On The View the other day, Joy Behar recounted a story of how she found out what dress size Jennifer Hudson wears:
From Huffington Post:
Most women wouldn’t want their dress size revealed on television, but that didn’t stop “The View” co-host Joy Behar from announcing that actress Jennifer Hudson wears a size zero.
Behar said that on a recent shopping trip she ran in to the Oscar-winning actress and overheard the salesperson say Hudson wore a size zero.
Behar asked Hudson how it felt to have shrunk to such a small size and said Hudson told her, “I feel like they’re talking to someone else.”
51 comments
Mkay..I know some folks might not agree with the new J-Hud..but I think she looks fantastic…if she’s healthy, and isn’t starving herself..or “dying to be thin”..then maybe this size zero chick is who she really is….I’ve been steadily losing weight..and losing, and losing…I’m going to continue to eat healthy, and workout..and I happen to end up a much smaller size than anyone else anticipated, then so be it…I’m not mad at Jennifer…
As a woman who wears a size 0, I have found that there is so much body-shaming in being thin! So many sentences regarding weight start out with “You don’t have to be a size 2″ like it’s a cardinal sin! We’re supposed to be uplifting each other as women, right? So when we speak of body acceptance, and have plus-sized models, why on earth shame those of us who either genetically are thin, or eat right and exercise to get there? I’m 5’2” and have a tiny bone structure; if I wore and “acceptable” size eight, it would increase my risk of heart disease and diabetes! I am a huge fan of Jennifer Hudson and think she’s beautiful at any size, but if she’s being healthy about her loss – which was gradual – more power to her! She’s an incredibly talented performer and a class act – leave the nasty comments out.
Definitely proud of J. Hud’s transformation … but, a 0, though? Okay, maybe they’re going by the size model in South Africa where she’s been filming that movie. Yeah. ‘Cause…
LOL…RIGHT??!!
Oh please. Joy Behar wasn’t shopping in a store in South Africa. Stop the hate.
LOL! I swear I don’t understand why Jennifer’s weight loss bothers people so much! Perhps if she looked emaciated and unhealthy, there’d be cause for concern, but you can’t win for losing (literally) with some people. It’s like some people are just waiting for her to stumble or regress, and for what?
Get it Jen! Whatever size, she looks great and healthy…keep wearing it well and taking care of your body!
Congrats to her for her hard work. Not cute regarding the alleged size zero. I personally dont believe that its cute to celebrate ANY grown woman wearing such a small size.
As a “grown woman” who happens to wear a size 0, I find this and similar comments offensive and unnecessary. I think many people have a distorted vision of what a size 0 actually looks like (but that’s a topic for a different day). Yes, I will say I am petite at 5’2″, but this is the body I was blessed with and work to maintain, and it does not help ANYone for others to bash or put down women of a certain size. Rather than focusing on Jennifer Hudson’s size, why don’t we focus on and celebrate the fact that she is trying to live a healthier lifestyle? If that lifestyle brought her to a size 0, fine. If that just happened to be her size at that specific store (which others have mentioned), great. If she is not doing anything unhealthy or harmful to herself, then does it matter if someone claims she is a 0, 2, 4, 6, etc?
Agreed…the current size she’s at may simply be the result of her healty eating and exercise…I think she looks beautiful and healthy..she doesn’t look starved or anorexic..I think folks are getting caught up in the size issue..I say more power to her…I’m a healthy size 10 at the moment..but I wouldn’t mind being smaller..My friends have said “Girl, don’t lose any more weight”..but these are also the same friends who throw donuts, and junk in my face knowing I’m working towards a healthier lifestyle…like, can you NOT throw stumbling blocks in my face just because YOU don’t want to make any changes??? And if I drop a few more dress sizes in the process..then so be it…In a nutshell..go head on J-Hud!…
It amazes me how some people can actually attempt to take a person in a different direction when they clearly see one is making an effort to live a healthier lifestyle. But I don’t blame it on the people. Some people don’t even realize what they are doing until it is pointed out to them. It’s just annoying that when a person is making a conscious weight loss effort, loved ones will say “don’t lose any more weight” or feed them obviously unhealthy foods. But it happens and I hope for you Natasha (and anyone else going through this who is on a weight loss journey) that you do not become upset over this and just smile and say ‘no, thank you.’
