"I've always thought of fat as just a descriptive word"
About this Quote
The subtext is a critique of how language enforces hierarchy. The taboo around “fat” doesn’t protect people from harm; it often protects everyone else from discomfort while leaving the stigma intact. Euphemisms (“curvy,” “full-figured”) can function as social air freshener: they imply the real word is too ugly to touch, and by extension that the bodies it describes are too.
Contextually, Manheim’s career sits at the intersection of Hollywood visibility and bodily policing. As an actress who became prominent in an industry built on narrow silhouettes, she’s not theorizing from a distance; she’s naming the terms of her own representation. The line works because it’s disarmingly plain. No manifesto, no apology - just a calibration of reality. It invites a cultural reset: if the word can be neutral, maybe the person can be, too.
Quote Details
| Topic | Self-Love |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Manheim, Camryn. (2026, January 17). I've always thought of fat as just a descriptive word. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/ive-always-thought-of-fat-as-just-a-descriptive-49360/
Chicago Style
Manheim, Camryn. "I've always thought of fat as just a descriptive word." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/ive-always-thought-of-fat-as-just-a-descriptive-49360/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I've always thought of fat as just a descriptive word." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/ive-always-thought-of-fat-as-just-a-descriptive-49360/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.




