OT Cheerleader Called "chunky"

Emily said:

I would have taken a better actress than Bella in a heartbeat.

When you assume that I have never judged people based on their appearance you must have skipped the sentence where I wrote that I'm battling my disordered eating for about 15 years now. Eating disorders come with a lot of body-shaming (whether it is my own body or that of others). I never wrote anywhere in my posts that I never did that and I do not want to speak myself free from never doing it again in the future. But I am aware of this bad habit of mine and I'm working very hard on changing it. And I want to raise the awareness of it because that is the only way to stop it.

And if you tell me that a 2.5 year-old blog post listing the 10 fattest basketball players with zero comments on it is comparable to having nation(or even world)-wide media coverage because an actress gained 10 pounds you did not understand at all what I was trying to say.

I also would still like to have an answer to this question:


Why in the world is it important that this cheerleader is "chunky" (although I would never use that word to describe her) if she is doing her job? I never read anywhere that "leading cheers" implies that you have to be a certain size. And if it is really about her being "loose" - how would you talk about a very toned overweight (or even obese) person?

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Simple answer to your question, it is the reality of our society. No right or wrong, simply just the way it is.
There is something in our society called "the entertainment clause".....which basically means that anyone can be discriminated against simply because of the way the look. I do not agree with it, but we as a society can either do something about it or let it be.
Professional cheerleading is entertainment! and it is the individual's choice to put themselves in the limelight to be complimented or critiqued. We all have choices and at the end of the day, no matter what we say and/or do, someone will find something wrong with it.

Emily said:

I would have taken a better actress than Bella in a heartbeat.

When you assume that I have never judged people based on their appearance you must have skipped the sentence where I wrote that I'm battling my disordered eating for about 15 years now. Eating disorders come with a lot of body-shaming (whether it is my own body or that of others). I never wrote anywhere in my posts that I never did that and I do not want to speak myself free from never doing it again in the future. But I am aware of this bad habit of mine and I'm working very hard on changing it. And I want to raise the awareness of it because that is the only way to stop it.

And if you tell me that a 2.5 year-old blog post listing the 10 fattest basketball players with zero comments on it is comparable to having nation(or even world)-wide media coverage because an actress gained 10 pounds you did not understand at all what I was trying to say.

I also would still like to have an answer to this question:


Why in the world is it important that this cheerleader is "chunky" (although I would never use that word to describe her) if she is doing her job? I never read anywhere that "leading cheers" implies that you have to be a certain size. And if it is really about her being "loose" - how would you talk about a very toned overweight (or even obese) person?

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I've already answered your question. In addition I personally never said there was a NEED and therefore can not attest for the NEED. I am not a spokesperson for the world, or the entertainment industry or for society in general. I just know that its there, its exists and it is what it is.


Eating disorders come from various reasons. At the end of the day its a mental illness. For personal reasons I'm not going to entertain your spiel about disordered eating, because to me you trying to turn this into who has the biggest personal struggle about xyz and at the end of the day, that is not what my discussion has ever been about.. But like I said. The bolded (particularly the end of the bolded) to me is extremely hypocritical.


You're clearly missing the point. I clearly said that the blog post written was unnecessary and trivial. Physically does she have room for toning, yes, as do most people. That kind of scrutiny comes with the territory of dancing professionally for a professional sports team,

I've never met an obese toned person, and I'm also beginning to get the impression that you don't know what toned means. I'm no dietician, nutritionist, physical trainer, doctor or Indian chief, but when you describe a toned "obese" person or toned "overweight" I don't see how one two can exist at the same time. Tone. Lean. Low Body Fat. Obesity is a high body fat, blah blah blah. So until you provide me with a picture.... I don't get where you're going. To tone does not mean to lose weight.I tone all the time and I have not gained or lost an ounce of weight since my freshman year of college. But "No" I wouldn't "talk about an obese person" because I am an adult living in America where more often than not an individual "obese". Obesity is nothing to "talk" about in the point and laugh sense that you're implying, its a problem I don't deal with but a problem that needs to be rectified if you do deal with it.

Frequently Asked Questions — Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders

Are there any height and weight requirements?
You should look well proportioned in dancewear. We DO NOT have specific height and weight requirements, however, a lean figure is demanded by our uniform

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Find one season of DCC Making the Team, watch it and for further explanation and reasoning email Judy or Kelly.
These women aren't "leading cheers". They're dancing provocatively to entertain an audience. The industry has a desired level of physical fitness when it comes down to it. Point. Blank. Period.

