The Equalities Minister, Lynne Featherstone, has said that size 14 Mad Men' star Christina Hendricks is a 'fabulous' role model for girls.
Featherstone, who is to meet fashion industry bosses later this year to propose regulations over digitally enhanced images, says that skinny models cause a crisis in 'body confidence' in young women.
'The use of such models, as well as the routine use of airbrushing, means girls and women came under "dreadful pressure to conform to completely unachievable body stereotypes,' she said.
'Christina Hendricks is absolutely fabulous. We need more of these role models. There is such a sensation when there is a curvy role model. It shouldn't be so unusual.'
Hendricks' mother, Jackie Stept, welcomed the Minister's praise, saying her comments were 'lovely'.
"I did always encourage [Christina] to be herself," she said, adding that she would tell her daughter she had been declared a role model in Britain.
Christina was voted the "Sexiest Woman Alive" by female readers of Esquire magazine in May of this year, and has always refused to slim down from her size-14 size, despite calls for her to do so.
What do you think?
Is it just as dangerous for our youngsters to aspire to be a size 14 as it is a size zero?