The fact is, you can easily count the very small number of fat female artists, either black or white, who were successful in pop music. Adele doesn't prove anything - she's another rare exception whose voice and songs are good enough to overcome her built-in handicap. Most big female pop stars, black or white, are petite and attractive. It's always been easier for Beyonce to out-sell Jennifer Hudson, or for Britney (who has no discernible musical talents whatsoever) to be a huge star while dozens of more-talented girls the size of Adele don't even get looked at by a label. Adele proves nothing unless a dozen successes the same size as her follow in her wake - and history has shown that that doesn't happen. What labels are looking for right now is an Adele that looks like Britney. That's what they're always looking for. But in lieu of that, they'd usually rather roll the dice on Britney.