This book was a labor of love that began as a flicker of an idea while on the treadmill and, amid sweat, tears, and giggles, grew into what is laid out here. It would not have been possible without the invaluable guidance and support from a number of individuals whom I must acknowledge and offer humble words of thanks.
I thank the brave women who bare their bodies for fashion. These women are models of how to let go of our fears and insecurities and just live in the moment. Thank you for the work that you do to create beauty amid disdain.
I am indebted to my former graduate studies advisor, Priscilla Parkhurst Ferguson, who supported this off-the-beaten-path research project. I admire her strength and style, two qualities I hope to emulate. From food, to flowers, to fashion, she knows beauty.
Throughout my studies, I had the fortune to learn from a diverse array of scholars whose mastery of the craft inspired my own sociological imagination. They include Peter Bearman, Thomas DiPrete, Gil Eyal, Patricia Fernandez-Kelly, Cynthia Fuchs Epstein, Peter Levin, Ann Morning, Victoria Pitts-Taylor, Diane Vaughan, and Viviana Zelizer. I appreciate the support and encouragement I received from my colleagues at Temple University during the final stages of this project. At Temple, I realized my love of teaching.
My utmost appreciation and respect go to my undergraduate mentor, Paul DiMaggio, whose academic integrity and genuine kindness epitomize leadership in academia. Under his tutelage at Princeton University, I began my first investigation on idealized bodies. I looked forward to our weekly meetings, where I would share any new findings, air my frustrations, and seek his guidance. No matter how severe the constructive criticism I received—with his unassuming demeanor—I would leave his office instilled with a feeling of pride in my work-in-progress. Open-minded, curious, warmhearted, understanding, and, of course, brilliant, Professor DiMaggio taught me how to carve out my own niche in the field. I hope to inspire my students as he has inspired me.
While working on this project, I benefited tremendously from the comments of a number of anonymous reviewers. Whoever you are, thank you for your questions and suggestions that shaped the direction of my work. Special thanks to my editor Ilene Kalish for believing in this project and seeing it through to its end. You pushed me to write with greater nuance and clarity.
Parts of chapters 1 and 3 appear in the article “Disciplining Corpulence: The Case of Plus-Size Fashion Models,” which was originally published in the Journal of Contemporary Ethnography 41(2): 3–29. I am grateful to Sage Publications for permission to use this work.
While an unexpected death ignited my determination to complete this book, new life moved me to spring into action. Without the unending support of my family and friends, I would not be where I am today. They were my strength when I was weak. When I was in doubt, they were my source of faith. They were my light in the darkness.
I am grateful for the blessing of faithful friends who were my source of sanity during the research process, especially Br. Gabriel, Joelle, Paul, Alyssa, Matt, and my “sisters” from St. Joan’s and Lily’s Voice who give with the purest of hearts and were simply there when I needed them.
To my beloved mother, father, and Babcia, thank you for instilling in me a thirst for knowledge and providing me with the support to venture off into the academic wild. As a family, we have been through so much in the last few years, but our bonds are forged from the purest connection—unconditional, boundless love. To my husband, Andrew, thank you for reading drafts and providing, at times, much needed distractions and home-cooked meals. You are my rock. To John Gabriel, my hope, and Eva, my precious jewel—Mommy loves you.