Either the old fashion is returning or people became cleverer, but slim and too thing women are becoming less popular. Among young people this tendency isn't spread for now but those who are a little bit older prefer women with ample shapes today.

We were senior pupils at school. Like in almost every school we had a company consisting of some boys and girls who "ruled" the whole school. The girls from this "band" were tall, slim, audacious and belonged to the boys from the same "band". These boys were all well-built, fashionable, self-confident and sexy. Certainly, all other pupils faded next to them.

Among "all other pupils" were me and my friend Sarah. We weren't tall and slim, studied well, liked to stay in the library and read something interesting till the evening... To cut it short, we were quite the opposite to our local band. Sarah suffered a lot because of this; she wanted to be like them. But they didn't accept her, though she wasn't fat or ugly, just a little plump.

Anyway, one morning an announcement was hung on the wall, in a school corridor: "EASTERN DANCING COMPETITION! ONLY THE BEST WINS A TRIP TO PARIS!" The competition was going to be in a concert hall of some University in a month. Students and senior pupils from the whole city could come and try themselves in eastern dancing. Those who had at least any chance were taken for one month training. The training wasn't cheap, but the prize was a week rest in Paris for 2 people!

The last phrase of the announcement made "the best bodies of our school" quickly go to the registration place. Sarah knew she had almost no chance but the desire to prove everyone she was worth something gained the upper hand over fear and hesitation...

Sarah was standing in the line to the registration desk just behind our "cool girls". I was standing not far; I wasn't going to take part. When it was our girls' turn, one of them came to the registration desk and said: "I promised my boy a trip to Paris, so let's check my body!"

"Ok, let's see what you can,"- said the dancing instructor and carefully looked at her body. Then she sighed dissatisfied: "Try to shake your bottom". The girl made some funny movements. "No, not your bones, my dear, but your bottom" - said the instructor. There came a giggling in the line; the girl turned red but made the same movements.

"You need to have a....woman's body to be able to dance a belly-dance. I mean, you need to add in weight a little bit, to get ample shapes...like... this girl has! Come here, my dear", - the instructor pulled Sarah out of the line. "You see, she has a body of a woman; you have a body of a girl. Sorry". Sarah smiled to an indignant girl and started filling the registration form. I was really happy for her!

A month has passed. I was sitting in the concert hall and waiting for the competition to begin. In front of me our band was. Sarah danced the fifth one. She was dressed in the eastern manner and looked marvelous. "There she is...with her woman's body!" - said the girls from the band spitefully. "But she's moving rather sexy!"- replied one of their boys and the girls shut up.

When Sarah won (yes, she did!), most of those interested to congratulate her were boys! We had a wonderful time in Paris. Sarah doesn't envy to slim girls any longer and has met a good guy who loves her the way she is...with a real woman's body!

Tanya, 21