Jessica Simpson showed off a noticeably fuller frame–and questionable fashion sense–during a radio station chili cookoff in Florida over the weekend. After being raked off the coals by the media on Monday, the singer’s former personal trainer has taken up arms to defend Jess’ new curves.

Harley Pasternak, Hollywood trainer and author of The 5 Factor Diet, tells Extra the county star is healthy.

Harvey, who worked with Jessica during the filming of Major Movie Star in 2007, maintains that, “She has curves where a woman needs to have curves. We all go a little bit up and a little bit down. But she’s healthy. She’s still sexy. She’s still a beautiful woman. And I have no problem with the way she looks. I think if more people looked the way she looks now, the country would be a lot healthier.”

“Jessica was a fantastic client,” Harvey insists. “I think Jessica has a really healthy perspective on her healthy body image and looks like a woman. I would take her body any day over somebody who’s emaciated and looks unhealthy.” >