It appears that since this season of Dancing With The Stars has begun that dancing pro Cheryl Burke has been getting criticized for gaining some weight. Today on several television programs Cheryl voiced her shock and discomfort with viewers who felt that they had a right to criticize her appearance. Some of the questions she faced even went so far as to ask if she was several months pregnant. Other comments were just plain rude and were meant to make her feel bad about her appearance. Her skills were not being questioned…just her appearance.
Cheryl took off the summer to work on getting her dance studio opened. While she was off from her normal schedule…she says that she gained about 5 pounds. Some of the comments that Cheryl heard were very hurtful to her. She said that the comments online and in tabloids were very in her face and she could not avoid hearing about them. She said it caused her heartache and made her cry. When she is on DWTS she is dancing approximately 7 hours a day. Going without that regular schedule is what caused her to gain the extra pounds.
Even though Cheryl said that she is comfortable in her own skin and has always been curvy since she hit puberty…those hurtful comments definately affected her. She said, even with the weight gain..she is still able to fit into her size 4 costumes for the show.
I think it is unfortunate that people would feel it necessary to write in to her or about her weight gain. I think as a society we are becoming conditioned by constant exposure to multi-media venues viewing celebrities and models who are setting a poor example of what is a healthy weight for their bone structure or frame.
Americans are on a national trend heading towards obesity and that needs to be curbed. However, we need to educate people not attack them. Cheryl, as a size 4, is by no means hugely overweight. As she stated on the television interviews…now that she is back regularily training in her dance routines…she is loosing the weight gain naturally. She has no intention of going on some radical, unhealthy diet that will appease her critics. I applaude her for that. She has a healthy self-esteem and it comes across.
Shorter stature women, who have the physical characteristic of being short- waisted, tend to show any amount of weight gain quite quickly. I think, that combined with the television cameras ability to add 10 lbs to a person’s appearance and skimpy costumes that expose many of a womans trouble spots to the camera lense has put an unfair spotlight on Cheryl. She is a beautiful woman who is talented and active.
Those who are quick to judge her, by the weight gain, should take care how they voice their opinion. None of us would be too willing to trade places with her and be the person who is being judged. There are few of us who would wish someone we care about to be judged by this same harsh standard. What kind of an impact does it have on our young people to pick at someone’s appearance because they have gained a minimal amount of weight? We have far too many people who struggle around the world with their body image; and because of that, they often develop eating disorders such as bulimia/anorexia. This is a very serious blackmark on our culture. Do you think it is fair for people to publically chastize Cheryl for her weight gain? Has someone else’s opinion of you negatively impacted your self-esteem?
Write where you are 