Fashion
From Davina McCall to Leigh-Anne Pinnock, the celebs proving bikini season is for EVERY body
BIKINI season is here! Contrary to popular belief, the itsy bitsy, the tankini, the cossie – whatever swimwear you choose – is for EVERY SINGLE BODY.
Fashion editor Clemmie Fieldsend celebrates the celebrities looking sensational in swimsuits.
They proudly show off their stretch marks, cellulite and scars, proving that the unrealistic ideal of the slim, tanned and toned bikini body is dead in the water.
Lizzo
Big is beautiful: Self-confessed “Big Girl” Lizzo has long campaigned for beauty standards to be more inclusive.
The Good As Hell singer, 33, isn’t afraid to show the world her body and posts unedited pictures of herself in swimwear.
INSTAGRAMLizzo has long campaigned for beauty standards to be more inclusive[/caption]
Simone Biles
Gym-tastic: US Olympian Simone is among the most decorated gymnasts of all time, with 32 Olympic and World Championship medals, tied with Ukrainian gymnast Larisa Latynina.
But at just 24 years old, she has faced criticism for her strong and powerful shape, feeling the pressure when it comes to her appearance.
INSTAGRAMSimone is among the most decorated gymnasts of all time[/caption]
She refuses to get too weighed down by trolls though, saying: “I am standing up for myself,” and “Nobody should tell you or me what beauty should or should not look like.
Most read in Fabulous
Leigh-Anne Pinnock
Growing and glowing: Seeing your body grow through pregnancy can be daunting but Leigh-Anne, 29, has embraced her changing shape.
She is a veteran bikini hanger, usually posting pictures showing her taut tummy.
instagram.com/leighannepinnockPregnant Leigh-Anne has embraced her changing shape[/caption]
The Little Mixer has shared images of her growing bump and says that even though she has struggled with swollen hands and feet, she is proud of her body.
“Time to give my body some credit,” she wrote.
Malin Anderson
Cellulite celebrator: Former Love Islander Malin shares affirmations and sexy swimwear selfies, often talking about how she has learned to love her body.
The 28-year-old has overcome an eating disorder to urge followers to love themselves.
INSTAGRAMMalin shares affirmations and sexy swimwear selfies[/caption]
She captioned one image: “FREE THE CELLULITE. As we have a super- hot week, I wanna remind you all that cellulite is normal and don’t be shy to get yours out.”
Ashley Graham
Stretch mark superhero: Model Ashley has led a generation of plus-size models.
The 33-year-old American has used social media to spread the body- positive message.
INSTAGRAMAshley has led a generation of plus-size models[/caption]
Following the birth of her first child, Isaac, she showed how she learnt to love her stretch marks.
She says: “When I look at my new stretch marks and the changes that my body went through, it reminds me that, as women, we are all superheroes.”
Selena Gomez
Self-love scars: She might be wearing the colour but singer Selena, 29, doesn’t feel blue about her body.
She had a kidney transplant in 2017 while battling lupus, an autoimmune condition.
INSTAGRAMSelena doesn’t feel blue about her body[/caption]
While she didn’t want to show her scar initially, she said: “Now I feel confident in who I am and what I went through and I’m proud of that.”
Binky Felstead
Postpartum poser: Mum-of-two Binky, 31, recently took to social media to celebrate her body following the birth of son Wolfie.
Having felt under pressure to look good following the birth of India, now four, she said she had embraced her post-baby body.
INSTAGRAMBinky recently took to social media to celebrate her body[/caption]
“I wouldn’t have dreamed of walking around the pool in a bikini almost seven weeks postpartum four years ago.
“However, I’m proud of me and my body for growing two beautiful little humans,” she said.
Michelle Heaton
Mastectomy Mojo: Singer Michelle, 42, had a double mastectomy in 2012 after being diagnosed with a breast cancer gene, but the procedure hasn’t left her without confidence. She looks incredible.
The mum of two realised her daughter Faith could face the same decision and said: “I want her to realise I’m not ashamed of my body and she should never be ashamed of hers either.”
INSTAGRAMMichelle had a double mastectomy in 2012[/caption]
Sharon Stone
Sexy at sixty: Despite being voted the Sexiest Actress Alive – twice – Basic Instinct and Total Recall star Sharon has said that in her forties she struggled to come to terms with how her body had changed.
She felt pressure to have the perfect Hollywood figure and once even locked herself in a bathroom “with a bottle of wine” until she could learn to accept herself.
Social Media – Refer to SourceSharon has said that in her forties she struggled to come to terms with how her body had changed[/caption]
Now, aged 63, – would you believe it? – the Emmy and Golden Globe winner says she feels much more content with her figure and celebrates it on social media.
Davina McCall
Fit in her fifties: Mum-of-three Davina looks flawless at 53 in her swimmers. But just like the rest of us, she too has had some body insecurities in her time. But she has shrugged off trolls’ negative words and says she just “rolls with it”.
The TV regular has worked hard to maintain her svelte figure by hitting the gym six times a week, but says: “Now I have wrinkly skin on my tummy, I have a little varicose vein down one leg, I have flabby bits on my arms, and there’s nothing I can do about it – but I think I look fierce!”
INSTAGRAMDavina looks flawless at 53 in her swimmers[/caption]
Yes you do, Davina.
I THOUGHT WE WERE PAST ALL THIS SHAMING
ALEX LIGHT, body confidence campaigner:
“THIS Year’s 50 Best & Worst Beach Bodies – the good, the bad & the ugly!”
You might read this and instantly think back to the early 2000s, when body shaming was rife. But unfortunately this headline was printed THIS MONTH, in a US magazine called The National Enquirer.
Inside, there were pages of celebrities, papped on the beach, next to cruel captions.
Jennifer Aniston looked “kinda dumpy”, model Tess Holliday was having a “whale of a time at the beach”, Goldie Hawn was “flabby” and Janice Dickinson’s epidermis looked like “a plucked chicken” – apparently!
This is available in newsagents in this country too. I cried hot, angry tears while I read the vicious, cutting words. But I wasn’t crying for me. I was crying for all the people that this feature will undoubtedly harm.
When I was in the thick of my disordered eating and eating disorders, I would hungrily consume these kinds of features.
My favourite game? “Is my body as bad as theirs?” If I perceived it to be (which obviously it never was, because bodies aren’t “good” or “bad”), it meant I was to continue punishing myself with starvation and restriction until it didn’t look as “bad”.
I couldn’t bear the fact that if they had pictures of my body, they’d tear into it in a similar way.
It’s hard for me to admit to all that now, because I have moved on so much since then. But this is what growing up around such overt body shaming did to me – and so many others.
Which is why I felt so angry seeing this cover and feature. I thought we were over this.
I thought we were past the days of looking at a body and deciding if it’s a “good” or a “bad” body, or if it is “beach-ready”. Just to be clear, ALL bodies are worthy of going on the beach, no matter their shape, size or weight.
This feature only massively reinforces the myth that we are valued by how we look and only deserve enjoyment, happiness and success if we are thin – and I’m so pleased there has been so much outrage over it.
My post calling it out went viral and I have never received so many messages from people worldwide who were just as sickened as me. It shows this is absolutely not acceptable any more.
So let’s let it mark the death of the “beach body”. If you have a body, and you go to the beach, you’re beach-body ready. That’s it.
Follow Alex on Instagram on @alexlight_ldn
