I don't believe in starving: Sonam Kapoor

Just when you thought size zero was on its way out, popstar Rihanna's casual tweet about "starving" herself ahead of a major men's magazine shoot to ensure she looks picture perfect started quite the debate on her micro-blogging page.

Some fans even responded with disappointment, saying the 23-year-old's rather casual remark would inspire thousands of impressionable young teens to follow her endorsement and use extreme measures to achieve that elusive, air-brushed perfection depicted in magazines the world over.

Which brings us to the question: Is 'sexy' a term reserved only for the slender of frame? And do our desi celebrities feel the same pressure to constantly keep their curves in check? We speak to some reigning B-Town beauties and models about their take on this...

Jacqueline Fernandez
It's my job to look my best at all times. But starving to look good is a no-no. Nothing is worth risking your health over. Usually I just ensure there's no water retention before a shoot, because it shows up on camera. That means cutting down on salt and having more greens and grains.

Neha Dhupia
I'm very conscious about what I eat. Just like Rome wasn't built in a day, you can't achieve a fit body overnight. You need to work hard at it and that takes time. And yes, to look a certain way you need to cut down on certain foods, but that's more about eating healthy than anything else. On the flip side, the pressure to look good does get to the best of us, and sometimes you can lose your appetite over it... but I have never starved myself. I am not a size zero and I don't aspire to be. I am a curvy girl and I love my shape. I wouldn't jeopordise my health for one great shot.

Sonam Kapoor
I don't believe in starving myself before a photo shoot. All you require is a good night's sleep. Photoshop can take care of the rest!

Nethra Raghuraman
When you are in a business that requires you to look good everyday, it is not a "one day" kind of pressure. We have to be in shape always. In fact, it is written in the Hindu scriptures that you must give your body a break on the seventh day. That is why people fast on amavasya, because it has a scientific reasoning. By going on a salad or fruit diet for a day or two ahead of a shoot, you are doing yourself a favour. God forbid if you don't look good in a shoot, it'll go down in history and people will talk about it forever.

Candice Pinto
Rihanna is a fitness freak, so she starved herself just before this particular shoot. Once in a while it is ok to do this. There are days when people think that not eating will make them look thinner. This isn't true. In fact, by starving one usually tends to gain weight in the long run.