We're part of the global scene, we're fashion aware and quick to embrace trends, but Australia is still behind in some things. Fat acceptance, for example. It's much more advanced in Canada.
''The number of distinctly overweight women happily getting around in bikinis easily rivalled a Russian resort on seniors day,'' says a workmate who returned from an extended visit to her home country last week. ''My nine-year-old daughter told me that the difference between Australia and Canada is that everyone has a tummy in Canada and theyre not trying to hide it.''
Is this a good thing? Should overweight Australian women let it all hang out like their Canadian sisters? (Plenty seem to so I shudder to think what it's like in Vancouver). I know there's going to be two schools of thought on this but I'm with the Fat Should be Camouflaged College. Who wants to be exposed to someone's rolls? Where is their sense of style, of decency? One in three Canadians are embarrassed about their tummies, according to How to Look Good Naked Canada, but obviously not self-conscious enough to go for the one-piece bathing option.
What do you think - let if all hang out come summer and not worry about anyone else? Or cover it up? As the nation becomes larger and lumpier, should we become more accepting of fat in our faces? Is it the beholder who has got the problem?