My friends have said “Girl, don’t lose any more weight”..but these are also the same friends who throw donuts, and junk in my face knowing I’m working towards a healthier lifestyle…like, can you NOT throw stumbling blocks in my face just because YOU don’t want to make any changes???
I so agree with the above:)
When I was in my 20’s (in the 1980’s) I wore a size 0 and I was not starving myself. So I know it’s possible to be that size and not look sickly. Also at that time it was very hard to find clothes that were size 0. I was told to go to the junior department.
OK I am honestly stunned that JHud is a size 0. She looks wonderful not certaintly not that small. When I think of a size 0 I think of Jada Pinkett Smith, Meghan Goode..I actually dont even think Halle Barry is a ZERO. Its such a small size. I would be more inclined to think the sizing at the store is incorrect. Jhud looks more like a 4 or a 6. But this is not said as a slight to her since I really dont think there is something GREAT about being a size 0..I’ve always said that only mean you have ZERO AZZ which is never good!
I am not a size zero but grew up about an 8 and slimmed down in my 20s to a 1/2. I didn’t even mean to, I ate a little healthier and lost baby fat. But all im saying is people have stopped me on the street, even now, to tell me how big my azz is!!!
Is that healthy that she went from a 16 to a 0 in less that a year? I am so wondering this. She is toned and everything. How tall are you suppose to be and be a 0? Just a few questions about all of this.
I think everyone’s getting a little too caught up on the size thing. Yeah, she might very well be a size 0 in some brands. So what so long as she’s healthy and happy? And hell, I don’t know any woman who wears the same size in every brand – I veer between three sizes right now depending on the brand, the cut, the fabric, whether it’s jeans or slacks or shorts or a skirt or a dress.
I have mixed feelings about this. I think it’s bit soon to be celebrating her weight loss. Of course she should be proud of herself for accomplishing this goal (?) however, I think emphasis should be placed on celebrating maintenance. She JUST lost the weight. I would like to see her 5 years down the road, excluding any pregnancies that may occur along the way. I’m leery about the WW program. I hope she can maintain a healthy life style without having to rely on them.
Furthermore, this size 0 stuff is a bit much. It would be fine if we were just talking about J. Hud but we know the media will use this to subtly promote that “skinny” Hollywood image. Not healthy, just skinny. I don’t want young girls to see this and think they have to be the same size. Not everyone is meant to be a size 0-2 especially when you are a tall person.
Good for Jennifer for loosing weight but this needs to be kept in perspective: this is one woman’s journey. She should be an inspiration, not a standard.
I agree with your comment regarding WW. I too lost weight with WW, but the maintenance program was not a good program, and lo and behold it came back within a year. WW promotes the weight loss, but does not put enough emphasis on maintaining the weight. I am so proud for Jennifer Hudson for losing the weight especially with all of the turmoil that she has been through. I hope that she will be able to maintain this new weight, and this is my concern is that we haven’t seen her maintain a size, she has simply lost additional weight.
Peaches has a point.
A big one.
/former WW attendee, current low-carber & gym devotee
I think revealing a ‘0’ versus an 18/20 is great! It’s a report and comments if ‘TOO SMALL’ or ‘TOO BIG’. Can’t seem to win!
Good for her! I’m happy for her. I think she looks fantastic!
She looks great whether she is a size 0 or not who cares she looks perfectly healthy and fine. I’ am not mad at her do you thing Jen. Besides, a size 0 isn’t universal especially in the US with vanity sizing among brands so in some clothing she very well may be a size 0
I’m of mixed opinion. First off, i don’t think JHud is getting to a size 0 for any of US. Second, as a WW member, even I’m leery of the seemingly WL, but I’m not here to judge.
