Life is grand for Sophie D

There was a time when, if Sophie Dahl had climbed on top of the piano, one might have wanted to check that the instrument was up to it. That was when Dahl was a not-to-be-messed-with size 16, the world's most voluptuous supermodel, the girl with curves where most models just carry a spare pack of Marlboro Lights.

But then the weight fell off and the curves which once made her the queen of the catwalk (non-waif category) disappeared; the girl who promised she would never shrink to a size 10 found herself a size eight and falling.

Cue a raft of catty articles in some newspapers, describing her as "stick-thin, pale-faced and ... ill".

Dahl has, naturally, found all this rather tiresome. "She can't see what all the fuss is about," a friend of hers said the other day. "It's all very well for people back in Britain to say they'd like her to be bigger again, but they're not the ones who have to find modelling work to pay the bills, are they?"

The picture is taken from a photoshoot for the bags-to-boas high street fashion chain Accessorize, which is using 27-year-old Dahl for its new Showgirls advertising campaign.

Her sultry pose on top of the white piano is reminiscent of Michelle Pfeiffer singing Makin' Whoopee in the film The Fabulous Baker Boys. Only one thing is missing - and that's Jeff Bridges playing the piano.

So let's take it from the top, shall we? "Another season, another reason, for makin' whoopee..."