In real life, Field has had her own experience tending bar at the Olde Heritage Tavern in Lenox, Massachusetts.  More importantly however, she recently took on the responsibility of spokesperson for a timely health cause that is also made evident by her role in October Road.

In the fall of 2007, Field signed on as spokeswoman for the non-profit group, Multi-service Eating Disorders Association or MEDA.  The outfit endeavors to educate, prevent and help treat eating disorders, something the actress considers especially relevant.

“Based on my own body image my whole life and with my role on October Road, it’s so relatable to so many women in America,” the actress declared.  “It’s all about insecurity.  My weight has always fluctuated up and down.  I’ve never officially been diagnosed with an eating disorder, but I certainly have a funky relationship with food.  I was a yo-yo dieter in college.  And when I’m feeling bummed, I go to my chocolate cookie stash.”

“Hollywood is the worst,” Field added.  “It’s, ‘I have to have these clothes and weigh this much.’  It’s become crazy.  I’ve really worked on loving myself regardless of weight.”

“In real life beauty comes in all shapes and sizes and the same should be true on television,” Field said in MEDA’s official site.  “It’s so important to accept and appreciate our bodies and work to keep them healthy.  It’s not about size or a number on the scale.  Slowly, but surely, we can change the way women are viewed, on and off screen.”

Her real life experience both as a member of the female species and as an actress in Hollywood has some semblance of similarity with her character’s own reality in October Road.  The overweight Janet normally becomes just one of the guys, all of whom have their own respective sexy and skinny significant others.

Recently however, Field’s October Road alter ego gave plus-sized women reason to celebrate when Janet embarked on a semi-secret affair with one of the show’s resident heartthrobs, Eddie Latekka, played by Geoff Stults.

“You are showing all the people that you don’t have to be a size two to get a hottie,” a viewer wrote on Field’s MySpace page.  “You are a role model for all women.”

“I am glad that you represent women like me,” another one said.  “I would not date my husband because I thought he would be ashamed of me.  But we have been together for three years with an 8-month-old.”

Still another fan cheered: “As one big girl to another, you rock… You can be a big girl and still get the guy in the end.”

-Rosario Santiago, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: MEDA, The Boston Globe
(Image Courtesy of ABC)

“I think it’s been an issue way before the 21st century, certainly for our ancestors,” says Angela Clay, author of the new book, “Loving the Me I See.”

The publication targets young girls everywhere, seeking to motivate and inspire females to maintain a healthy level of self-esteem.

Victoria Reese, a junior legal communications major at Howard University, and the youngest of three sisters, describes self-esteem as “an inner air about oneself that exudes confidence.”

KidsHealth, a website devoted to health issues for parents, children, and teens, claims that “self-esteem is the collection of beliefs or feelings that we have about ourselves, or our ‘self-perceptions.”"

On the other hand, low self-esteem is the exact opposite, and the numbers underscore the truth.

According to studies in 2005 and 2006 by the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty, “92 percent of teen girls would like to change something about the way they look, with body weight ranking the highest.”

Clay says, “When I think of low self esteem, I think of a lack of self respect, a lack of self worth, not being able to see yourself as God created you to be.”

A motivational speaker and Bible class teacher, Clay laments that so many young women are “looking in the mirror and not loving what you see.”

In addition, other signs of low self-esteem are an unwillingness to try new things, a tendency to speak down about oneself, a low tolerance for frustration, an overly critical attitude, and easy disappointment, according to KidsHealth.

When it comes to African-American girls, there are several factors that could be contributing to the issue. In many instances, girls “believe what someone has told them over the years,” says Clay.

She notes that African-American women have dealt with their self-esteem for decades.

“We believed that my hair is better than your hair,” she points to stigmas that have been planted within the Black community since slavery, such as lighter or darker skin.

Even today, Clay struggles with those same features that are accepted within mainstream society. “Being an African-American woman, I wear my hair in its natural state, and African-American people look at me as if they were born without natural hair,” she says.

Other societal factors also play a role.

“Certainly the media plays a role in it. What we have to understand as a people is whatever we allow to saturate in our minds is what’s going to come out of our mouths,” says Clay.

Reese agrees.

“Media plays a monumental role on the self-esteem of young African-American girls today…Things such as music videos, commercials, unrealistic model shows, etc.,” she says.

The Dove study also found that “75 percent of teenage girls felt ‘depressed, guilty and shameful’ after spending just three minutes leafing through a fashion magazine.”

Many issues that plague teens as a whole have been linked to low self-esteem. The National Association for Self-Esteem, an organization that aims to “integrate self-esteem into the fabric of American society” states, “a close relationship has been documented between low self-esteem and such problems as violence, alcoholism, drug abuse, eating disorders, school dropouts, teenage pregnancy, suicide, and low academic achievement.”

However, Clay notes, “the apple ‘don’t’ fall too far from the tree.”

She stresses that nurturing from parents must begin when a child is born. Whether it is reading bedtime stories or listening to classical music, “once the baby comes out of the womb, they only know what they see,” she said.

This support is necessary until about the third grade because when the child hits fifth grade he or she is vulnerable and begins seeking the right direction, says Clay. From that point on, Clay says, parents must be extra-cognizant of their own self-esteem as well.

Clay recommends that parents “take time to sit down and understand” their own self-image so that they can then work to set an example for their child.

Having too older sisters, Reese says positive role models are also a must. “The solution that I would propose would be for young African-American girls to learn more about motivational Black women who they can look up to,” she says.

Overall, Clay believes that the African-American community as a whole still has a lot of work to do. She says, “Until we come to grips with our natural beauty, we’ll be plagued for quite some time.”

“The supermodel is said to be very ‘insecure’ about her hair and refuses to spend the night with men, because she doesn’t want to remove her long fake locks in bed.

A source said, “Tyra is a confident woman for the most part, but she is really insecure about her hair.  She doesn’t want any guy to see her without her wigs or hair extensions.  Tyra feels like guys are with her for her image that they see on TV and in magazines.  If one wakes up without her glamorous hair, she’s worried he may not call back!””

Why is the Times of India interested in this?  LOL  American Gossip rules the world

You must admit…this man is pretty, very very pretty.  In the first video blog I saw of him…I thought he was a woman for the first min or so.