In anycase, I feel for her in the mental sense. the psychological process of physically being someone different has got to be frightening.
A similar story: my sister went through a dramatic WL during high school, roughly from a size 20 to a 4. Somewhere in there she became a cheerleader and at her lowest weight/size, she had her biggest cheer competition. She, being the smallest on the squad, got booed for being “too skinny, too bony” and not being as shapely as the others. Didn’t help that her uniform kept sliding off.
Anyway, kids are cruel, but so are adults. Whether we lose or gain, we cant please everyone. So while i kinda do a double take at JHud and this size 0 business (what is that, some kind of accomplishment? a pinnacle of fit-ness?), I just feel for her being in the spotlight for her weight, but at the other end of the spectrum.
I did not know a size zero could have curves.
I’m a bit motivated by her now.
Yep – as long as your waist is a few inches smaller than your hips? Boom. You’re in there.
The comment regarding the Weight Watchers program and whether or not JHUd will keep the weight off: Clearly none of us can know whether or not she can keep it off, but I will say, for myself, that about 4 years ago i lost 25 lbs on Weight Watchers and I have kept every single pound of it off. I am 5’11, 27 years old, went from 214 to 190, and right now and trying to go from 190 to 175 for now (small steps here people). Weight Watchers works, it takes the weight off slowly and teaches you how to eat well and take care of your body. (In my opinion, of course)
J hud looks great and I’m happy for her.
What I am personally wary about is, how much of her weight loss is due to Weight watchers as opposed to personal chef/trainers/supplements etc?
That’s the reason why I like this site …I am personally more inspired by Erika who over the course of the years and ups and downs emotionally can share a story.
That’s just my 2 cents though.
Mariah Carey also lost a lot of weight after her baby, and is now touting Jenny Craig (someone correct me if Im wrong).
I hate that we get sold this line about celebrity weight loss all the time. Celebrities – they’re just like us! Yes, she looks great…but looks can be deceiving. None of us has any clue how she lost that weight and the evidence isn’t really convincing. The sad truth is that I was proud of her the way she was. She was beautiful and successful and she had a few cookies now and again. I’m not saying she shouldn’t do what makes her feel good and be healthy, I’m just saying not everyone can be a size 0. Those of us who will never be a size 0 have pitiful few style icons and role models. And another one just bit the dust and is waving her 0 flag.
Since when did size 0 become a badge of honor? I mean, if that’s your size, that’s great, whatever. But to go from a 16 to a zero? Try this: next time you are shopping for clothes, pull out a pair of size 0 jeans. Then put them next to a pair of size 16 jeans. I’m not saying it’s not possible, but think about the small bones that one must have to fit into a size zero. It’s a very petite woman. I don’t care the brand, it’s a small pair of jeans. The legs are thin, the hips are narrow. Now consider those bones carrying around the size 16 body. It just doesn’t seem possible.
Now think about your weight loss journey. With all the emphasis on strength training, how is it possible that she didn’t build up even a tiny bit of muscle in her calves or thighs? Maybe her frame really is that tiny and she managed to drop a bunch of weight without strength training….it just doesn’t seem likely.
It makes me sad that celebrities feel the need to trumpet the size 0 thing. I know this was Joy Behar not Jennifer Hudson but many others have advertised their 0 status. And it wouldn’t surprise me if JHud knew that Joy was going to reveal her size on the View. And that she felt a bit of smug pride. Which is fine. She had to put down the cookies and work for it so she deserves that delicious feeling….it’s about the only delicious thing she’ll have for awhile, I’m guessing.
I get what you’re saying, but in all fairness, a size 0 dress is much different from size 0 pants. In order to fit a size 0 dress, all you have to have is a small waist and bust. In pants, your calves, thighs, booty and hips have to meet the designer’s qualifications.
We were talking about a dress that, just as easily, could’ve been vanity sized.
