When you picture a French woman, what comes to mind is normally a rake thin beauty, pouting around her vowels, sipping bordeaux and smoking a Gauloises.

But it turns out that the image of sultry, skinny so called perfection has been one of the most oppressive for French women themselves. In France, where style rules, a plus sized woman comes up against even more prejudice than in the UK, according to an interview with Stephanie Zwicky in the Times.

Stephanie would know all about it; she recently featured in French fashion Bible Elle magazine. Before now, a BBW appearing in such an iconic magazine would be unimaginable, but, as Ms Zwicky, who is Swiss, explains, her inclusion is another step on the road to size acceptance, even in one of the least accepting cultures there is.

The battle isn’t won yet - Stephanie has explained that there has been plenty of harsh criticism of her size since featuring in the magazine - but it’s a great indicator of growing appreciation for women of size. Roll on next month’s issue, we say!

For those who love a larger lady, there could be some hope of dating a celebrity, as the queen of British comedy Dawn French is single once more.

Whilst we here at CuddlyDating.com of course sympathize with Dawn following her split from fellow comedian Lenny Henry, we’re pleased to hear that their separation is amicable and the two are dedicated to maintaining their friendship.

Dawn, 52, first made UK audiences in the UK roll with laughter during the 1980s as one half of the comedy duo French and Saunders, as well as in her own blackly comic series Murder Most Horrid, before cementing her fame with the hit sitcom The Vicar of Dibley.

Since then, Dawn has starred in more hit comedies Little Britain and Jam and Jerusalem, as well as feature films Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and The Chronicles of Narnia.

As well as that, she’s a great example of a foxy plus size lady; even hip young TV presenter Dermot O’Leary has confessed to harbouring a little crush on her. Look out, fellas!