If Kate Ellis had appeared at the beach on a Sunday doing safety with the nippers, in a yellow one piece with a yellow and red quartered cap would she have been castigated by our fawning media by highlighting only her sexuality or would they have derided her for wearing lycra if she'd competed in a triathilon or horror of horrors jeered at for spending too much time on fitness activities instead of formulating policy.

Nah they'd be all over her with praise for being super fit, a fantastic role model and something to which our youth could aspire.

What a load of crap the poser Ellis and the stupid fawning labor media is all about.

Sylvie Jade, "I wonder if Grazia would have approached Kate Ellis for a body image shoot if she didn't conform to socially constructed beauty standards, and whether kate ellis would have said 'yes' at all if she wasn't attractive."

Attractive to whom and why? You are stretching a very long bow if you are inferring that fashion shoots have anything to do with men, or that women choose their clothes with men as the first, second or (usually) even distant third consideration. Do you choose your clothes to appeal to men? The fashion industry meets the needs of women and it is women who must change it, but that means an attitude change.

Just taking a ridiculous assertion from the article, "One of the functions of sexualising powerful women is that they become less threatening." Mind telling that to Jana Wendt, who dressed well, took care of her body and carved out a wonderful career to boot? Would anyone claim that (say) Tracey Grimshaw hasn't had a career equalling Jana's because viewers are focused on is whether they are ‘hot-or-not’? Tracey does not have the ability nor the skills of Jana, it is as simple as that. It is about ability, drive and persistence, forget the other excuses. Anyhow, since when was Jana less effective in interviews because she looked presentable?

What about leaving all of the stereotyping and blaming out of it because this should be about women taking responsibility for their own purchasing decisions. However, without the over-used, worn-out stereotyping of a previous Age, the article doesn't have much to rely on does it?

Fashion is catering to the sexual fantasies of men? Pull the other leg! The Ellis shot is for women and women should stop buying it, simple as that. Take responsibility for choices and leave the other gender out of it.

Yes but Houlley what has this photo shoot got to do with positive messages about body image?

Kate Ellis can do a photoshoot wearing whatever she likes - it's her choice, just don't dress it up or politicise it as a body image stunt when clearly it has nothing to do with it.

Kate Ellis is the Minister for youth. We can safely assume that as the author states she is presenting am image for other youth to aspire to. In this case she is supposedly sending a message about body image. We all know that youth firstly could not afford these clothes nor would most be dressing like this on a daily basis.

Why didn't she decline this shoot based on her position as Youth Minister and the unrealistic image it sends to youth who are battling to find an image that is acceptable by their peers?

It shows little thought on the matter and would suggest this is used as an opportunity by the Minister to keep her profile up to secure votes in the next election to keep her seat in parliament. If she is serious about sending the right message to the youth about body image, she would have used her own clothing like another contributor has suggested.

Ultimately Kate Ellis had the power to say no to the shoot but instead she agreed to it. I guess it shows she does not have the maturity to be the Minister for youth if she is not able to discern the kind of message she is sending other youth. Yet another public figure who is thinking of themselves not the greater good of the people she represents, the youth of Australia. What hope have we got for battling the images portrayed who say they care about preventing food eating disorders that is taking the lives of our youth.

I saw the photo and it looked more like mutton dressed up as lamb.

Well I think you're all being way too hard on the woman. I think to some degree she is a target because she happens to be attractive. If she was less attractive the feminists would be loving her efforts in the magazine. Showing a 'real' woman.

She's someone to aspire to. Would you rather your daughter want to be Kate Ellis or Brittany Spears.

How many 16 year olds watch question time? So, as the author says,

'She wanted to draw attention to the results of the body image survey in Grazia.'

She has done just that. When a magazine like this no-matter how 'bad' has an article such as this, why not encourage it to be read? If some racing magazine had a minister driving a car to promote a road safety message in it would there be such a song and dance?

Woe betide a woman in a position of power who dares not to be a perfect siren for every feminist gripe. She's doing a lot more for women than the feminists knocking her down.

Must every action by a woman in a position of power be part of some feminist script. I think she relates a lot better to young people by saying honestly 'yes it was fun' to dress up and be photographed.

'tight-fitting leather clothes and dominatrix-style eight-inch heels'
Come on! Trying to make out she's dressing as some sort of dominatrix? What are we in the 50s? Should she have worn a floral frock?

What was she supposed to say to the hottest politician rating? A lot more young people would tune out if she started banging on like the author. Her comments on the Lara Bingle saga did her credit too.

She's affable, sensible, took on the body image thing with initiative, and a clear and straight communicator who has done well to get where she is.

I thought feminists would support her rather than tear more strips off her than they would accuse men of doing to an attractive woman who has achieved such a position at a young age.