And, don’t underestimate the body. Our skeletal structure and muscular distribution is built to handle a lot, excess weight included.
This isnt making any sense. I grew up very small and you can see it when you look at my wrists and ankles. When I put on weight my body carried it but with a little pain in my legs. You have no idea what she went through as a bigger person. So to assume her bones cannot carry her at a 16 and a 0 seems ridiculous.
I really feel like shes addicted to losing weight. Shes not getting recognition for anything else but that. Its to the point where people will think of her as the weight loss woman, not singer and actress.
As far as being sickly and starving yourself, no one is saying size 0 is being sickly and unhealthy (although not ideally a size most black women including myself would ever want to be) its the fact that she went from a size 18/20 to a size 0 is less than 2 years. She passed healthy a long time ago, now its looking like Body dismorphic disorder.
again with the size zero….what size zero? its a relative term…i wear a small in Victoria secret, a medium for ralph lauren and a large for Lacoste….
and actually you are wrong…she is being recognized all over the place for being an amazing singer and actor…you are blind to that because YOU chose to focus on her weight commercials…
Er Um no, Im not blind to anything. This has been discussed nationwide on different forums, websites and magazines. Maybe a handful of people can name JHud’s last album. When was her last concert? The TRUTH of the matter is, she is WELL KNOWN as the weight watchers woman. Perhaps it is you that is the blind one. I live i a real of reality, and reality is Jhud is basing her career off of her weight loss
I’m reading these hate-filled posts with tears in my eyes because I hear the voices of my loved ones. I went from a 14/16 to a 2/4, but I do have a few 0s too. When I wear a 0, why do I have to defend myself with talk of vanity sizing? Why do people feel the need to criticize a size instead of celebrating the choice to live healthy?
The comments like that’s not a size a black woman would want to be are generalizations that keep black women satisfied with being unfit and unhealthy. I am black, I am 41, I have curves and muscles, I am strong (I can run a 10 min mile and do three sets of 10 pull ups in one workout). I eat three meals and two snacks most days. It’s my plus size girlfriends who starve and binge, not me, yet I’m criticized because I wear an occasional 0?
If you don’t want to look like what you think a 0 looks like, that’s great. Either your genetics or your lifestyle choices will determine that anyway. Just don’t criticize or insult people who make the decision to be fit and healthy in a manner that is satisfactory to them.
All great points, but to be fair, my point about vanity sizing is not to take away from JHud’s alleged size, but to get people to realize that a size 0 dress is way different from size 0 pants, especially if you are a curvy one with a size-0 waist and bust, but larger thighs. Since I’ve blogged about sizing before and know how confusing it gets for women, I felt that this matters. Regardless of what anyone says, she’s obviously accomplished a lot and no size could take that away from her.
I will say, after having my own appearances critiqued to death and hearing rumors about me “having a nip tuck” or “that surgery,” I think its easier for people to nitpick someone else than it is to nitpick ourselves…. and then folks wonder why they don’t succeed.
Since when does size 0= healthy and size 16= unhealthy? Black women hold on to weight differently than white women, who constantly flood the magazine with their 20 inch waists.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting HEALTHY and being HEALTHY. One does not have to go to a size 0 to be healthy. If someone tells me that they were in the teens and dieted to get to a size 0, yes, I will give them the side eye. If you want to get to a size 0 thats fine, but dont insult my intelligence and say it was strictly to get healthy. I applaud my sistahs who want to hold on to a little meat on their bones though, with the media constantly telling us that we are the least desired and most unattractive (yet others pay for our features at the doctor’s office) trying to ‘fit in’ is easier than standing out.
Generalization is one of the logical fallacies I teach my students. That being said…we should stop generalizing that all black women want to have some meat on their bones (which typically means a Miss Judy booty) or all white women have 20-inch waists or that a size 0 means you are starving yourself and unhealthy and you have NO AZZ (as one poster said).