Emily said:

Why in the world is it important that this cheerleader is "chunky" (although I would never use that word to describe her) if she is doing her job? I never read anywhere that "leading cheers" implies that you have to be a certain size. And if it is really about her being "loose" - how would you talk about a very toned overweight (or even obese) person?

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Also, since I don't believe you read the bloggers original blog (its been removed and the cached version is gone as well). But she herself auditioned for a "professional" sports team.

In case you missed my Dynamo Girls audition video… | FanZone | a Chron.com blog

Her audition begins around 57 seconds. Thoughts?

Last summer Alex Rodriguez had knee surgery and did not work out for several months. Every magazine blasted him for gaining weight and published unflattering pictures of him saying his career was over. So male athletes get it also. This season of the Biggest Loser had an ex NFL player that also gained a large amount of weight and was judged for it.
I realize by participating in a career such as pro cheer it comes with the territory. I just don't like the fact it was another woman doing it.


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I'm not taking a side on this because personally I don't feel a need to, but I just wanted to say that there is such a thing as being "fit fat". Basically your weight and physical fitness level are two separate things...take Roy Nelson for example, he's a professional MMA fighter - extremely fit - but overweight. Another example is the girl that everyone knows who eats junk food like it's their job and never gains weight. She isn't fat, but she definitely isn't fit. It's quite possible that this cheerleader is extremely fit but not as skinny as the others because her genes won't allow it. I don't get why size is such an issue (I understand that it's societies way but I just don't get it), personally I would rather watch a bigger girl who's a god dancer than a smaller girl who's flailing about


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HeresAThought said:

I disagree.. If you're putting yourself out there, whether it be modeling, acting, professional dancing. Someone is going to critique your body. Someone is going to have a suggestion on a way for you to improve your body. If you can't handle it you shouldn't subject yourself to that kind of scrutiny.

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The obsession with people in the entertainment industry and the feeling of entitlement to insult them in media is actually an American and British phenomenon. The blog was not an employer giving constructive criticism nor an employer stating she had surpassed the weight requirements. This was not a family member that was concerned about her health. This was a radio station blogger that felt entitled to scrutinize this woman on a public form for the mere sake of calling attention to her body type and encouraging others to scrutinize it, as well. If we accept this as "OK" behavior, than there is truly no difference with teenagers doing the exact same thing to a classmate on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook which we all know has resulted in many teenage suicides. Everyone has likes, dislikes and opinions concerning weight, looks, preference of skin color, hair color, sexuality, religion, politics, etc. While I have no problem with people having discussions on what their personal preferences are, I have a huge issue with people that single out individuals, insult them, and encourage others to do the same.

catlady said:

The obsession with people in the entertainment industry and the feeling of entitlement to insult them in media is actually an American and British phenomenon. The blog was not an employer giving constructive criticism nor an employer stating she had surpassed the weight requirements. This was not a family member that was concerned about her health. This was a radio station blogger that felt entitled to scrutinize this woman on a public form for the mere sake of calling attention to her body type and encouraging others to scrutinize it, as well. If we accept this as "OK" behavior, than there is truly no difference with teenagers doing the exact same thing to a classmate on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook which we all know has resulted in many teenage suicides. Everyone has likes, dislikes and opinions concerning weight, looks, preference of skin color, hair color, sexuality, religion, politics, etc. While I have no problem with people having discussions on what their personal preferences are, I have a huge issue with people that single out individuals, insult them, and encourage others to do the same.

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I've repeatedly said that the blog itself was unnecessary. Nobody is accepting this behavior as "OK", but the fact of the matter is and will always remain, when you put yourself out there in these kinds of careers, this type of scrutiny is going to come with the territory. If you can't handle it, you have the option of not doing it. She (the dancer) made herself a public figure of sorts, public figures get scrutinized...publicly. ONE blogger decided she didn't like her body and wrote a blog saying that she and other OKT fans felt like she was too big to dance in that uniform or something to that effect (the actual blog itself is gone). That is her opinion, its what she blogged about. Did she need to do it? No we could all live without the blog post. Did she have the right to present herself as the voice of the OKT fans? No, because shes not. Does she really have a right to comment on the woman's body....debatable, she has a right to free speech, but whether or not you, I or the rest of the world agree with it...that boils down to ethics, morals and personal opinion.

