The Gossip's Singer Launches Battle Against Skinny Chicks

Beth Ditto, lead singer of the band The Gossip, recently has taken issue to the fact that heavier people are stereotypically seen as being unhealthy.  As a well known advocate for positive body image, Ditto has been making the case for quite a while that overweight people can still live healthy lives.  Though her size 28 body is on the high end of the BMI scale, she says in her recent interview chronicled in The Independent:

 "I'm not an unhealthy person and... one of the most tiring parts of being fat and being proud of it is... you do a lot of proving yourself all the time."

She added: "It's really interesting to me that people will look at a thin person and go, 'That's a healthy person'. I want to go: 'Come, open my refrigerator and look, and then let's talk about what you think is so bad.' To be thin and to stay really thin... some people literally do coke all the time. Some people smoke cigarettes instead of eating. That's crazy. But that's OK, because you look healthier."

Ditto has recently released her second plus size collection for retailer Evans, to rave reviews.  As a lesbian, she has also garnered attention for her outspoken support of LGBT and feminist causes.  Her band, The Gossip, released their fourth studio album, titled Music for Men, last year.  Here is their latest video for the single Heavy Cross.  Until now, I've known of Beth Ditto, but never really gave her band a listen.  I like it.