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I have a total girl crush on Hope Solo. The goalie of the Women's USA Soccer Team is hawt, smart, successful -- the whole package. From the looks of her kicking balls at NYC taxi cabs, the girl knows how to have fun too. So when I heard she was all set to pose nude, I had the same initial reaction as my girl, Nicole. Ethel Hope, get your clothes on! So why am I singing a different tune now?
Because it turns out Hope isn't getting nekkid for just any magazine. She'll be stripping down for ESPN the Magazine's annual Body Issue. Never heard of it? Well let's just say this is not Hustler or Penthouse. In fact, the last time people got all hot and bothered about a female athlete posing naked in the issue, a mag spokesperson explained "ESPN The Magazine's Body Issue is a celebration and exploration of the athletic form, honoring athletes of diverse shapes, sizes, colors, genders, and race."
Hear that? It's exploring diverse shapes. Which is one of the things I love most about Hope Solo. She's not a skinny mini. She's a spectacular athlete with an athlete's body. There's muscle on her, but there are curves too. She understands that to power her body on the field, she needs to have the energy that comes from eating healthy food. She has the type of body I wouldn't mind my daughter emulating: glowing, fit. Rocking that can only be good for her young female fans.
More to the point, the body issue is about the "form" of the body, not the details. Nudes, as many artists have proven over the years, can be tasteful. There are no naughty bits on display. If last year's issue is any indication, Solo will likely have shown MORE "erotic" detail with the silly hard nipple debacle than she will in the actual magazine.
Do you have a problem with a naked Hope Solo under these circumstances?
Image via americanistadechiapas/Flickr
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