By: Leslie Goldman

Aug 25, 2009

It’s the photo loved ‘round the world: On page 194 of the September issue of Glamour magazine, model Lizzi Miller —20 years old, 5’11”, 180 pounds, size 12 – sits naked and laughing, resplendent and glowing in her skin. She is not a stick. She does not have a flat stomach. She does not have scrawny arms or chicken legs.

She looks like we do. And she looks beautiful.

The photo was commissioned for a story on feeling comfortable in your skin, says Glamour editor Cindi Leive, “and [we] wanted a model who looked like she was.”

Leive and Miller were on the Today Show Monday, talking about the amazing response. Applause to Miller, who very diplomatically explained, “I'm not saying size two isn't normal, but my normal is this."

Matt Lauer asked if this kind of pic might change the game when it comes to selecting photos for future issues.  “I think it absolutely will,” Leive said. “You get a reaction like this and you can really see it. It’s also a sign of the times that women are really looking for a little bit more authenticity and a little bit less artifice in every part of their lives. Will it change our approach? I think it will.”

I was thrilled to hear Miller’s very candid response, saying that, at first, she wasn’t thrilled with the picture which very clearly shows a belly kind of spilling over the waistband of her thong. “I’m just like every other girl who has insecurities,” she said. “The first thing I thought was, ‘OK, not the most flattering picture.’ ”

This is SO important to get out there! We ALL have fears when it comes to our bodies. Even models. Even “plus-sized” models. When I give talks to colleges, I admit that I frequently will ask my husband if my butt looks huge in my jeans; just recently I’ve began lamenting the fact that, after hitting 33, my triceps muscles seem to have disappeared and the skin kind of waves in the air like  a slightly flabby flag. And I am a body image writer. But, like Miller said, we ALL have insecurities and the hope is that, with more pictures like this one, we can feel better about ourselves because we are just normal, real women.

Glamour reports they have been flooded with positive feedback about the stunning model with a tiny pooch. Comments like:

“The most amazing photograph I've ever seen in any women's magazine.”

“Thank you for showing a picture of a BEAUTIFUL woman who has a stomach and thighs that look like mine! I have NEVER seen that in a magazine before.”

Have you seen this photo in the media lately? What are your thoughts?

Watch the Today Show clip here.