Time to normalise stretch marks
SOMEONE recently asked me which part of my body I was most uncomfortable with. My immediate response was: “My tummy!”
The fact that I don’t have a six-pack or even a remotely toned tummy isn’t the reason I’m self-conscious about this part of my body.
In fact, I would be happy to show off my belly rolls. But it’s the skin on my tummy that I find too hideous to look at or even bear to touch.
After three beautiful children my belly is covered in stretch marks. I should be celebrating the fact that my body carried life inside me for nine months and brought another human being into the world.
Instead, I hide the dark, striped markings – an outward sign of the internal changes my body experienced.
Gone are the days when I would consider looking at two-piece swimwear. Even those amazing retro-inspired high-waisted bikini bottoms are not high enough to hide my marks.
When I do manage to gather the courage to go shopping for swimwear, full costumes are my only option. Then I have to buy a cover-up sarong or kaftan to hide the stretch marks that have long been part of my derrière.
Like cellulite, many woman, and men, have stretch marks and are self-conscious about it. Why are we embarrassed and ashamed about something that is natural and common?
We look at those perfectly curated images of women in glossy magazines and on Instagram and aspire to be them, not realising that the images have been photo-edited using sophisticated programs that can make anyone look flawless.
The images create unrealistic expectations which leave us feeling inadequate and insecure.
Thankfully, more and more people are starting to realise this and striving to create awareness about what’s real, that, as women, we come in different shapes and sizes, and that we aren’t perfect and it’s perfectly okay not to be perfect.
While we celebrate the fact that fuller figures are being represented in the media, fashion and beauty campaigns, within that movement, images are still being airbrushed to cover up flaws on a woman’s skin. It seems even though we’re comfortable with our size, our belly rolls and our wobbly bits, we’re too shy to show off our stretch marks.
But, in the same way women have decided to embrace their bodies, some are showing off their stretch marks in a bid to further normalise what ought to be something perfectly natural.
For many years, American model Ashley Graham has been a role model for all fuller-figured women and freely shared images of herself, from glamorous red carpet and runway shots to intimate natural images.
The mother of one is pregnant with twins and has been documenting her pregnancy journey. She recently posted an image on Instagram showing her preggy belly which is covered in thick stretch marks, with the caption: “Justin (her husband) says my stretch marks look like the tree of life.”
What a beautiful way to describe these natural signs of growth!
While this isn’t the first time the model has posted close-up images of her stretch marks, it’s her husband’s comment that sums it up perfectly.
There are few influencers who have opened up and shared images of their marks in an attempt to normalise what too many people consider unsightly.
Three influencers who are leaving their mark:
Sarah Nicole Landry @thebirdspapaya
With more than two million followers, Sarah is famous for unashamedly showing off her post-pregnancy body and the stretch marks that come along with it. Sharing her honest and thoughtful posts about how her body has changed throughout her life is why her following continues to grow. Bekah @fullbodiedbekah
Her bio reads: “An average human learning to accept their body + encouraging you to be kinder to yours.”
In one of her posts showing her belly and her stretch marks that have been highlighted with sparkles, she writes: “Friends, you were not put on this earth to stay small. My stretch marks act as a daily reminder that there is always room to grow, change and evolve.”
Her vibrant Instagram feed and motivational posts keep her 35k followers inspired. @sheis.elle
She might not be a fuller-figured woman but she is testimony to the fact that women of all shapes have stretch marks. The Tanzanian mother of one shares before and after images of how her body transformed after giving birth.
From her the scar from her Caesarian section to the sagging wrinkly skin on her belly, she shows the realness of a mother’s body.