Booty-ful or Beautiful?

The Today show had a story this morning that really caught my attention - -

Nancy Upton, a 24-year-old student from Texas, entered the American Apparel plus-size 'model' contest, The Next Big Thing, (the title itself is so offensive) with spoof photos  in order to make a statement about how certain 'hip' retailers regard women size 12 and over.  Visitors to the contest website were able to vote for their favorite photos, and the highest vote-getter was to have been named the winner. Very quickly Upton became a viewer favorite.  Her very vocal protest of American Appparel's cutesy, demeaning approach toward "booty-ful" plus-sized women, however, made the company uncomfortable.  They wrote Upton a letter - -

. . . It's a shame that your project attempts to discredit the positive intentions of our challenge based on your personal distaste for our use of light-hearted language, and that "bootylicous" was too much for you to handle  . . . Oh, and regarding winning the contest, while you were clearly the popular choice, we have decided to award the prizes to other contestants that we feel truly exemplify the idea of beautiy inside and out, and whom we will be proud to have representing our company.

Upton is a beautiful girl and her photos were edgy spoofs of a ridiculous and offensive view of a particular group of women.  While speaking with Ann Curry on the  Today show, Upton said her objection is this - - if she and Ann Curry were wearing the same dress, side by side, Curry would be described as "beautiful" and Upton would be described as "booty-licious."   That is true, and it is wrong.

And, by the way, size 12 is plus size???!!!    Give me a break.