God Bless Skinny Jennifer Hudson

"If she can do it, I can too!" I'm willing to bet this is said by black women all over when we see pictures of Jennifer Hudson and her new post-Weight Watchers body.

I am among the thoroughly inspired. This month's ESSENCE magazine features skinny J-Hud, and those pictures are now posted on my wall to remind me to drag my a** to the gym even when I don't feel like it.

But here's one thing to note: even when Jennifer was twice her size, she always looked good. The reason is because she wore clothes that fit. Ladies, I don't care if you're a size 2 or 22, if your clothes fit correctly, you will look better. Muffin top results from too-small shirts and too-low jeans, and we see this often even from no-booty, slim white girls.

You've seen the big girls, at the mall, wearing leggings that expose every thigh dimple. Spilling over the top of the bra, underwires and straps cuting into the skin and exposing rolls - again too small garments.


On the converse, clothes that are too big have a frumpy effect, making you look shapeless, like you're trying to hide in a potato sack.

It's easy to mistake frugality or self-punishment for discipline and say, "I'm not buying any new clothes until I lose weight." But this is a mistake. You won't lose weight overnight. Unless you plan on being a recluse until you shed 50 pounds, you probably still have to show your face in public, so look good in the meantime. I know it hurts to have to get those jeans in the double digits, but isn't it easier than having to tuck and pull and straighten your clothes all day and be self-conscious?



As we wage our own battles of the bulge, let's keep in mind that Mo'Nique, Tocara and other big girls seem to be having a lot of fun, thanks to having the confidence us other girls lack while we're in our periods of self-loathing.

So God bless skinny J-Hud, but until you get her size - and even when you do get there - dress for the size you are, not the size you want to be.