I dread swimsuit shopping every summer. Not only does it feel uncomfortable to bare all on the beach, but it exposes parts of me that are pasty, dimpled and shapely.
Gulping down Pinterest detox smoothies (hoping drastic changes take place within the next five minutes) and dragging myself to the mall to shop swimsuits is a feat in itself. I stroll past storefronts of size zero models in a potential swimsuit purchase. I mutter, "those photoshopped b*****s," but it still settles into my psyche I will never look that gifted in my swimsuit.
Lord knows I love a racy, strapped swimsuit as much as the next 20-something. But why isn't my full-figured family represented? Seeing curvy models in a swimsuit promotional at the store entrance is like a support-group-welcome-wagon that cheers me on to the checkout lane. "Love your body and bare it all!" Suddenly, I'm juggling multiple swimsuit sets and all inhibitions are banished!
Let's take a moment to scold Victoria's Secret. With $6.1 billion in sales last year, I know plus-size girls are driving sales, too. So, where's the love, VS?
"The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" is criticized for their "perfect body" campaigns and under-representing plus-size women! Um, hello? Have you seen Lizzie Miller and Tara Lynn, of whom are beautiful full-figure models?
Even as a 20-something, I still wince at the fashion show models and secretly wish I could kick them off stage and force feed them donuts (one less to compete with, in my opinion). Of course I would never do that. Maybe. Who knows. The point is, what message are we teaching young people about a beautiful body?
When was the last time you saw your mother's body in a swimsuit campaign with varicose veins, a shapely tummy and sagging breasts, all of which she can thank you for. I'm tired of large brands shoving skinny girls down my throat and telling me the flavor is sexy when I taste something sour. Somebody quit photoshopping and show us what is real!
Walking past Victoria's Secret with confidence nosediving, my jaw dropped when I spotted Aerie's swimsuit promo of a full(er)-figured model. Love handles, thick thighs and...wait, a stretch mark! That's me, people!
At that moment, I strutted past VS and took my business and my full-figured booty over to Aerie. An Aerie employee told me Aerie has quit photoshopping models and feature models more relatable to the average women. "#ConfidenceBoosted." The girl in the photo above is not as full-figured as I'd like to see, but it's a step in a better direction.
So ladies, if you are looking for swimsuits this season and want to invest your capital into a company with "curve" appeal and preaching the message, "A body for every body," skip the crap ads at Victoria's Secret.
