Women's cups runneth over

Published Apr 4, 2002

Share

By Vivian Warby

Marilyn Monroe had a perfect pair and Pamela Anderson still does.

Wonderbra, the makers of those push-me-up-without-surgery bras, together with Cosmopolitan and 5fm, have chosen Friday to celebrate women's cleavages.

Anita Meiring, public relations consultant for Wonderbra, has called on all South African women to participate in National Cleavage Day. "It is a day for women to realise that their cleavage is something unique and that they should be proud of it."

Beautiful breasts have long been the wish of many women who have undergone painful and often dangerous surgery to step from under the shadow of their naturally endowed DD sisters.

While far from trying to objectify women, Cosmopolitan editor Vanessa Raphaely believes the day should be celebrated in a fun manner.

But there are those who aren't too pleased.

"We've got days for vaginas and now a day for cleavages. At least the day for vaginas is a day to try to stop violence against women. The day for cleavages is a bit sexist, isn't it?" says Johannesburger Patsy Ngwenya.

But most people polled on the streets were "excited", "happy to be celebrating" and "ecstatic" at cleavage coming under the spotlight.

Momma, advice columnist for The Star's Momma's Bosom, herself blessed with an ample pair, is thrilled to hear that "we are finally paying just tribute to one of women's greatest visual assets".

"When my column was launched, a bunch of feminist Mother Grundies objected to the fact that the cartoon of Momma portrayed a woman with an ample cleavage and said this objectified women.

"While Momma understands that this argument is partly based on the horrifying number of rapes that occur in this country, she doesn't believe that rape and sexual assault are caused by her, or any other woman's, endowments. Cleavage is a fact."

Jeremy Gordin, former Playboy SA magazine editor, says of the day: "It is the most wonderful news I have ever heard and I can't wait to see what wonders it will bring forth."

Gordin recalls well his favourite cleavage - the one he saw in 1994 while looking for a local woman to pose for the centrefold of the first Playboy SA.

"A young woman arrived at the office. I thought she was 'it'. The publisher had a look at her but said her breasts were too small. To which this young lass, the now famous Charlize Theron, took off her T-shirt and said: 'Do you still think so?' We sat there with our mouths open. She got the job but didn't take it in the end."

Related Topics: