The AP ran this short article about a current People magazine conversation with Queen Latifah. I really liked what she had to say about beauty.

I think that although there are more models and celebrities in shades and sizes other than Barbie, a lot of women still feel like they don't measure up because they don't look exactly like The Skinny Starlet of the Day. But the Skinny Starlet probably smokes like a chimney and doesn't eat more than five apple slices for lunch. It's much, much better to eat healthy foods and exercise, even if that means you're not a size 0.

Photo: AP Photo/Richard Drew, file

Of course, it would be great if mainstream magazines would put different kinds of women on their covers, instead of holding onto the (outdated) belief that they won't sell copies if the cover model isn't 103 pounds and blonde. Perhaps if they showcased models from India, China, Ethiopia and other far-flung places more often, women who don't currently fit into "society's ideal of beauty" would be more inclined to read them. And then, who knows, "society's ideal of beauty" might just change.

'Til next time, my pretties.