I would disagree a bit and say that "athletic" has not traditionally been a measure of female beauty. Healthiness and fitness are good measures. For men, health and fitness means being athletic, fit, muscular/lean (not fat), etc. Men who can provide and protect.
For women, fitness is tied to having children, and curves, hips, breasts, and a bit of a plumpness are all indicators of childearing and childrearing capability. The exact ratio of leanness to plumpness varies a bit between cultures, but it's very rarely "fat".
I would disagree a bit and say that "athletic" has not traditionally been a measure of female beauty. Healthiness and fitness are good measures. For men, health and fitness means being athletic, fit, muscular/lean (not fat), etc. Men who can provide and protect.
For women, fitness is tied to having children, and curves, hips, breasts, and a bit of a plumpness are all indicators of childearing and childrearing capability. The exact ratio of leanness to plumpness varies a bit between cultures, but it's very rarely "fat".
Boticelli's Venus comes to mind.
Yes, when I said 'athletic' I really meant reproductively fit, but there's a strong correlation between the two.
Yes but also counterpoint, the Venus de Milo is toned