Shape (magazine)

Shape

A cover of Shape, featuring Ashley Tisdale, January 2009.
Editor Elizabeth Goodman Artis
Former editors Tara Kraft
Frequency Monthly (12 issues per year)
Total circulation
(December 2011)
1,568,055[1]
First issue  1981
Company Meredith
Country United States
Based in Woodland Hills, California
Language English
Website www.shape.com
ISSN 0744-5121

Shape Magazine (or Shape) is a monthly English language fitness magazine started by Weider Publications in 1981, founded by Christine MacIntyre (a pioneer in women's free weight fitness) and became the #1 women's fitness magazine. At that time, Weider Enterprises consisted primarily of the bodybuilding magazine Muscle & Fitness. Joe Weider and Christine MacIntyre had differing views of how to present Shape magazine, Weider endorsing a less journalistic and more commercial approach to articles, MacIntyre endorsing a more academic, doctor-based magazine. Weider also endorsed a sexier approach to editorial while MacIntyre endorsed a healthier look for women, eschewing sexiness in the models and the copy. MacIntyre largely won that battle, editing a magazine that required that every byline have an advanced medical degree, that cover models should look healthy rather than sexy, and that sexist language be avoided. Christine MacIntyre was the editor-in-chief until her death in 1988. Tara Kraft is the current editor-in-chief. Shape found a readership based on that formula.

Weider was purchased by American Media in 2002. A German version of Shape is available in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Shape magazine is a women’s guidebook to a happy and healthy life. It contains fitness, healthy diet, weight loss, diet tips and fashion for women of all ages. Their team of nutrition, fitness, healthy, beauty and psychology experts strive to provide females with confidence and tips to achieve a healthier lifestyle.[2]

On January 28, 2015, it was reported that Shape Magazine will be acquired by Meredith Corp. and combined with Fitness Magazine's print edition.[3]

Content

Sections in the magazine include Features & Cover Stories, Shape Your Life, Look Great, Live Healthy, Get Fit, Eat Right, You In Shape, and In Every Issue, which includes From the Editor’s Desk, Contributors, Readers Speak Out, The Hot List and Fit & Famous.

Other topics include sex, mind/spirit, beauty, travel, fashion, work, home and style.

References

  1. "eCirc for Consumer Magazines". Audit Bureau of Circulations. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  2. Peppers, Margot (2014-05-09). "I WILL be appearing in Shape! Woman whose bikini weight loss photo was turned down by magazine reveals she will be featured in print after all | Daily Mail Online". Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-03-03.
  3. Tess Stynes, Wall Street Journal. "Meredith to Acquire Shape Magazine Brand."January 28, 2015. Retrieved January 29, 2015.

External links