She performed at SeaWorld in San Antonio, Texas, over the weekend. And boy howdy, she's looking great.

I'm not saying I noticed she's wearing the Daisy Duke shorts again, but ... OK, I noticed.

She's taken a stab at singing, reality television, movies ... and now, swimwear? After taking quite a bit of heat over her size, Jessica Simpson is now designing bikinis — and they're a far cry from her much-criticized "mom jeans."

According to the New York Daily News, contestants in the Miss USA pageant will don the singer's latest creations this Sunday as they take the stage. The $104 white-and-gold string bikinis were created specifically for the pageant, as were the $88 bright-green string bikinis modeled by the crown-chasers during a pre-pageant photo shoot in Vegas. While Jess has been dressing herself in more flattering outfits as of late (fine, she's draping herself in muumuus, but I'm trying to be nice), her swimsuit collection leaves little to the imagination.

Simpson's curvaceous figure has been a topic of conversation since she broke out onto the scene in the late '90s. While weathering the most recent media attack that she had packed on the pounds, Jess addressed the issue at a concert, complaining to her fans that "we focus on so many things that are so pointless." Clearly, she takes swimsuit competitions more seriously than most.

What ever the case may be, it seems like Miss Simpson is doing what she can to keep her own body out of the public eye and letting the beauty queens enjoy the spotlight for a while. Smart move, Jess. Now you and Tony can eat your wings in peace for a little while longer.

In reaction, Obama dryly commented on Jessica being "in a weight battle, apparently." As a result, blogs and magazines and talk shows are asking if the president is making fun of Jessica's weight. Really, guys? From watching the video, it seems clear that Obama's dryness is poking fun at media coverage, rather than Jessica's weight.

Jessica has, in years past, said she hasn't understood people's obsession with rail-thin women, and has also expressed concern over the health risks that come with extreme slimness. She also spoke out about the criticism onstage last week, saying, "I feel like in our world today, we focus on so many things that are completely pointless."

The last time that Hollywood seriously played up curves was decades ago, during the 1940s and '50s; conservatism and traditionalism prevailed in those days, and perhaps a fuller figure signified affluence in those post-Depression, post-WWII days. In short, the "curvy housewife" was ideal. Then the Vietnam War and Twiggy came along, and the decades since have made "stick-thin" the new "curve." We haven't quite gotten out of that mindset.

Having said that, we have a bounty of challenges facing our economy and our country, so perhaps, for the same reasons, another era of curviness is on the horizon for the worlds of fashion and tabloid culture. (Of course, it's hardly a matter that, er, outweighs the economy, the wars and dozens of other more pressing issues our president and all of us are confronting.)

Over the past week many celebrities have spoken out in support of Jessica: Carmen Electra, ex-hubby Nick Lachey, Kim Kardashian, Heidi Klum, sister Ashlee and brother-in-law Pete Wentz, among many others.

As for me, I certainly don't know what it's like to be judged by the tabloids or have my every cheeseburger documented (I'm eating one right now, fyi). But, I do remember my time on "America's Next Top Model" being the most scrutinized time in my life with regard to my weight. One of the (non-aired) storylines of my season was the fact that I was just a little bit too heavy, in their eyes, and that sentiment was made clear to me at least every other day. One unnamed "judge" even taught me about the "chew and spit" diet! (I tried it, it sucks).

That scrutiny was almost unbearable for me, so I can't even imagine what Jessica has gone through over the past week. But hey — perhaps a sea change will occur, the trend will turn away from sexy-'rexy, and Jessica will show herself to be ahead of the "curve" after all.

Dear Jessica,

I want to start this letter off by saying that despite the past few years, I remain a fan of yours. I buy the rare magazines you grace the covers of, I can disappear for days watching "Newlyweds" marathons and, yes, I even have a copy of "Jessica Simpson I Do: Achieving Your Dream Wedding" — although I have to admit, it has been gathering dust since you announced your split from Nick. It goes without saying that I root for your comeback with the same intensity as a Britney fan, but I have to ask: What were you wearing yesterday?

I admire anyone that boldly embraces new fashion trends, but as you demonstrated, high-waisted denim just isn't for all body types, so I have been thinking about why you might not have noticed this too. Maybe Tony Romo is the kind of boyfriend that says everything looks good on you? Maybe it is stressful being a new aunt to Ashlee and Pete's new baby, Bronx Mowgli? Maybe your personal trainer has been too busy helping Jessica Alba lose her baby weight? Maybe it just doesn't really matter what you wear to a local-radio-sponsored chili cook off, even if you are performing and being photographed?

Whatever it is, Jess, I wanted to let you know I am willing to look past this poor choice in clothing because I believe in you, and I still hope you can get back to your pop-star days. In the meantime, if you could refrain from wrapping yourself in a too-tight cheetah print double-buckle belt, I think that might help ...

Jessica Simpson's no stranger to the perfume counter. With all the products she's put out over the years, including the Dessert line, you'd think she'd be an expert on fragrances by now — well, at least when it comes to kids' stuff. Her first foray into an adult line — called Fancy — launches in department stories August 15.

"With Fancy, I wanted to create a pretty fragrance, one that I could be just as comfortable wearing on the red carpet or every day with my favorite jeans," the singer said in a statement. (Jessica already has a jeans line, but she recently announced she's branching out with contemporary dresses and lingerie to launch next spring.)

Fancy includes notes of pear, apricot nectar, red berries, night blooming jasmine, gardenia, toasted almonds, caramel, amber crystal, sandlewood and vanilla crème.

However, that combo wasn’t too pleasing for several of our female staffers and interns (and even a few brave guys!) who sniff-tested a sample of the scent. The overall consensus was that it smelled like a little girl playing dress-up. Here’s what 15 of them had to say:

"It smells like the perfume girls would bring to summer camp (that they likely swiped from their mothers' vanities)." — Rya

"It smells kind of old lady-ish. It reminds me of White Diamonds or something." — Kristen

"I wouldn't wear it. It smells like a girl and not a woman. It's too fruity. It smells like cotton candy." — Shannon

"It smells like a mix of lillies and bubblegum. Random, but good." — Christina

"I have a bunch of jewelry that belonged to my great-grandmother, including a pendant that held perfume and tainted all the other necklaces it was stored with. This smells like my great-grandmother's jewelry." — Lindsey

"It's awful. It smells like the cheap stuff they sell at Duane Reade." — Tami

"It makes me want to put my hair in pigtails. It's way too sweet smelling." — Kate

"It's a good smell for food, but not so much for perfume." — Steve

"I would wear it. In fact, it's kind of like the fragrances I already wear. I really like sweet, fruity, and feminine scents." — Brittany

"That smells horrible and I would never wear it. It's too strong and sweet. I still smell it, and it is making me nauseated." — Julie

"It's a lot like when you leave a bunch of cotton candy in a hot car, and then get back in the car a couple of hours later. Once the initial sweetness dissipates, it smells oddly boozy, like a cocktail some girls would drink when trying to live out their 'Sex and the City' fantasies. A candytini, or some such nonsense." — Michelle

"After the amber sinks in, it has a lasting musk smell. I do not like the perfume!" — Kelly

"It's a pleasant surprise. It's very sophisticated for Jessica Simpson." Ashley

"When combined, this seductive bouquet of exotic fruits, tantalizing candy flavors, and other fabulous scents immediately singes the nostril and causes freakishly violent nausea. If my girl was wearing this, I'd have to really reconsider my relationship status on Facebook." — Sebastian

"It smells like cotton candy, which I love to eat, but not to wear. Who wants to smell sticky?" — Liz