Last year I wrote Cosmopolitan Magazine a letter. I told them that the day that they put a fat a girl on their cover would be the day that I bought their magazine. A few years ago I decided to go cold turkey on Cosmo and all of its insidious sisters (Vogue, US Weekly). In short, cold turkey proved to be too difficult for even my radical feminist ass. So, I compromised. I can sneak peaks at the magazine when I’m in line at Safeway. And, yes, when I’m waiting for my chonies to dry at the Laundromat, I walk next door to the 7-11 and read entire editions. But I will not pay for the privilege. I can perv on Kim Kardashian’s amazing booty, but not a single hard-earned Virgie dollar will make its way into their pockets.

The recent Elle cover featuring Gabourey Sidibe made me wonder if I was ready to make good on my promise. Does the visibility of a dark-skinned, big-boneded woman prove that Elle has changed its ways? Will Gabby usher in a new epoch of fatty celebration or the possibility that significantly more cover shots will be of women of color. Methinks no.