When I wore a 14/16, I had to take blood pressure medication, and my ankles and knees sometimes ached. I don’t have those problems anymore, so yes, being a sometimes 0 is about my health. I live by the mantra of eat well, eat often; exercise well, exercise often. I do like the way I look, but more importantly, I like the way I feel. Just like you don’t want to have to explain or apologize for being whatever size you are if you are full-figured/plus-sized/BBB, smaller women shouldn’t have to either, whether they were always that way or became that way through eating right and exercising.
Let’s be honest with ourselves. Many of us who want to hold on to the “She got a dunk” bootylicious booty tend to have the jelly belly and the thunder thighs to go along with it as well as a variety of health issues (high blood pressure, diabetes, higher rates of stroke and heart disease). As long as a person is happy and healthy, who cares what size she wears? The same pain and frustration that you feel when someone makes assumptions about you based on your size goes both ways–whether big or small.
Never did I say ‘all’ of anything. No assumptions are being made on my part at all, in fact we can even see right here on this comment board that most (key word most) black women WANT to have meat on their bones. Meat on their bones does not equal being obese/overweight or have anything to do with booty. Beyonce = meat on her bones, Jordin sparks = meat on her bones and the list goes on.
I also didnt say that all white women have 20 inch waists, seeing as how the average size in america is 14 and whites are the majority, they clearly dont all have 20 inch waists, however the ones that grace the cover of magazines DO. The images the media plasters are of thin, white women who dont even look like that themselves. Its only within the last few years ‘curves’ have been in.
As someone who’s gone through a weight loss journey, sat in multiple fitness classes and knows several nutritionists, again–one does not need to get to a size 0 to be healthy. Size doesnt correlate with health, but even if it did, if someone was a 14/16 and currently a 0…they passed healthy a long time ago! Like I said, if you want to be a size 0 thats FINE, but dont say it was ”to be healthy” just be honest and say ”Its because I want to be a 0” or ”Its what I want”
The generalizations comment was directed towards the various posters; however you did write, “Black women hold on to weight differently than white women, who constantly flood the magazine with their 20 inch waists.” The way this is worded speaks of ALL black women and ALL white women having a certain way our weight is carried, and it says white women (not some white women) constantly flood magazines with their 20-inch waists.
I have never been on a weight loss journey primarily; my journey has mostly been about a healthier me. You see, my mother died when I was 7 from a stroke, an aunt died at a young age of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes are ailments my two younger sisters suffer from, and at one point I was on that same path. Most of the women in my family are overweight AND unhealthy (not necessarily the same thing). I decided to make a healthier lifestyle change, and as a result of eating/exercising well and often, I find myself in a new body that is strong AND healthy AND gasp! looks great, too. Again, as long as my doctor (a medical professional who actually knows me) and I know that I’m healthy, it really doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks about me sometimes wearing a 0.
Your comment that I should just say I want to be a size 0 is way off base. By the way, I didn’t even know I could wear a 0 until my sister and I were out shopping, and she found a skirt she wanted me to wanted me to try on that just happened to be a 0. Since then, I have found some I can wear, and some I can’t. I don’t care about the size, just as long as I feel AND look good.
I just bought a size 1 skirt last week; does that make me a little healthier since that is bigger than a 0? You are making assumptions about my health when you have never seen or examined me (like my M.D. has). I have meat on my bones; it just happens to be muscular. I have Michelle Obama arms and Tina Turner legs (so other people tell me). More importantly, I am at a lower risk for the stroke and heart disease that killed my mother and aunt. I don’t have to take medication for high blood pressure and diabetes like my two younger sisters.
You’re comfortable (I assume) wherever you are with your weight/size and health, and so am I. I won’t question your health, goals, or motivation; I ask that you do the same.
a size zero with which designer?
