Jennifer Love Hewitt: Instant Bikini Icon

Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt has been inadvertently propelled into the spotlight thanks to photos of her in Hawaii wearing a bikini. Hewitt, 32, showed a little more flesh than some people expected, and blogs exploded in recent days with rude remarks ranging from just calling her fat and lumpy to up close inspections of her cellulite.

Hewitt, who was on vacation to celebrate her engagement, responded with a post on her official website lambasting her critics and calling on all girls to embrace their bodies and put on a bikini. She added, "A size 2 is not fat!" That spunk, applauded by women, had her hailed as a hero and has landed her bikini pictures their own segment on the Today show ("Changing Beauty Standards"), Access Hollywood, and the View (watch below), to name but a few. Now it's even landed her the cover of new cover of People magazine. That cover will stay on newsstands nationwide through December 16, so it looks like the Hewitt bikini story still has legs.

From Today, which plastered a Wednesday body image segment with the photos:

The View talked about it Tuesday:

The People Cover:

Comments

[Becky2time]

Come on people, our whole world bases everything on looks! Thin is in, fat is out. So she's a fat ass, what bothers people the most, she is a LIAR. She shouldn't have even responded to the photos

[hootie1fan]

Anyone who thinks a woman can't be a size 2 and have cellulite has never worked retail.

[Harrier]

You can say she's not a size 2 versus anything else. She still seems like the must beautiful woman in Hollywood. Her lack of education shows and she is a pretty good actress. I would like to see her in a serious role. Or anywhere

[Getbent]

Let's face it, she's a little chubby from the waist down. She's not FAT! I think she's adorable.She's down-to-earth, sweet and very sexy. I would rather her be womanly, with curves, than skinny with ribs showing. However, she is an actress, and in a public arena, you open yourself up to harsh critcs. Such is life.

[SonicStomp]

It's not her weight that bothers me, she's still got a great body and I am guessing is still fairly petite, it's her face. If you look at the picture at the top of the page, she looks a lot like Dana Carvey after he just did a Johnny Carson imitation. I just can't get past that.....

[wanked]

Renoir would hire her in a second. Beautiful.

[Philippa]

Are JLH's critics a size 0? They have no right calling her fat unless they're skinnier than she is.

[ipitombi]

Didn't she just have a baby? Most new moms retain a lot of ass fat from 9 months of pregnancy, and that I believe, explains most of the fat on her body. And then, check out her big breast. It's all baby milk, I tell you.

[ShockandAutism]

Jennifer Love Doughnuts

Jennifer Love Frenchfries

Jennifer Love Milkshakes

Jennifer Love Wearingheftybags

Jennifer Love Knockingovertoddlerswithherthighs

Jennifer Love Grossingmethefout

[Blueneck]

She is very lovely. Totally real. No nip-tuck silicone-sister. She has absolutely nothing to be ashamed of or apologize for.

[OckhamsElectricRazor]

What a babe, cellulite and all!

[btdenver]

Hewitt, 32,...

Every reference I can find says she is 28 years old, born in 1979. The press makes her older and fatter by the day!

[slappymagoo]

Based on my history, people who mock women for being too heavy when they're clearly not are either a: deep in the closet (I love women, I've just yet to meet the woman perfect enough for me to want to whip it out, you guys settle for any old pig!); OR B: angry that they'll probably never get the woman in question and if they can't be happy, then NOBODY can be happy.

Power trips and deep denial...wonder what the Bushies think of Hewitt?

[KindAndThoughtful]

I had the opportunity to meet her once. She is an extremely nice and humble person.

[Jane22]

What a non-issue. Go JLH! You told them what's what. Now move on and speak out about something important. Might I suggest the subject of womens rights in America above and beyond our appearance--like respect for our roles in the world. Join us in doing something positive.