Definition for Ladies Spring 2014 Issue 001 April 2014 | Page 61

and strong well into their eighties but we, as a society, keep

bridging
the
beauty
gap
selfies not required
by Pam Kalstad, MS

Women come in all shapes and sizes. We’ve all heard that
multiple times. Intellectually we know that. Emotionally,
well, a large population of us want to come in the same shape

moving the bar. And not a good bar like the Olympic bar,
which I do highly recommend moving. How is this possible
that a quarter of the population buy into this notion? Why
do we continue to compete with the eventually unobtainable?
Why do women have this self-imposed pressure to stay
looking, and much to my dismay, acting like a 20 year old?
Why can’t we appreciate the 20 year olds for who and where
they are, and then be joyful in our own age?
I know this may come across a little hypocritical coming
from a woman who appears on stage in what I refer to
as “hooker heels” and a bikini. Nope, I’m not a stripper.
I’m a figure competitor in bodybuilding. And yes, I have
competed with the young in the open division and with
women my age in the masters division. Am I adding to the
pressure? Some may say yes, but I say no. When I train or
compete on stage I am not emulating the 20 somethings. I
train and compete with full acknowledgement, appreciation
and respect for myself. I know my age and as of this date I’m
49 years old. I’m not ashamed of it. I respect it. I have lived
a lot of life. I have had great joys and great sorrows in my
life, as I’m sure most have as we get older.

and size; tall (but not too tall), lean (but not ѽ