Big Beautiful Woman
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The phrase "Big Beautiful Woman" (commonly abbreviated as BBW) is used by its proponents to denote an attractive, self-confident "woman of size". BBWs are also the focus of a subculture with interests centered on the acceptance, support, and admiration of obese women. Exceptionally large women are called SSBBWs, with the SS standing for "super size". The term "BHM," which stands for "big handsome man," is not nearly as prevalent as the term "BBW."
Men who are attracted to BBWs are known as "chubby chasers," "fat admirers," or simply "having a fat fetish," the latter term referring to those who can only be sexually aroused by obese women. Some of these men are attracted exclusively to BBWs, while others are simply attracted to good-looking women regardless of size.
The term BBW spread rapidly via the Internet during the 1990s. Although the original meaning of BBW was restricted to attractive full-figured women, the term has largely been corrupted to refer to any full-figured or overweight woman, whether she is attractive or not.
A large number of BBW websites are pornographic, and feature women who are barely overweight to those who are morbidly obese.
BBW has many near-synonyms with varying shades of meaning. "Rubenesque" (referring to the art of Peter Paul Rubens, known for portraying full-bodied women) is probably the closest synonym. "Full figured" has a more straightforward connotations, whereas "voluptuous" and "zaftig" usually connote ripeness, sensuality, ample bust and wide hips.
Books
- Big and Beautiful: Become the Big Beautiful Person You Were Meant to Be, by Katie Arons with Jacqueline Shannon, 1999
See also
- Lane Bryant – A retail store chain for BBW