Commenting on someones appearance is something we all do. We just don't all blog about it. We all skim gossip rags in store check outs about what celeb gained what, who where and why. People still look at Shape magazine and marvel at Kelly Osborne's latest weight loss. This is all just a fact and a part of life. If none of this was a big deal, why is weight loss a billion dollar a year Industry? Why is every nearly girl I knew in college with doing Shakeology and Beach Body Fitness?

Weight loss and physical fitness matters to nearly everyone, and its something we all have an opinion. Its a part of life

catlady said:

The obsession with people in the entertainment industry and the feeling of entitlement to insult them in media is actually an American and British phenomenon. The blog was not an employer giving constructive criticism nor an employer stating she had surpassed the weight requirements. This was not a family member that was concerned about her health. This was a radio station blogger that felt entitled to scrutinize this woman on a public form for the mere sake of calling attention to her body type and encouraging others to scrutinize it, as well. If we accept this as "OK" behavior, than there is truly no difference with teenagers doing the exact same thing to a classmate on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook which we all know has resulted in many teenage suicides. Everyone has likes, dislikes and opinions concerning weight, looks, preference of skin color, hair color, sexuality, religion, politics, etc. While I have no problem with people having discussions on what their personal preferences are, I have a huge issue with people that single out individuals, insult them, and encourage others to do the same.

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I just past out from shimmying so much from this post!!!! Very well put.

@HeresAThought
if you constantly tell your sisters she needs to "tone", i feel pretty sorry for your sister. also, i would bet my life that you opinions would be different if YOU were naturally a size 4, but as you have mentioned (quite a bit) you are smaller than that which is most likely why you have your opinion. if you yourself are saying the article didnt need to be written, why did you feel the need to comment and agree with it?..

Cheeranswers said:

yeah i feel pretty sorry for your sister. also, i would bet my life that you opinions would be different if YOU were naturally a size 4, but as you have mentioned (quite a bit) you are smaller than that which is most likely why you have your opinion. if you yourself are saying the article didnt need to be written, why did you feel the need to comment and agree with it?..

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If I were naturally a size 4 I would be just as proud as I'd be to be a 6 or 8 or 10 or 12 or 4 or 2. I never mentioned I was smaller than any size. I don't recall mentioning my size at all. For me personally, a size on a label in clothing has no bearing as long as my body itself, looks good. Are you saying you feel sorry for my sister because shes a size 4? or do you feel sorry because I tell her she should focus on toning instead of losing weight. .... No need to feel sorry for either of those things. If the average American woman is a size 14, you should actually feel happy for her that shes a size 4...since she's "winning" according to those standards that imply that size matters. Guess I just come from a more confident family.


And I commented on the article to point out that that type or criticism is the nature of their industry

HeresAThought said:

I've repeatedly said that the blog itself was unnecessary. Nobody is accepting this behavior as "OK", but the fact of the matter is and will always remain, when you put yourself out there in these kinds of careers, this type of scrutiny is going to come with the territory. If you can't handle it, you have the option of not doing it.

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I truly hope I am misunderstanding your intent because, what I'm reading is that you are justifying it because it happens, it's going to happen, and if you don't want the scrutiny don't do it. The fact is, the radio blogger put it out on the blog because, like you, she felt as though it came with the territory and felt because it came with the territory, she could say and write whatever she wanted. Her logic in writing that blog was most certainly, "if you can't handle it, you have don't have to do it." It is the same logic used by rapists when they say, "she was wearing short shorts and a low cut shirt so she was asking for it." It is the same logic kids use when they torment gay peers, "well, if he didn't want the criticism, he should have stayed in the closet."

HeresAThought said:

I've repeatedly said that the blog itself was unnecessary. Nobody is accepting this behavior as "OK", but the fact of the matter is and will always remain, when you put yourself out there in these kinds of careers, this type of scrutiny is going to come with the territory. If you can't handle it, you have the option of not doing it. She (the dancer) made herself a public figure of sorts, public figures get scrutinized...publicly. ONE blogger decided she didn't like her body and wrote a blog saying that she and other OKT fans felt like she was too big to dance in that uniform or something to that effect (the actual blog itself is gone). That is her opinion, its what she blogged about. Did she need to do it? No we could all live without the blog post. Did she have the right to present herself as the voice of the OKT fans? No, because shes not. Does she really have a right to comment on the woman's body....debatable, she has a right to free speech, but whether or not you, I or the rest of the world agree with it...that boils down to ethics, morals and personal opinion.

