Don't Hate Jessica Simpson Because She's Beautiful -- and Thin!

That's Fit writer Nicole Dorsey-Straff weighs in on Jessica Simpson's recent appearance on "Oprah" where the actress discussed the media reaction to her weight gain last year.

Must be tough to be rich, famous, and talented. Jessica Simpson, 29, hit Oprah's couch to this week to discuss how her every move is fodder for the tabloids, especially her weight ups-and-downs. Jessica's self-proclaimed low-point came last year, she said, when she made an appearance at a Chili Cook-off in Florida, wearing those infamous high-waisted "mom jeans" and an unflattering, thick leopard belt. On Oprah, Simpson admitted that she'd eaten a big-ol' corn dog right before she climbed on stage that day, and said that the jeans were only a size four.

"But," said the now healthy-looking songstress, "the fact I was famous last year for gaining 10 pounds is ridiculous and really sad." In fact, the Texas-born beauty remembers this as an agonizing time in her career. "I love my curves; I'm not ever going to be a size zero. I'm never going to be 90 pounds, and I don't want to," she told Oprah.

Really? You could have fooled me and the rest of the world when you ran around posing in your teeny-weeny "Daisy Duke" shorts back when you were filming the "Dukes of Hazzard" flick in 2005. As I recall, you appeared wearing skin tight clothes over a very lean frame to promote the movie. Don't believe me? Check out her video for "These Boots are Made for Walking" to see Jessica proudly displaying her fab abs and lean legs in an orange string bikini with cowboy boots. She certainly wasn't unhappy with all the media attention then! She also seemed happy to tout losing 20 pounds in two months to Us Weekly in 2007.

Simpson's music, movies, and fashion-designer collection have kept the gorgeous gal in America's eye, all while being scrutinized since she released her first hit single at the age of 19. Of course, the actress was on "Oprah" to promote her new travel VH-1 docu-series called "The Price of Beauty," which debuts March 15. On it, she treks across the globe with close friends and a film crew to examine what other countries and cultures view as truly "beautiful," including local fashions, dietary fads and beauty regimes.

Jess, you can't have it both ways. When a celeb appears regularly in the public eye -- whether you're Valerie Bertinelli representing Jenny Craig or you're a beautiful star like Jessica Simpson promoting a body-baring role in a movie -- you do have a certain responsibility to your public to be honest about how you look and feel. And you have to be ready to take the heat for slip-ups if you chase the praise for weight-loss.

What do you think? Feel free to weigh in.

Simpson isn't the only one going on Oprah to let it all hang out. Kirstie Alley confessed to the daytime queen after gaining back all the weight she lost with Jenny Craig -- and now she has a show of her own where she'll shed the pounds (again).

Fitness expert Nicole Dorsey Straff is a Los Angeles-based exercise physiologist and author, and frequently writes about diet, health and wellness.