As a character designer I have to draw all types of people and creatures, but all of us have a particular type of person we like to draw off the clock. Mine is curvy women. This week I’ve been drawing more than my usual amount of them.

There’s been so much debate over the size zero issue, but apart from the odd overboard celebrity, I’ve rarely seen women that size walking around here. What’s nice about LA is the variety of women here. The publicized women do tend to be of intimidatingly slim proportions, but we also have many Latino women who always have wonderful curves. I’ve heard such mixed reactions; some women say it’s hard to be curvy here due to Hollywood’s influence, but others embrace the fact that LA is such a diverse city.

I’ve been particularly influenced this week by Beth Ditto from punk band ‘The Gossip’, who is a plus sized girl, who often strips down to her underwear during shows. I liked her because she’s fierce - she doesn’t buy into the stereotype of ‘big girl = big jolly personality’. Ditto is sexy and unapologetic, she even appeared on the front of music magazine NME naked.

I think you just have to be happy with yourself. Size zero and obesity are obviously two sides of the scale, but as long as you’re healthy and comfortable with yourself, what does it matter.

(average rating: 5 out of 5)

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