Following her leading role in the summer blockbuster "Hairspray," rising young actress Nikki Blonsky stars alongside Annie Potts in the Lifetime Original Movie, "Queen Sized." The film is an inspirational true story of an overweight teen who takes a stand against bullying, to become her school's homecoming queen, and ends up with much more than just a crown.
In "Queen Sized," overweight high school senior Maggie Baker (Blonsky), always felt sorry for herself for not being as skinny, pretty or wealthy as the popular girls at school. When Maggie's name ends up on the list of nominees for the homecoming court as a prank by her classmates, she is mortified. Rather than drop out as expected, with her mother Joan's (Potts) encouragement, Maggie chooses to stay on the ballot in to order represent all the "outcasts" at school.
As word of her courageousness spreads, Maggie becomes a local celebrity and a symbol for all those who are bullied in high school. But when Maggie's new-found fame goes to her head, the kids who stood by her, including her best friend Casey, begin to resent her. Maggie is forced to take a long hard look at herself and reevaluate what battle she is truly fighting.
"Queen Sized" premieres Saturday, January 12, 2008, 9PM (ET/PT) on Lifetime Television.
Updated On: 12/15/07 at 07:18 PM
Oh, Lifetime movies...
Sounds interesting. Good for Nikki! I hope she can be a good role model for bigger girls. Many can and do live happy lives. As long as they can do this and stay healthy enough why hide them on a shelf? Hopefully it will reach some of the less inspired.
I see this kind of teasing less and less in our schools but still kind of lacking in peoples marketing strategies. Too bad since so many large people are consumers too.
Nice to see more of Annie Potts too. She is a funny comedian whose work I have really enjoyed.
Broadway Star Joined: 2/1/06
"I hope she can be a good role model for bigger girls. Many can and do live happy lives. As long as they can do this and stay healthy enough why hide them on a shelf?"
I think you were trying to sound positive, but you came off as very tactless and condescending. You make it sound like someone who is overweight is destined to live a bad life. I know this wasn't your intention, but maybe just be a little careful about how you phrase things?
By all means, weigh every word you write. Don't you dare say what you mean. Dance around it.
Sorry you took it that way. Most young people are looking for role models, if only for fashion and ambition. My point was that the stereotypes given to most of us are pretty ignorant of the facts.
I see so many become crass and defensive because they allow others to bring them down. That has been my experience many times. It shouldn't be that way. I blame Teachers who don't use teasing situations as learning tools and Parents who insist on using bad examples to try and make their children into something they maybe cannot be and miserable. I do though care about people's health also. Many people do ignore their doctors advice and I wish they wouldn't. Oftentimes though how we are structured lies in our genes. I don't believe size equates unhealthy for many people. You can eat right and still gain weight. I just felt it wrong for me to ignore that because it is an issue for everyone that shouldn't be ignore.
My other point was that we don't see enough people who look like everyone else. We also see too many who starve themselves or use evasive measures to defeat weight issues that I find harmful and usually ineffective. So bringing in more people in general who represent our population and providing material for them is a positive thing I hope.
Good to see that she's getting more work. But honestly, unless she would lose weight, she will ONLY be cast in this type of role or the funny girl side-kick roles. Hollywood is NOT gonna change anytime soon, no matter how talented the person may be. If you're male and overweight you have a much easier time in the industry than if you're an overweight female, that's just the way it is. I'm anxious to see how long it will take before the industry gets to her, it only took Marissa Jaret Winokur a few years.
Broadway Star Joined: 2/1/06
Tkt2Ride, I couldn't agree more about teachers and parents using teasing situations as learning tools! I have student taught in classrooms where this has happened and as a student teacher, you can't really step in and challenge the teacher's authority, but just have to watch and try to help afterwards in other lessons or on an individual level. Yes, it's very frustrating that some teachers overlook teasing or bullying.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/05
Little-Lotte - I sadly agree. (Plus to continue your train of thought - I'd add foul-mouthed comedians to your list).
This movie (even if a Lifetime one) does seem interesting in that it doesn't finish at the moment of the protagonists triumph - but continues on to see her weight up the good and the bad of her achievements.
nikki should let go of the big girl gimmick or after a while she won't be taken seriously
Why the hell is she doing this to herself?
Here's the official site for Nikki's new movie,
http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/movies/queen-sized
You know it's bad for us fat girls clothing wise if you know where everything they're wearing in the movie came from. And I think I do...
It would be nice if you would site where you clearly copy and pasted your post, jacobsnchz14.
You know it's bad for us fat girls clothing wise if you know where everything they're wearing in the movie came from. And I think I do...
On the "plus" side, you have an advantage. If I knew were to find all the clothes my favorite actors wore in movies then every day would be Halloween!
I like Nikki Blonsky and Annie Potts but I don't think you could pay me to watch a Lifetime movie.
I agree that if Nikki keeps taking roles like this one she may never be able to break being typecast as the "funny fat girl". She is better than that.
"It would be nice if you would site where you clearly copy and pasted your post, jacobsnchz14."
It's pretty obvious where it came from.
Lifetime.com
Duh...
And it looks like every girl who plays Tracy seems determined to continue playing the same sort of character:
Marrissa has these gems on her resume:
Fugly (2007) (TV) .... Tammy Stump
Beautiful Girl (2003) (TV) .... Becca Wasserman
And it’s funny that’s there’s NO MENTION of ‘On Edge’…
patti+betty's girl, how do you KNOW Nikki is better than that? It is the only thing she has done. We won't KNOW she is "better than that" until she does something different. Sorry, but this looks like "Hairspray II: the Next Generation"
"Queen Sized" premieres tonight at 9PM ET/PT, with re-airings Sunday & Monday night.
America Ferrera (I don't think I spelled that right...) started her career also playing the plus-size roles, (Real Women Have Curves, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) but has blossomed into a talented and well-known actress- occupying a wide range of parts.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/1/04
I'm actually quite offended by Lifetime tonight... they're showing To Be Fat Like Me starring Kaley Cuoco (from 8 Simples Rules) before the premiere of Queen Sized, which would sound like a night dedicated to sympathizing with overweight people.
Yet every commercial break has had commercials for Alli, Hydroxycut, L.A. Fitness, Thin Coach, and other products designed to aid weight loss. Exactly what message is Lifetime sending? That they support overweight people but wish they would change?
^^^ good point.
Ok, look, I'm not trying to be harsh, but I'm watching it right now.... Has Nikki put on some weight? She looks a lot bigger than she was in Hairspray.
Updated On: 1/12/08 at 09:04 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/1/04
I feel like they put some padding on her or something... she looked MUCH bigger in that opening scene (where she was trying to keep up with the college tour group) than she did a few scenes later when she was in her underwear changing in the bathroom.
It's a cute movie so far....still not too thrilled with Nikki though...
The scene transitions remind me of Ugly Betty. lol.
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