I have to admit I was curious when I heard about a show on The Discovery channel, 'Runway Moms' that featured pregnant women walking the catwalk. I'm not a fan of fashion shows, but I thought this might have a different angle. Real pregnant women, flaunting their big bad selves and their huge round bellies. Pregnant celebrities, like Salma Hayak, showing off their baby weight. Afterwards they would show them partying backstage, but instead of celery sticks and laxative martinis these real mommies-to-be would be chowing down steaks with their bare hands. I couldn't wait!
But come to find out Runway Moms centers around a modeling agency, Expecting Models. and these 'Runway Moms' are all professional models, who happen to be pregnant. You know the type - the ones that only gain 5 pounds during their entire pregnancy and who, at nine months don't even look pregnant but just appear to be suffering from a mild case of post-lactose bloat. These women certainly don't look like they've ever had to pop the button on their maternity jeans because the elastic panel couldn't fit across their barrel-sized stomachs. Not that that ever happened to me. I'm just saying.
You can see a segment here that's a hoot, where they feature a model, Jennifer, who, while not even appearing to be pregnant, worries that she's "too big." She's then filmed in her kitchen, lamenting the fact that she has to eat for her unborn child, but she's really only used to eating one meal a day.
Needless to say my heart breaks for Jennifer and her thin arms.
I think looking and feeling great during pregnancy is important, but showing a 100-pound preggers model obsess about her weight borders on irresponsible. Don't expect me to tune in to 'Runway Moms' anytime soon, but when they feature an ordinary pregnant woman, big and round, resplendent in her granny panties and wearing a bra that resembles a rocket launcher, maybe I'll give it another look.
