And, the best way to rock your perfect bikini body is to wear a bikini!
Now that summer is upon us, many of you will be getting ready to jet away on your holiday or perhaps you’ve already returned. I’m sure while in throes of holiday packing and check-lists you noticed all the “perfect bikini body” articles promoted on the front of women’s magazines - huge props to the editors and creative department of said magazines because you can hardly miss them!
Whether it’s a 2-day detox plan, diet or fitness plan, there seems to be plenty of experts out there that seem to know your body better than you do, promising to get you looking fabulous in a bikini. Firstly, since when did the focus of summer shift from long days at the beach and ice cream to how great you look in a bikini? And probably more important, why can we not be more accepting of ourselves, happy and confident as we are instead of trying to morph into these warped socially accepted visions of how we should look in a bikini?
Alas, I think it’s so sad that rather than going on holiday and having a good time women are drilled to accept that there is something wrong with their body because of this ‘perfect bikini body’ culture that rears its ugly head at this time year. Trying to alter your body to look like someone else’s just so you can wear a bikini is not a healthy mentality. I’m totally on board with the popularisation of healthy living because the obesity epidemic is massive and needs serious attention. I would also like to add there is no shame in wanting to lose weight as long as it’s done safely with the correct mindset. However, anything that promotes being healthy through harmful methods of restrictive eating and over exercising needs a serious talking to and a b*tch slap in the face.
Healthy means something different from person to person, for instance, I’m a massive advocate the 80/20 rule and a healthy balance in all aspects of my life not just in to relation food. It works for me and suits my lifestyle at this point in time. Similarly, a single diet plan or fitness routine isn’t going to work for everyone. Where health is concerned, not one size fits all because we were created as individuals and it’s just not going to work. What might work for me may not work for you, but that’s OK, it’s just the reality. Trying to squeeze everyone into the same box by making false promises is cruel and downright mean!
My biggest beef with these “perfect bikini body” articles is the promotion that we all have to look perfect in our swimsuits and the use of stunning models with their washboard stomachs and perfectly styled hair. I’m sorry, but this just isn’t reality, perfectionism doesn’t exist and the promotion of such only adds fuel to the comparison trap fire - a slippery slope to upset and body image issues. Even if I worked my ass off in the gym I would never in a million years come close to any of these bikini models. Plus, the amount of hard work and sweat that it would take to get evenly marginally close, in my opinion, just isn’t worth it.
Seriously, I would kiss the journalist that completely flipped the bikini body culture on its head. Promoting images of women of all different sizes and cultures wearing a bikini, tankini, swimming costume or Speedos if they prefer would be a positive step forward. Just because it has been decided somewhere that it’s not socially acceptable for a perfectly normal and equally beautiful woman with stretch marks or belly jiggle to wear a bikini it doesn’t mean that she doesn’t have the right to wear one. The simple fact of the matter is that anyone can wear a bikini regardless of their shape or size. No one should be made to feel inadequate because they apparently haven’t worked hard enough to perfect their bikini bodies. Remember this, you look bloody fabulous just the way you are and don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise!
Everyone can wear a swimsuit, regardless of their shape, size, gender, race. None of these are qualifiers that say you can or cannot wear a swimsuit, you can wear whatever swimsuit your heart desires! I like to wear a bikini on holiday (these days I prefer a tankini), after so long of trying to convince myself that I don’t have the body for one, I now don’t give a second thought to what other people think. If they don’t like it, they can look away or go home!
It isn’t so much the phrase I have an issue with it is the word ‘perfect’…. x
It’s the entire concept that I have an issue with, it’s so wrong and encourages an unhealthy mentality.
Some days I feel confident and other days I simply don’t. I love your tips and I agree there needs to be more representation of shapes and sizes of women in bikinis!
xoxo
http://www.candicenikeia.com
Thanks Candice. I think it would make things far more ‘real’ if they did.
I loved this post, Jemma.I absolutely hate the concept of the ‘perfect bikini body’. Every time when I see articles about the so called perfect body, I wonder who determined how the perfect body should look like.
