apparent that some women would rather see her overweight because then she would look more like them and that would make them feel like them being overweight is acceptable. Since she changed it makes them question themselves and their eating behavior and health. If she never lost any weight it would prevent them from wanting to question their own health and body image. So, instead of celebrating her for embracing a healthier lifestyle they attack her and assume that she must think she is better than them. She has to since she purposely left the big girls club.

Sadly, when a sista makes a life changing decision other sistas often become insulted because it is a reflection of them. “Oh you don’t wanna be a big girl like me? You think you better than us? What’s wrong with being a big girl?”They are so busy mirroring their own emotions and feelings on her that they cannot stop to celebrate her achievements.

I could understand if Jennifer dropped down to like a size 1 or 2. Then I could possibly understand why there might be criticism directed towards her because then they would assume that she is trying to look like the “other”. The other being a skinny White woman. Most Black women celebrate their curves and looking like the “other” is not usually a goal of ours. In this case she is a healthy size 6. There seems to be a misconception about being curvy or even voluptuous and being overweight and unhealthy. Not every woman who is overweight can claim that she is voluptuous or “thick”. Similarly, just because you are skinny does not necessarily mean that you are healthy or at a good body weight. You could be a size 1 and not be healthy. Not every woman is meant to be a size 6, but everyone does have a healthy size that they could adhere to. It’s deeper than vanity. This is your life that is at stake.

Ladies there is nothing to celebrate about being obese and unhealthy. Sadly, many of us ignore our body’s cries for a change in exchange for our usual eating habits. Sometimes it is hard to put that piece of fried chicken down for a piece of baked fish. Trust me I know and I am in no way attacking anyone who is overweight. In the same way, why should we attack someone who is aiming for a healthier lifestyle? Leave Jennifer alone. Whatever the reasons she lost the weight, she is now a healthier person.