Is Big Beautiful?

At nearly six feet tall, with an Amazonian 38-32-42 figure, there aren't many men who fail to notice seventeen year old Chloe Marshall, the plus-sized finalist for the Miss England crown.

But Chloe, who is described by her agency as 'luscious,' is a real breath of fresh air. A model who looks like a real woman.

It was bound to happen eventually. After a twenty two year old Uruguayan model, Luisel Ramos, starved herself into a heart attack last year and 21-year-old Brazilian model, Ana Carolina Reston, quickly followed suite by dying from complications arising from anorexia, the long-overdue backlash was inevitable.

What was with all these ridiculously skinny, underweight models? All bones and ribs and hollow cheeks. For years, top catwalk processions have looked more like a line-up of heroin addicts than 'the world's most beautiful women.'

The politically incorrect have blamed it on the powers behind the fashion industry, who they argue tend to be women (the harshest critics of the female form - especially their own) and gay men (who aren't remotely interested in what a 'real' woman is supposed to look like.)

Whoever's to blame, hopefully Chloe is ushering in a new generation. After all, it's no secret what men find attractive in a woman. Hips and boobs and a narrow waist. Thick, lustrous hair. Bright eyes and creamy complexion. Chloe's got all of that, plus she likes riding horses, probably looks great in jodphurs and she's from Hampshire.

It's also worth remembered that Marilyn Monroe - probably the most famous icon of feminine beauty - wore an American size 12 dress, which would equal a British size 16, just like Chloe pours herself into (or out of.)

Now I'm not saying Size 16 is the new Size Zero, but I do think a woman's attractiveness should be judged on more than just her waist-to-weight ratio.

Good luck in the Miss England competition, Chloe.