You can never be too thin. There, I said it.

Flipping through pages of fashion week coverage, I grabbed at the excess jiggle around my belly. I’m not fat, I reasoned, I’m just not a model. Models aren’t too skinny. There’s a reason they’ve represented ideals of beauty for decades and it’s not because they “look sick”. There are exceptions but, overall, being 5’9” and 125 lbs. looks damn good.

Many have asked why I don’t model. My instinct is to say, “Because I’d need to lose about 50 pounds and I love food.” But I graciously brush it off. At 5’9”, 170 lbs, I’m no waif. But I love models.

While I have days when I would kill to look like Giselle, I realize that she is naturally built that way. And if you read the Rolling Stone article (RS849), you’d know that she consumes lamb shank, beef kabob, and of course salad “with gusto”.

Take “The City” reality show’s character Kelly Cutrone. Upon meeting model Allie, she promptly asks, “Are you okay? You look really skinny.” There is no way in hell (contrary to speculation from “The Moment” blogger) that her “concern is genuine”. It was hostile. Probably because deep down, all women want to be skinny.

Haters should center their arguments around drug use, malnutrition. The National Center for Health Statistics showed a 15% increase in obesity from 1980-2004. Last I checked, we have the highest obesity rate, and a little salad never hurt anyone. Sure, some models have issues with food. But for many of them, it’s work. There’s nothing wrong with the fact that they exercise a little harder and eat a little less shit than the rest of us.

As I type this, I can hear the Beth Dittos of the world crying out in indignation. Ditto, lead singer for the band the Gossip, is known for her OBESE (not voluptuous) physique. No one has commented on her risk of heart disease or diabetes. Ditto is fat. Part of me wants to say “more power to her” but the rest is saying “Give me a break.” And some salad.