A recent article on Byrdie.com caught my attention. It referenced a survey claiming the "ideal" woman would be 5'5", weigh between 121-130 pounds, and have a 25 or 26-inch waist. But here's the kicker: the average waist size for women in America is actually 38.7 inches, with the average woman being 5'3" and weighing 170.8 pounds.
Quite a difference, right? The disparity between the ideal and the average size of a woman is significant.
The Ideal vs. Average Waist Size for Women
The survey we're talking about was conducted by Treadmill Review. They asked 1,000 Americans—Millennials, Gen Xers, and Baby Boomers—to share their opinions on the perfect size for women they would find most attractive. Based on their replies, they constructed 3D models of a perfect male and a perfect female. They also created some insightful infographics.
So, here are the results of their survey in a nutshell.
An ideal female body looks like this:
- Height: 5'5"
- Weight: 121-130 lbs.
- Chest: 36-37 inches
- Waist: 25-26 inches
- Hips: 35-37 inches
- Inseam: 30 inches
Also, she is exercising 5-6 hours/week.
Now, let's take a moment. How does reading this make you feel? If you're thinking, "Wow, that's a lot of pressure," you're absolutely right!
Here's a fun fact: when it comes to a perfect male body, the situation is completely different. The ideal man is described as 6 feet tall and 186-192 lbs., and researchers mention that according to the National Institutes of Health, a male with a BMI like that would be technically considered overweight. So why are we so much harder on women?
Expectations vs. Reality: The Average Women's Waist Size
Let's imagine a woman who fits all these "perfect" parameters. Think Halle Berry or Eva Mendes. Do you know a lot of people with similar bodies? Probably, the answer is no: a combination of the height and body measurements like these—a perfect hourglass, by the way—is quite rare. The average women's waist size is much larger, and that's perfectly normal.
But what if I told you that even these gorgeous women have their insecurities, too? Even if any piece of clothing you put on fits terrific, you might still be unhappy with your legs, or nose, or whatever else. So maybe, just maybe, the problem isn't our bodies but how we think about them.
In our society, women face immense pressure not just about their appearance but also about how they should behave, think, and feel. It's as if we're constantly walking a tightrope, trying to balance countless expectations. But here's a little secret from an image consultant: when we work with a client, body proportions are much more important for us than numbers. Height, measurements, clothes size, weight—they're just numbers, and numbers mean nothing without context.
All bodies are different, but there are no "good" ones or "bad" ones. There is just clothing that fits your body and clothing that doesn't. If you try something on and feel frustrated looking in the mirror, the problem probably isn't you; it's just the clothes you put on.
So, don't let someone's out-of-touch-with-reality expectations dictate how you should look and feel. Let's deal with the bodies that we already have—real bodies, not imaginary ones. Let's dress ourselves in clothing that loves our curves and straight lines, and remember: our worth isn't determined by an "ideal" 26-inch waist or a desired 125 lbs. on the scale. Your worth is determined by your kindness, passion, and everything that makes you, you.
Just accept this as a fact: you, my friend, are perfectly imperfect. And that's exactly how it should be.
