Summer is in full swing, and if you live in Florida (or anywhere that's hot and sunny) you're most likely spending way more time in way less clothing. I love going shopping for new bathing suits, beach towels, sunglasses and everything sunshine-related. But, the one thing I absolutely despise? The phrase "bikini body".
You're lying to yourself if the first thing you don't picture when you hear that phrase is a petite, skinny girl with a defined stomach and fit legs. You know, the ones you see gracing almost every magazine cover, clothing ad and commercial. And, these are just the tip of the iceberg. If you mix in sexist comments made by our male counterparts, as well as cruel judgments made by other girls, you get a ridiculous societal standard.
The pressure surrounding girls to fit the infamous "bikini body" image is disgusting.
Personally, I'm not 100% thrilled with how my body looks—but is anyone ever 100% happy with their appearance? Of course not. No one is perfect. If I express how I wish my stomach was a bit more toned, people always reassure me, "Oh but you're so skinny!" or, "But you're already so small!". They're not wrong. I'm a petite person, but that doesn't mean I don't want to change a one or two things about myself.
On the other hand, I get the people who say, "If you're so unhappy with how you look, go to the gym," or "Do something about it." In a way, they're right too. I could get up at six a.m. and go to the gym, I could control my diet better and I could do something about it. But the problem is, I like sleep way too much, along with cheese fries, pizza, iced coffee, burgers, tacos...you get the picture. Also, I work 30-40 hours a week, take online classes, write and have a social life. It's hard to squeeze a consistent workout schedule in there.
Despite all this, am I going to let it stop me from rockin' a two-piece to the beach? Hell no. What people don't seem to understand is that not every girl is wearing a bikini to "please" them. We wear what we want because we want to and because it literally feels like a billion degrees outside. Be grateful that I'm wearing anything at all.
The problem isn't with how someone looks, it's with how you choose to look at them.
So this summer, if you want to dedicate your time to the gym and get super fit, do it. If you want to binge watch Netflix and eat snacks until two a.m. instead, do it. Either way, when you step onto the beach or into the pool, you're going to look great no matter what. Just regardless of what you do, make sure you're doing it for yourself—not society's bullshit expectations.
