Short Body Image and Size Diversity Rant

Non-standard size (but not petite in height either) model, Crystal Renn

I read another body image related post in a blog I follow, so I felt like I should write a post here about it.  I don't know about you, but I'm sick and tired of all those body image activists who claim that they want diversity, but in reality, only want to see more size 12 or so models in magazines and on the runway.  Yes, that may be adding to the body types when it comes to what's pretty/beautiful, but it is not diverse.  If you're only going to have Crystal Renn (above) on the runway with a sea of 5'11" size 0 models, it's called tokenism.  In order to be diverse, you have to have a lot of different types.  Unfortunately, short women, or even average heighted women don't factor in to most body diversity activists' interests.  To them, it's all about the dress size, and one that is larger than, say, a US size 4 (UK 8). 

I realize that I see a lot of people my size in magazines, but the people in magazines aren't usually in FASHION SPREADS.  I see people my size in magazines like In Touch or US Weekly because people my size in the public eye are musicians or actresses.  Sure, they get to be in fashion and lifestyle magazines too, but they're not usually doing fashion.  They're cover girls with an interview inside.  Once in a while, you'll see them at some sort of charity fashion show.  That's pretty much it.  Size diversity should encompass every size, height and frame included.

/rant

(Look for another body image/specialty size related post coming soon.  It will be on both this site and DelectablyChic!.  I just need to gather more information on exclusively specialty size designers and what people think of them!)

Guy or Girl....height is an issue if you want to win awards...

The average height of a male winner is tall. No different than that of women. However, unlike women, the comedy-drama ratio varies. For women, the dramatic actress is generally taller than the comedy actress, while it isn't necessarily the case for men. In fact, there are several instances where the comedy actor is taller than the dramatic actor in the Golden Globes, both in the television and film categories. In any case, the average heights of Emmy and Golden Globe winners, broken down into comedy and drama categories are (as I didn't include TV movies/miniseries in the posts about women and height, I won't include them for the guys):

Comedy:

Emmy: around 5'11"
Golden Globe (TV): 5'10 3/4"
Golden Globe (Film): 5'11 1/4"

Drama:

Emmy: 5'10 1/2"
Golden Globe (TV): a little over 5'10 1/2"
Golden Globe (Film): 5'11 1/4"

Notice the difference compared to women (where comedic actresses are, on average, shorter than drama), huh?

I am totally not surprised that the average height of an award winning actor is taller than the national average in the US. Why would it be the same? Has Tom Cruise, a SHORT MAN, ever won an Oscar? Nope. Though women are allowed to be shorter, at times (for the Oscars, women can be as short as 5'2" (Reese Witherspoon)), but no male winner has been shorter than 5'9" in the past eight ceremonies.

I've asked a few of my friends about this whole height thing, and many feel that taller people win not because voters prefer taller actors, but because it "just happened to be that way." I don't know if I really believe that, though. Being recognized with an Oscar, Emmy or Golden Globe is like being promoted to senior management or executive. And studies have shown that people in these positions are more likely to be taller than average.

Oscar Winners This Year

Best Actress: Marion Cotillard (La Vie En Rose), 5'6 1/2" (do you think she can be an honorary petite? She played a woman who was 4'8" or so in real life)

Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood), 6'1 1/2"

No shorty winners in the lead acting categories this year...

Height and the Grammy Winner

Back in September, Shorty Stories examined the heights of your typical Oscar, Golden Globe and Emmy winners and found that average to tall actresses are more likely to win, especially in the dramatic category. But what about musicians? Are the taller ones more likely to win? With the Grammy Awards fast approaching us (February 10, people!), let's take a look at the best female solo artist winners 2000-2006:

2006:

Best R&B Vocal Performance - Mary J. Blige ("Be Without You"), 5'9"

Best Pop Vocal Performance - Christina Aguilera ("Ain't No Other Man"), 5'1 1/2"

Best Rock Vocal Performance - COMBINED WITH THE MEN'S CATEGORY...winner for 2006 was male

Best Country Vocal Performance - Carrie Underwood ("Jesus, Take the Wheel"), 5'3 1/2"

Average female solo height: a little over 5'4 1/2" (thanks a lot, Mary J. Blige, for skewing the height average....JUST KIDDING!!)

