First comes the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue in February. March brings Fashion Week across the globe. Beauty pageant season climaxes in April, which happens to fall right before Memorial Day at the end of May. That means four straight months of seeing lots of female bodies in skimpy attire, and summer hasn’t even started yet.

Stephanie Naumoska models a bathing suit during the Miss Universe Australia 2009 competition last month. (SplashNews.com)

By now, it’s likely that you’re either frantically hitting the treadmill to shape up in time for your beach house rental or giving up entirely with a sack of Cheez Doodles, watching Project Runway marathons on the couch.

This year, however, one slender figure cut a noteworthy profile in the Australian pageant circuit, sparking a worldwide controversy about how thin is too thin to be a good role model. Stephanie Naumoska was the runner-up in the Miss Universe Australia contest last month, but the ensuing controversy made her face more famous than the winner’s.

Pageant organizers claimed that the 5 foot 10, 105 pound contestant had a “Macedonian heritage” that determined her slight body type; nutritionists claimed she is malnourished and appears to suffer from an eating disorder.

It’s impossible to diagnose her through speculation, but Ms. Naumoska’s extreme thinness is shocking.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Real Women Have Curves movement has seemed to backfire. The 2002 movie — starring America Ferrera of future Ugly Betty stardom — was originally designed to boost the self-worth of voluptuous girls. However, the message has gotten under the skin of many non-curvy women who believe their femininity should not be determined by their body fat percentage.

This issue of Ethical Style explores the middle ground between these two controversial extremes.

Madison sounds off on obesity activist MeMe Roth’s pronouncement that plus size fashion lines encourage young girls to be fat. Yeah, you can expect fireworks here.

Grechen Cohen — the awesome blogger who brought you GrechensCloset.com and GreenGrechen.com — shares with E.S. readers her picks for the best ethical designers that provide for plus size consumers (and not just as an afterthought). 

Trevor looks at the controversy surrounding Olympic athlete fashion and Canada’s desire to incorporate authentic sealskin in the 2010 uniforms.

Weight-loss pill Hydroxycut has been recalled by the FDA for the severe health risks it carries, but sooner or later something else will take its place. The question remains: Is it ethical to market diet drugs in the pages of fashion magazines?

Several months ago, the U.K. media announced “the end of skinny.” But it seems that such a proclamation was a wee bit premature.

And of course, what body issue would be complete without a swimsuit guide? For all body types, naturally.