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"Rock What You've Got"...

 ...is the title of a book by Katherine Schwarzenegger, daughter of the Governor and Maria Shriver. I haven't read it - it was just released today. And even though I have no idea how well written it is, I am 100% behind her effort.

There is no escaping being in the public eye when you're the daughter of a famous mother and a politician/Hollywood actor. Imagine the pressure! According to reviews of her book, what Katherine Schwarzenegger writes about is how she fought not to give into it. While she admits to struggling, even once trying to stay below 100 pounds, she chose instead to let the people who love and support her help lay the foundation of her self-image.

She is preaching to the choir with me. As someone who has broadcast daily, for nearly two decades, I have heard it all from critical viewers. I've blogged before about being a woman with curves, who's become a Mom (twice) and matured into my forties in front of the unblinking eye of the camera. And through it all, I've tried not to focus on those three little numbers on the scale but instead tried to stay healthy. I've found ways to look my best while remaining sane and aimed to set a realistic example for all the women watching.

The more women, young and old, famous or not, who decide to fight this obsession American women have with being stick-thin, the better. It's time to change the culture. Katherine Schwarzenegger deserves credit for having the courage to tackle the challenge.

 

When I think of the Governor and First Lady, "power" comes to mind, followed by "public image". What the oldest offspring of this super-fit power couple is tackling (very publicly) is body image. Public image may be external and body image internal, but for most young women the two are always connected. That had to be even more true growing up in the star-studded world of Schwarzenegger & Shriver.

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