2005:

Best R&B Vocal Performance - Mariah Carey ("We Belong Together"), 5'9"

Best Pop Vocal Performance - Kelly Clarkson ("Since U Been Gone"), 5'3 1/2"

Best Rock Vocal Performance - COMBINED WITH THE MEN'S CATEGORY...winner for 2005 was male

Best Country Vocal Performance - Emmylou Harris ("The Connection"), 5'5"

Average female solo height: Just under 5'6"

2004:

Best R&B Vocal Performance - Alicia Keys ("If I Ain't Got You"), 5'8 1/2"

Best Pop Vocal Performance - Norah Jones ("Sunrise"), 5'1"

Best Rock Vocal Performance - COMBINED WITH THE MEN'S CATEGORY...winner for 2004 was male

Best Country Vocal Performance - Gretchen Wilson ("Redneck Woman"), 5'4" (according to celebheights.com. Her height is not listed on IMDB.)

Average female solo height: 5'4 1/2"


2003:

Best R&B Vocal Performance - Beyoncé Knowles ("Dangerously In Love 2"), 5'6 1/4" (Cynthia's Note: I thought she was taller than that)

Best Pop Vocal Performance - Christina Aguilera ("Beautiful"), 5'1 1/2"

Best Rock Vocal Performance - Pink ("Trouble"), 5'4" (Cynthia's Note: This was the last year the rock category had separate male and female solo categories)

Best Country Vocal Performance - June Carter Cash ("Keep On The Sunny Side"), 5'5 1/2"

Average female solo height: just under 5'4 1/2"


2002:

Best R&B Vocal Performance - Mary J. Blige ("He Think I Don't Know"), 5'9"

Best Pop Vocal Performance - Norah Jones ("Don't Know Why"), 5'1"

Best Rock Vocal Performance - Sheryl Crow ("Steve McQueen"), 5'3 1/2"

Best Country Vocal Performance - Faith Hill ("Cry"), 5'8"

Average female solo height: Just under 5'5 1/2"

2001:

Best R&B Vocal Performance - Alicia Keys ("Fallin'"), 5'8 1/2"

Best Pop Vocal Performance - Nelly Futardo ("I'm Like a Bird"), 5'1"

Best Rock Vocal Performance - Lucinda Williams ("Get Right With God"), HEIGHT UNKNOWN

Best Country Vocal Performance - Dolly Parton ("Shine"), 5'0"

Average female solo height (based on three categories): Just over 5'3"


2000:

Best R&B Vocal Performance - Toni Braxton ("He Wasn't Man Enough'"), 5'2"

Best Pop Vocal Performance - Macy Gray ("I Try"), 6'0"

Best Rock Vocal Performance - Sheryl Crow ("There Goes The Neighborhood"), 5'3 1/2"

Best Country Vocal Performance - Faith Hill ("Breathe"), 5'8"

Average female solo height (based on three categories): Just under 5'6 1/2"


Average R&B height: Around 5'7 1/2"
Average Pop height: 5'3"
Average Rock height: Just above 5'3 1/2"
Average Country height: Just under 5'5"

Average height combined: 5'4 3/4"

Notice that with the exception of one, POP ARTIST winners are petite, many on the very petite side, while only one R&B singer is petite (and that year, the pop artist winner was very tall! Almost a switch!)

What about 2007? Who are the petite nominees?

The R&B nominees are: Mary J. Blige, Chrisette Michele, Fantasia, Alicia Keys and Jill Scott. These ladies' heights are either over 5'4" or unknown.

The Pop nominees are: Christina Aguilera, Fergie, Feist, Nelly Futardo and Amy Winehouse. APPARENTLY, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE LADIES IS PETITE (Feist's height is not listed on IMDB, but there are sources that say she's 5'0")!

The Country nominees are: Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, LeAnn Rimes, Carrie Underwood and Trisha Yearwood. Carrie Underwood is the only known petite nominee. The others are over 5'4" or their height is unknown.

At least we're guaranteed ONE petite winner!