Commenting on someones appearance is something we all do. We just don't all blog about it. We all skim gossip rags in store check outs about what celeb gained what, who where and why. People still look at Shape magazine and marvel at Kelly Osborne's latest weight loss. This is all just a fact and a part of life. If none of this was a big deal, why is weight loss a billion dollar a year Industry? Why is every nearly girl I knew in college with doing Shakeology and Beach Body Fitness?

Weight loss and physical fitness matters to nearly everyone, and its something we all have an opinion. Its a part of life

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Sure ideals have always existed (i even hesistate to use always) but There were points and and places in history where this kind of puplic and systemized bodily criticism did not exist so I don't see why we have to accept that it always will. Isn't society just a collection of us the people if we ourselves are willing to accept a behavior as so then aren't we promoting what we say isn't OK? Just a thought.

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catlady said:

I truly hope I am misunderstanding your intent because, what I'm reading is that you are justifying it because it happens, it's going to happen, and if you don't want the scrutiny don't do it. The fact is, the radio blogger put it out on the blog because, like you, she felt as though it came with the territory and felt because it came with the territory, she could say and write whatever she wanted. Her logic in writing that blog was most certainly, "if you can't handle it, you have don't have to do it." It is the same logic used by rapists when they say, "she was wearing short shorts and a low cut shirt so she was asking for it." It is the same logic kids use when they torment gay peers, "well, if he didn't want the criticism, he should have stayed in the closet."

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You all are just being argumentative for the sake of being argumentative. You're misunderstanding the intent because you are choosing to misunderstand the intent. I'm not justifying anything, I just am not in denial or delusional about the fact that it happens and it happens all the time. Anytime you are a public figure, political leader, activist, reporter, actress, dancer, singer, artist etc and so forth in the limelight people are going to put YOU under the microscope. They are going to criticize, they are going to scrutinize, they are going to voluntarily make themselves the authority on whatever it may be that does or does not concern them. Is this a new concept? Because I thought it was common knowledge. Would you all be upset if a male blogger wrote a blog about how "sexy" she was and how girls like her need to be "the standard of beauty for all women in the world"? To me thats offensive in the same way as the female blogger's blog.

This is part of the territory for a professional cheerleader. Its not for everyone, it shouldn't be for everyone and It never will be for everyone. In 2007 there was an episode where they put the girls in a body fat test machine and TOLD THEM that they needed to LOSE WEIGHT based on their body fat percentages. They told girls with 16-19PERCENT BODY FAT that they needed to decrease their body fat. Is it right? NO. Is it sad? Sure. Is it the reality of the professional cheerleading industry? YES.

Governor Chris Christie underwent gastic bypass or some sort of weight loss surgery. Why? Because people commented on his weight and ability to lead because of his weight (personally I think hes going for a bid for the White House in 2016 and people this day and age want their President young and they want them healthy...its why people are already slamming Hillary and Joe for their potential bids for the White House).

You're really reaching with the rape comment to the point I don't feel comfortable following it up. It's not the same thing. To me its not in the same arena and really you should not even go there.

"If you have no critics, you'll likely have no success"- Malcolm X.

russmin said:

Sure ideals have always existed (i even hesistate to use always) but There were points and and places in history where this kind of puplic and systemized bodily criticism did not exist so I don't see why we have to accept that it always will. Isn't society just a collection of us the people if we ourselves are willing to accept a behavior as so then aren't we promoting what we say isn't OK? Just a thought.

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Women used to break ribs and stuff themselves into corsets. CoCo Chanel came along and said "never" and changed the fashion industry.

People like to point out Marilyn Monroe was a size 14-16. Today she would be a size 8.

Vanity sizing exists. Its why I don't get the relevance of someone saying they're a "Size XYZ" when the reality is, no girl, you're whatever size that fits at whatever store you're shopping at.

The CEO of Abercrombie doesn't want people larger than a Abercrombie 14 in his clothing....what was the internet movement in response? Go give the clothing to the homeless (which is condescending and offensive in a whole different way). Why wasn't the response to rip seams, and sew items together and let a size larger than 14 person wear them?

People change norms and standards all the time.

Accepting and recognizing that something exists are two separate things.

I hate seeing women tearing each other down.


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