From the delicate years of childhood on, images of what a woman should look like have been pumped into the public conscience. With gorgeous faces, plump lips and legs that go on for miles, women like Angelina Jolie and Jessica Simpson have become famous for representing an ideal in the media.Even Barbie has become the ideal image of a good-looking woman.Barbie is one of the most popular toys sold in the U.S. today, and many girls dream of being like Barbie when they grow up. And there is no reason not to want to imitate Barbie.She can do just about everything — horseback riding, cooking, ballet dancing and portraying every Disney princess are just some of the weapons in her arsenal.She also owns everything from houses, horses, cars, convertibles, jeeps and hot tubs to animal shelters and hair salons.Not many girls could deny wanting to have a devoted boyfriend like Ken either. Ken gave Barbie everything she wanted while still giving her space to hang out with her friends Christie and Teresa as well.But when Ken failed to give Barbie the blonde-haired, blue-eyed female heir she so desperately desired, she ditched him for Blaine. Barbie isn’t pregnant yet, but you can buy her “oldest friend Midge” who is pregnant with her second child. Hopefully, in-vitro Barbie will be released soon.But Barbie’s life would not be the life many young women should want to lead.If Barbie was a real woman, her bust would measure out to be 39 inches — larger than DD’s — her waist would measure 18 inches and her hips 33 inches around. With these measurements, Barbie would be a mere 5 foot 9 inches and wear a size 3 shoe. The only woman that can come close to these measurements is Jayne Mansfield. Mansfield was a Playboy model and actress in the 1950s and is also the mother of actress Mariska Hargitay of NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”Unlike Mansfield, real life Barbie would have to use a wheelchair to get around because of her unrealistic proportions. Scientists estimate for Barbie to have these measurements in real life and be healthy, she would have to be more than 7 feet tall.As much as the American media would like to say they have strayed away from this strict criticism of women’s bodies, they haven’t.In the past few weeks, the media has gone wild over Jessica Simpson’s weight gain. The naturally curvy, beautiful southern singer and actress looked a little “heavy” in a pair of high waisted jeans at a concert recently.The fact she put on a couple of pounds shouldn’t get this much attention from the media — and this column is part of the problem.She’s healthy and allegedly happy. Many women in this country would kill for her figure, not to mention her beautiful voice and undeniable fame.Truthfully, many women in this country should be thankful for the bodies they have. We’re each beautiful and different — and the media shouldn’t affect our self-images as much as they do.Jessica Simpson is beautiful. She’s talented. And nobody should think otherwise.Take charge of how you see your body — and you might find you are a happier person for it.  If you or someone you know has an eating disorder, visit www.lsu.edu/shc to take the on-line eating disorders screening.Isabel Blum is a 21-year-old communication disorders major from New Orleans.– – – -Contact Isabel Blum at [email protected]