Cheryl Tiegs Criticizes ‘Sports Illustrated,’ Gets Slammed, Has A Point
Cheryl Tiegs, the former model who rocked both male and female fantasies during her busiest days in the 1970s and 1980s, is not happy with the recent decision by Sports Illustrated to feature model Ashley Graham on the cover of its latest swimsuit edition.
Since Tiegs spoke out, social media seems to have exploded with a lot of disapproval for the former supermodel’s remarks.
https://twitter.com/nocaresgiven11/status/703141643981983744
I've tried to teach my daughters that sometimes you should just NOT say something. Apparently #CherylTiegs hasn't figured this out at 68.
— Alex Flinn — Breathing Underwater is 21! (@Alex_Flinn) February 26, 2016
Cheryl Tiegs has since taken to social media herself to clarify her views.
“I don’t think being anorexic, bulimic or overweight are healthy,” Tiegs said, according to her Facebook page. “All of these can be connected to serious health issues. I want everyone to be as healthy as they can be.”
While some have criticized Tiegs, and even Dr. Oz, in the wake of Tiegs’ comments about full-figured models, a 35 inch waist is considered potentially harmful if the person has a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or greater. While some medical professionals have said that BMI might not be the most accurate measure of a person’s overall health, “it’s a relatively easy measurement for doctors to take during an office visit,” according to Time.
However, LiveStrong cites the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association’s assertions that waist circumference is a strong indicator for the potential of disease, in addition to higher BMI levels. Waist circumference can indicate how much visceral fat exists in the abdominal region, and visceral fat was once necessary to stave off famine back when the human race was still existing as cavemen. However, visceral fat is not as necessary anymore, as humans are not, in general, at as great a risk for starvation, and visceral fat is deemed more serious than subcutaneous fat because it feeds directly into the liver’s portal vein.
Cheryl Tiegs’ own measurements are a far cry from the 35-inch waistline that she decried in her E! News interview earlier this week. At her peak, Tiegs measured 34C-24-34 (bust-waist-hips), and now, at 68, the former model still boasts an enviable figure.
While Ashley Graham has yet to comment about Tiegs’ views, she did tell Entertainment Tonight,“I’m really excited to know that Sports Illustrated is wanting to include women like us. There is no perfect body, and we shouldn’t be striving for perfection anymore.“
Comments about the dangers of a 35-inch waistline aside, it is interesting to note that, according to Healthy Celeb, Graham’s measurements are also well within range. At 42-30-46, Graham’s waist size fits comfortably within the healthy limits for waist circumference.
While Graham has no doubt already heard Tiegs’ comments about “full figured” models, modelling is not Graham’s only claim to fame. The model and body activist has also spoken at TED x BerkleeValencia about the importance of self-acceptance.
Cheryl Tiegs did acknowledge that Graham’s looks were, indeed, striking.
“Her face is beautiful. Beautiful,” she commented, according to Yahoo! “But I don’t think it’s healthy in the long run.”
Graham noted during her TED talk that the tag “plus size” starts at size 8 and ranges to size 16, according to United States’ sizing. As a result, many women who fit into these sizes, she points out, will be deemed “plus size.”
Regardless of Tiegs’ intent in speaking out about the most recent Sports Illustrated cover, Tiegs has definitely sparked a range of conversations about health, what it means to be “plus sized,” and what truly is a “healthy” waistline.
[Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Sports Illustrated]
