![NAVEL GAZING](https://cdn.magzter.com/1591272633/1723089125/articles/_8qj2WVu41723093557192/NAVEL-GAZING.jpg)
I can still remember the shape of Mischa Barton's stomach. In the role of Marissa Cooper in The OC, the Noughties teen drama set in sunny, sandy California, the actor was often wearing a bikini. I watched that show obsessively when I was a teenager – and Barton’s body consumed me. I worked out that, in order to be beautiful, I needed my stomach to look exactly like hers: washboard-flat, and framed by two razor-sharp hipbones.
Hers was a stomach I’d seen elsewhere, too. Like on Paris Hilton. And Gwen Stefani. And the bodies of all the Victoria’s Secret models I was repeatedly told were definitive bastions of female beauty. Of course, in our apparent era of body positivity, it has since become “acceptable” to have a few curves on our figures. But this doesn’t really apply to the stomach, a part of us that society still insists must be completely smooth – have you seen those videos of celebrities getting lymphatic drainage massages on their bellies, too?
The belly is often the body part we fixate on more than almost anything else, yes in men (see: abs) but especially in women, and most of all at this time of year when many of us are gallivanting around in our swimwear. We judge midriffs on other people (soft versus hard) and we judge them on ourselves (flat versus rolls), often to a very nasty, self-flagellating degree.
Esta historia es de la edición August 08, 2024 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición August 08, 2024 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
!['No thought' batting leaves England on brink of defeat](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1826441/XIn_3BwaF1725865463750/NO-THOUGHT-BATTING-LEAVES-ENGLAND-ON-BRINK-OF-DEFEAT.jpg)
'No thought' batting leaves England on brink of defeat
England were left facing an uphill battle to maintain their unbeaten Test summer after batting with \"no thought\" in the second innings.
![Sinner seals US Open with straight-sets win over Fritz](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1826441/LXWonpu2S1725865375926/SINNER-SEALS-US-OPEN-WITH-STRAIGHTSETS-WIN-OVER-FRITZ.jpg)
Sinner seals US Open with straight-sets win over Fritz
Jannik Sinner let his tennis do the talking as he won the US Open for the first time. The world number one came into the tournament under a cloud following his anti-doping scandal, where he escaped a ban despite two positive tests in March.
![Coach Carsley could signal end of the England manager](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1826441/DL2mupIKb1725865275000/COACH-CARSLEY-COULD-SIGNAL-END-OF-THE-ENGLAND-MANAGER.jpg)
Coach Carsley could signal end of the England manager
Lee Carsley has said he is more of a head coach than a manager and that the latter could become extinct in international football.
![Team GB's triumph goes far beyond the medal table tally](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1826441/uEQSojnkm1725864932267/TEAM-GBS-TRIUMPH-GOES-FAR-BEYOND-THE-MEDAL-TABLE-TALLY.jpg)
Team GB's triumph goes far beyond the medal table tally
In terms of weather, they've had the worst summer in nearly 140 years here in Paris, which is perhaps why Britain's Paralympians felt so at home.
![VENETIAN CLASS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1826441/1Q85mLE9h1725864619350/VENETIAN-CLASS.jpg)
VENETIAN CLASS
Venice festivalgoers were treated to a first look at the actors and films in contention for Oscars, writes Geoffrey Macnab
![THREE'S COMPANY](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1826441/E3cl2bCKI1725864394368/THREES-COMPANY.jpg)
THREE'S COMPANY
Oliver Keens didn't set out to have threesomes this summer - from heterosexual couples 'seeking a third' to sex-positive 'MMF friendly' individuals, the opportunities found him...
![How William can live up to his father's wish for him to champion the marginalised](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1826441/vwqh5CZ391725864283705/HOW-WILLIAM-CAN-LIVE-UP-TO-HIS-FATHERS-WISH-FOR-HIM-TO-CHAMPION-THE-MARGINALISED.jpg)
How William can live up to his father's wish for him to champion the marginalised
Yesterday marked the second anniversary of Elizabeth II's death and the King's accession to the throne. In his first televised address to the nation as Charles III, he thanked his “darling Mama” for her love and devotion, quoted Shakespeare – “May flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest” – and assumed her mantle of a lifelong commitment to public service.
![Namibia to slaughter over 700 wild animals for meat](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1826441/P_z_nBcDk1725864075611/NAMIBIA-TO-SLAUGHTER-OVER-700-WILD-ANIMALS-FOR-MEAT.jpg)
Namibia to slaughter over 700 wild animals for meat
Plans by the Namibian government to kill 83 elephants and 640 other wild animals to feed the meat to people have sparked a fierce international row. The British high commissioner to the country is among those backing the idea but ecologists are warning of a colossal disaster” for Africa’s wildlife.
![Man accused of filming rape on Indian street is arrested](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1826441/KEbCrf8891725864012171/MAN-ACCUSED-OF-FILMING-RAPE-ON-INDIAN-STREET-IS-ARRESTED.jpg)
Man accused of filming rape on Indian street is arrested
Police in India arrested a man who allegedly filmed and shared a video of the rape of a woman on a street in a case that has sparked a public outcry.
![Pope hosts mass in remote Papua New Guinea town](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1826441/LHvS6rGOA1725862862478/POPE-HOSTS-MASS-IN-REMOTE-PAPUA-NEW-GUINEA-TOWN.jpg)
Pope hosts mass in remote Papua New Guinea town
Pontiff calls for end to tribal violence in nearby communities