As Spring Break approaches faster than you can say the words themselves.
Many college students are leaving to hit the beach. As they prep for this large excursion begins the inevitable swimsuits begin to be packed. After living in what at times may seem like an arctic tundra, the thought of shorts let alone a bikini has not even crossed your mind for months. You begin to look online and social media to find the most trendy swimsuits for this year's spring break season.
The thought of all of the Instagram and bikini model looking photos scrolling through your phone start. With those types of photos, in turn, come insecurities. We have all experienced them and heard plenty of them such as "I hate my thighs!", "I'm so flat chested", "I have stomach rolls", etc... These insecurities begin to reach their peak season as Spring Break begins. People are realizing what the "Freshman Fifteen" really entails as they set off to sunny skies and beaches.
Instagram model expectations:
Women and even men will begin to face heavy body insecurities especially if they are not seeing the results they have been hoping for. They will begin to have a decreased level of confidence in their body and therefore themselves. This is not the time they should be so encompassed with self-doubt. They should be more focused on making memorable memories with close friends that will last a lifetime. This is an announcement as the "Swimsuit Season" falls upon us we want to encourage self-love.
What you will actually see on the beach:
Just the other day a conversation witnessed was the discussion of Disney star, Hilary Duff. If you don't know who Hilary Duff is, she is a popular Disney Channel star from the early to mid 2000's. She starred in the TV show Lizzie McGuire, A Cinderella Story, and several other movies at that time. Hilary Duff was a star that many Disney watching young girls looked up to.
Hilary Duff was a star that demonstrated a very positive body image to youth. She made girls feel like it is okay to have a chest and thighs while continuing to be viewed by media and society as "beautiful". The confidence she radiated gave other girls the same notion that they can radiate the same level of confidence while being comfortable with their own bodies. As the Disney Channel as evolved and stars have changed there has been a large fluctuation in what some may not see as "roles models".
Hilary Duff has been outspoken even today on social media today about Body Positivity. She has been quoted saying "I didn't always love my legs, but as I've grown, I've learned to love and celebrate myself, just as I am...I began to realize that my legs are strong, and they carry me every single day." She spoke out against the recent tabloids that were body shaming her as she was on the beach with her five-year-old son. She took to Instagram to stick it to them.
Hilary Duff continues to be someone we all can look up to and model the same confidence she wants all young women to have.
