Feeling #Proudinmybikini and why you should too

It has taken me 2 and half years since the birth of my youngest son, Alexander, to feel confident in a bikini again.

Although I’d donned one pieces while on holiday or in the garden, I felt I couldn’t wear a bikini after 2 babies (and 2 c-sections).

However, over the last year, my confidence has slowly returned and when the family recently headed out to Jamaica, my red Boux Avenue bikini came with me.

After two years of refusing to bare my midriff in public, it was time to let this real mama’s body shine. 

I do believe we’re going through a bit of  a body revolution at the moment. Women, and men (oh hey Dad Bod) are standing up to the unrealistic expectations cast on our physical appearance.

This change in mood was especially evident in this Spring’s protests to the Protein World’s ridiculous and irresponsible ‘Are you beach body ready?’ ads.

Models in commercials and glossies are mostly privy to 10 hours of photoshopping and editing creating false ideals, so it’s down to we bloggers to showcase what untouched bodies look like.  And progress is happening. 

As a real woman (we’re all real right, but someone who is 5’6″ and a UK size 10 not 0) I regularly model for style brands that hire me for who I am (I’m also an ambassador for Nova Harley and The Essential One) and even had a swimwear shoot for heidi klein whom I’ve worked with for a while, out in Jamaica, and have another shoot for them back in the UK soon.

Reality is beautiful, people. 

I do feel good in my own skin, and want other women too. So what if my tummy has lost some definition and I have stretch marks, I’m proud of my physique – it’s made and carried two baby boys and day to day I never think about those marks and when I do it’s positively.

So in Jamaica, I took the decision to embrace my bikini again and that was when something absolutely incredible and unexpected happened.

I asked my husband Peter to take a quick shot of me on my phone in my bikini, a bikini I loved and wanted to showcase. I thought why shouldn’t I show my bikini on social media when thousands of women do so daily…

That picture, in no time at all, has reached 40,000 people so far on FB and is still being commented on over on my Facebook page and instagram with the reaction moving me to tears.

Women from all over the world left comments that they would now wear a bikini or swimsuit with pride, would take their kids swimming when they felt they couldn’t before, and would begin a journey of loving their bodies.

Amazing.

Seeing the ripple of positivity the photograph had – not just amongst my immediate social network – but also beyond, was touching and inspiring, so I set up a the hashtag #proudinmybikini so we women (and men), can all support one another as we embrace our bodies.

Using the hashtag #proudinmybikini, I would love you to share your own pictures rocking your bikinis or swimwear if you feel like it, and I’ll include all the images in a blog post on HonestMum.com at the end of the summer, celebrating women, mamas or not.

Here are some super bloggers who’ve joined me so far. 

Clockwise: Lizzy of What Lizzy Loves, Sarah of Life with the Munchers, Renee of Mummy Tries, Tanya of Mumaleary’s Blog, Sian of You’re Not From Around Here and Charlotte of What Lottie Loves,

It’s about time we all felt proud of our bodies right, you with me?

About Vicki Psarias

Vicki Psarias Vicki Psarias is founder and author of one of the most popular parenting blogs in the UK, Honest Mum and sister style blog Mummy's Got Style Vicki is also a multi-award winning TV Director and Filmmaker. Her website is www.vpsarias.co.uk. Twitter: @HonestMummy.

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