Jordin Sparks proved she had the vocal prowess and personality to win the biggest talent competition on TV. Unfortunately, all people can do is talk about the new American Idol’s weight, and that’s no surprise. In an industry where image is everything, it was only inevitable that she would become the subject of controversy.
At a height of five feet 10 inches, the 17-year-old wears a size 12 — not the typical size two in the land of Hollywood. So what’s the big deal? Apparently Sparks is promoting health problems.
Recently, Fox News showed a segment which consisted of a skinny blonde woman throwing around the word “obese” to describe the new American Idol winner.
“When I look at Jordin, what I see is diabetes, I see heart disease, I see high cholesterol … she is not the vision of health, she’s the vision of unhealth,” said Mimi Roth of National Action Against Obesity.
Ouch! The segment almost made me drop the sandwich I was munching on in front of my computer screen. If Jordin Sparks is obese, I think I might need gastric bypass surgery.
Could the majority of the 74 million people that voted in the "American Idol" competition be wrong? Could weight actually be a factor in this competition? It doesn’t seem like it is.
But the women of Hollywood have forever starved themsevles for fame. So when someone who isn’t a size two comes along, it’s easy to call them fat.
But the one thing Roth failed to do on the Fox News segment is give us an example of what is her idea of health.
Is she speaking of Lindsay Lohan? Because the young starlet hasn’t reached the age of 21, yet and has just entered her second rehab stint this week. But hey, she still manages to look good in a bikini, right? At least she won’t suffer from heart disease.
No, she can’t be talking about Lohan. Maybe she’s talking about the ultra-thin Paris Hilton. The heiress is the picture of perfect health — at least she better be, she’ll be spending 23 days behind bars for drinking and driving.
Maybe she’s talking about Britney Spears. After all, she is a successful pop artist. Who better to be a role model for young women than someone who sings, dances and stays thin? She’s only been to rehab once and sure, maybe she shaved her head as part of her nervous breakdown, but she probably just wanted to get rid of all of that unhealthy hair.
No, wait, I know exactly who Roth is referring to. If anything, this woman should be made the chief spokesperson for National Action Against Obesity. I’m talking about Nicole Richie. The socialite is definitely and visibly free from diabetes, heart disease or high cholesterol. She also recently sent out an e-mail invitation for her Memorial Day party notifying all her friends that “there will be a scale at the front door. No girls over 100 pounds allowed in. Start starving yourself now.”
I can see the National Action Against Obesity campaign now with Richie on every advertisement with the giant letters “Start starving yourself now” in big bold letters.
Nevertheless, Sparks doesn’t seem to want to take Roth’s advice.
“I’m really comfortable in my own skin,” Sparks told People magazine in a recent interview.
“I learned that I’m not ever going to be a size two. I would look so weird as a size two. Somebody would blow and I would fall right over. It just wouldn’t be healthy."
Sparks certainly has a point. And if Richie is the vision of health, and Jordin is obese, I think I’d rather be unhealthy.
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Crystal is a pop music writer for The Valley Morning Star and TheV247.com. Read Crystal's blog at http://intothegroove.freedomblogging.com.