Because of the way am shaped…athletic..soccer player with MUSCULAR thighs…i wear from a size 6-10 depending on the designer…and since i love loose fitting clothes..i also have clothes that say size 12…it all depends on the label and cut of the clothe/dress/pants/skirt…
and as a black woman…..no i do not want a big butt..i wish i could cut off the “muscles/meat” lol and give it so someone else….i must live in a different planet because a lot of the assumptions i have seen on this website about black women are completely false for the black community that i currently reside in….my friends and i read the comments on here and look at each other and go “where do these people live?!”
Not every story in the comments of my posts resonates with me, but I think there’s value in seeing differing perspectives on an issue. I do have to agree with that, though.
Lol so you mean to tell me every single blac woman you know doesnt want to have any curves or be shapely? They all want to be stick figures? LOL okay…
I live in the biggest city in the country so Im going to take my views on things with a bigger grain of salt. Not to mention that statistically AA women have a lower rate for eating disorders, Northeast AA women [according to psychologists, scientists and sociologists, *stated so it cant be refuted*] are RARELY victims of eating disorders. Because they love their bodies, they dont feel the need to be a size 0
I swear this is saara bartman all over again
Looks like Jennifer is pushing a lot of buttons. Proud she is working on herself. It wasn’t overnight, and it is doable.
What does it take to be kind to ourselves ha. Just because we have the tapes of family members and friends running in our heads that this is who we are doesn’t mean it’s the true.
Little steps, little changes that you build on. Size is fine for her. I don’t know what size I will end up, just want a more active life, a more balanced life and to love myself more and more each day. Well meaning parents, and other family and “friends” who think saying mean and thoughtless things hurt more than I would admit. Making me feel that expressing my pain is not normal and right so where was I gonna put it. Sorry nobody is a wus. It’s normal to cry out when you hurt. My poor body has held so much hurt and pain. I can’t pretend it shows up in anger at myself and others by overeating to try to stuff the hurt. So if Jennifer’s body because of the love and care she gives it and herself settles into a size 0 so be it.
I loved Dr Oz’s show on vanity sizing – we always look at Marilyn Monroe and say “see she wore a size 12 and was gorgeous” only now to wake up to the truth that a size 12 then is probably a size 8 now!
Marilyn Monroe measurements were small. I might be wrong were a 37 bust 23 waist 36 inch hips or 35 bust 22 inch waist 35 inch hips . The only thing big on Ms. Monroe was her bust size. Marilyn Monroe was at least a size 4 to 6 according to BEBE measurement. She was 5.5 1/2 The lady had a 23 inch waist. This is very small. She would be big on top and small on the bottom
Am I the only person shocked that the lady aired J.H size???? How rude!
Fact of the matter is whether or not you want to believe Jennifer Hudson lost her weight naturally or not, IRREFUTABLE SCIENCE says time and time again, the only way to lose weight is by creating a caloric deficit. EAT LESS, MOVE MORE, BE CONSISTENT! There are countless people whose personal journeys show this to be true. E.g. the lovely owner of this blog ERICA.
Weight watchers tricks you into eating less by assigning points to calories. I mean you get Zero points for things like leafy green vegetables. You would have to eat 50 cups of Kale to get to 1500 calories. The equivalent of a fast food meal that you wolf down in 10 seconds and are still hungry 30 minutes later.
People don’t understand how much we overeat in this country and how it so easy to actually maintain a 1500 calories a day diet and be so full.
We are all stressed, we are all overworked. However when something matters to you, you make time for it.
If you’re not where you need to be, you only need to look at yourself and ask why.
I think she looks great BUT there have been a lot of “folks” on other sites saying that she had the same weight loss surgery that star jones had. Either way a size 0 is nothing to be proud of if you are a black woman, god just did not design our body to naturally be a size 0.
I doubt she actually wears a size 0 though. My friends in costuming/styling for celebs say that most wear sizes 2-4 but they sew size 0 labels in (or remove them altogether) to make the celeb feel like they are thinner.
Go Jennifer! Stay healthy and take care of yourself! And close your eyes and ears to anyone that would try to tell you otherwise!
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