I’m size 14. I have curves and stretch marks. I’m not a bikini model but I can still wear the swimsuit. I don’t care what others say.
Yeah it really is ridiculous this whole “bikini body”. What a way to make 99% of females feel rubbish in one way or another. I may be slim but I have tiny boobs so I always feel so self-conscious in a bikini because I have a pretty straight up and down figure, not at all like these gorgeous VS models with their perfect hour glass figures. But I will still wear my bikini with pride because no magazine can tell me what I should or should not look like in a bikini!
Yay! Good for you Anna! I think you have a lovely figure and should definitely be rocking your swimsuit with pride!
I totally agree with you, and all bodies are bikini bodies. Confidence is the sexiest thing.
Totally! Confidence is definitely sexy.
I think that airbrushing of photos in magazines has made it even worse. Many women look excessively thin and as that is manly what we see we are almost forced to think that is what we should love like.
I hate the airbrushing thing too! We need to see real women in magazines.
I love this - I hate that there is so much body negativity, please who are too big, people who are too small Why should it matter?
Yes, why can’t we just be.
I’m definitely with you on this one! I’ll wear whatever the hell I want to wear on my perfectly acceptable body, thank you very much 🙂
Jess xo
Love your attitude Jess!
I love this post and agree with everything you have said. It makes me so sad that one of the main focuses for women when they go on holiday, where they have to wear a bikini, is whether they or not they have a “bikini body”. Like you said we need to celebrate all bikini bodies, stretch marks and all!!
Thanks Lauren! Precisely…anyone can wear a bikini, perfect doesn’t exist!
I haven’t worn a bikini for years I prefer the retro 50 style swimsuits. I think there is a move away from having a ‘perfect’ body thankfully and more acceptance of all types of body shape too. Great post
Those 50’s style swimsuits are lovely!
Summer can really give enough pressure and insecurities. I admit that I am not confident enought to wear bikini, but dear, this is such a confidence-booster post. I will rock a bikini soon. Yay!
Yay! You go and rock that bikini!
I’m not quite sure how my body is going to look post-baby or how confident I will feel yet.
It took me 24 years before I felt confident enough to wear a bikini the first time round though as it has always constantly been drilled in to us how perfect our beach bodies ‘should’ look. Rather sad really.
It’s so sad! Pregnancy does change your body, some more than others. I think you have to see them as positive changes from the journey your body has been on, although I know it’s not always as easy as that.
I hate how this pressure ruins Summer for some. The only way to get beach body ready is to get your body to the beach!
Absolutely!!!!
I totally agree with you on this - I’ve still got huge issues about wearing a swimsuit but I’m gradually getting there. I always do wear a swimsuit on holiday, but it takes me about 3 or 4 days to stop caring about what other people might be thinking. Crazy really, because I don’t sit on the beach critically assessing anyone else, I’m too busy enjoying myself!
It’s so weird how we think everyone is making comment on us, when really their focuses on themselves.
I just avoid magazines like that but I agree, it’s such a messed up attitude. Put your body in a bikini, then you have a bikini (on a )body. I don’t do beach holidays so I only wear a swimsuit if we are going swimming, but still there should be no reason to feel self conscious.
I completely agree and I LOVED your article. I am from South Africa, and over here Dove ran a campaign called “the real beauty” campaign (see http://www.dove.co.za). I had their calendar pinned up on my refrigerator last year as a reminder of how beautiful real women are, curves and all. I am doing my damnedest to be healthy and eat right and exercise regularly, but I still have tummy wobbles and full thighs, but none the less I still feel sexy when I put on my tight fitting jeans for a night out with my fiance (who adores all my fuller bits and jiggles). So in short - you rock and I salute you!
The idea of a perfect bikini body makes the lead up to any beach holiday so stressful when it should be an exciting time!! Great post, it’s reminded me that there’s more to life than that ‘perfect’ bikini bod XD
I haven’t felt comfortable in a swimsuit in over 20 years. Truth be told, I probably never did, but I don’t even own one anymore if that tells you anything.