I think the problem here is you have a set idea of who a model is and what they look like and what they have to do to get to look like that. So you think that all models are the stereotypical selfish women who starve themselves and have ribs jutting out.  I would not be supporting Heather if she looked like that, but she doesn't.

I really think people need to stop blaming models for their own body image problems. Models have a different body type.  Not everyone would be able to be so skinny.  The problem is people's ideas that they need to be like someone else, but they don't.  The only person anyone has to be is themselves.  Further to that, I definitely do not starve myself and I have curves, and I am also considered attractive.  Real attractiveness comes from your personality - it's in the way you hold yourself, it's in the way your face lights up when you smile, the twinkle in your eyes, your laugh, the way you talk about something you are passionate about.

Heather has AS and can certainly represent it, I think.  I think she would make a good spokesperson for it.

But she is in the "AS/ADHD" combined subtype--her diagnosis at age 15 was Asperger's and ADHD (factual.)  This type is not quite the classic AS most of us here are familiar with, although it has a lot in common with it.  I am in the "AS/ADHD" subtype, having features of both conditions but lacking a few stereotypical features of AS.

Probably the reason I disagree with so many people on this board--get into arguments about things many ASers find so inconsequential--is my ADHD.  Six of one, half dozen of the other...

I don't know that there is a 'classic type' of AS, so to speak - For example, I'm pretty different from most aspies I know...

From what I've seen, we're all pretty different here.

wonder wot thay will think of that.

There is a classic/rigidly defined AS according to those who have the classic AS.  I define the classic AS as ticking the boxes for many of the more commonly known stereotypes:  "great at Math; loves factual information; obsessed with train schedules as a kid; disputes anything that falls from logic or 'scientific' accuracy; can recall facts, numbers, dates in perfect detail."

I won't lie that I have observed a good number of folks on AFF who match a lot of these "classic" criteria (well--to my mind--these are "classic AS" criteria, FWIW) and they do seem to be unaware that some AS folks don't fit that mold, whatsoever.  I don't see this as a criticism, just an observation.

I'll have to disagree with you on this one - from what I've heard, only about 10% of aspies have the "great at maths" box ticked, and there's a whole range of differing levels of ability with regard to memory skills.

If there were to be a list of personality commonalities, it would have to involve special interests, social awkwardness, and similar things...

I'd still have to disagree - a lot of these things are called stereotypes for a reason. Only about 10% of aspies tick the "great at maths" box, not many sat around memorising train schedules as kids, and there's quite a variance of all sorts of skill levels.

If a person was to invent a list of "usual" aspie traits, it would probably involve special interests, social awkwardness and "out of the box" thinking - I don't know that there is a standard set of skills that aspies usually share.

Seems like an argument, YAY!

I'd say...

I want to be on violet's team!

Nah, just my thoughts without having read the whole "sulamitt" (norwegian expressian).

Heather would probably have needed to have some kind of body to be accepted into Top Modelling. It doesn't mean that it is supposed to be an ideal for every girl. I agree that it could possibly affect some girls view on themselves though which is negative, but that's really not the point of top-modelling - it is to market... clooOOooothes, and stuff. At least that's my idea of it.

I'll give you that--your take on my "classic AS" idea is understandable, as my idea is over-generalized and you point this out.

But I think I was also trying to say--though I may not have said it directly--that if you have AS and you are also diagnosed with ADHD, there may be some aspects to your personality (after all, a lot of AS traits are in the personality) that would be considered unusual for someone for AS.  This makes logical sense to me, anyhow.

For one thing, some AS people are frequently diagnosed with ADHD first, and then later on get the (correct) AS diagnosis--so there appears to be some aspects of the AS/ADHD combination that make it hard to "tease out" the AS.

I don't know about adults but I've heard that if a child has both AD/HD and AS, and is medicated for the AD/HD, the AS then becomes glaringly obvious.

More Heather
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/tvguide/34...vgif5.html