Summer is just around the corner, and so the gyms are filling up and people are pounding the pavements, trying to get 'beach ready' and achieve the perfect 'bikini body.' Exercise is always a good habit to get into and should always be encouraged, but are these summer body goals really healthy ones?
These women are here to remind us that no matter what size or body type you are, you are is always ready for the beach, and every body is a bikini body if you are wearing a bikini. Chelsea Duarte, also known as Cococurve in the list below, gave us her take. “A bikini body is usually a goal for most women and they differ vastly, as women are very happy being all different shapes and sizes,” she told Bored Panda. “Your conventional magazine beautiful body is usually the first thought when trying to shape up for summer but that’s not desirable or achievable for all women. I have a plus size, large frame but my self-esteem in a bikini comes from within.”
“Growing up, I think every girl has body confidence issues but I told myself from a very young age to never hate myself. I always love whatever state my body forms to and respect myself. I don’t hate my body, I don’t give negativity the time of day. I do not follow the beauty trends depicted in social media. I can change if I want to but I’m happy the way I am. Young girls aren’t going to see me and want to aspire to be my size, but they may just learn to love and accept their natural beauty sooner when they see someone like me doing it.”
The fashion world is evolving and becoming more inclusive, with a huge variety of plus-size clothing now available and plus-size models encouraging women to embrace their curves. Chelsea finds the choices and freedom to express herself inspiring. She has taught herself self-love over the years, and chooses to treat her body as though it is a flower growing from a root. “You must take care of it, nourish it to grow, allow the elements to take control and always respect the time it takes to become really something special,” she told us. “Self hate only breeds more hate. No matter how your body forms or how much the ground has to bear of your weight, does it really matter? The heart is what makes you who you are.”
So join Chelsea and these other inspiring women as they explain why simply wearing a bikini is not an act of bravery, and why skin conditions, stretchmarks and cellulite are all part of being human and nobody should feel the need to cover themselves for the sake of others. Go to the beach full of joy and confidence this summer!
(h/t: Delish)
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I'm following her Instagram for a very long time now. She's awesome.
She's probably worked harder than most in order to achieve her goal. You go girl!
Probably the goals of being healthier and being able to move more comfortably.
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People who decide to loose so much weight should receive a free plastic surgery for their efforts to remove the skin excess.
I'm agreeing with you. Having the skin "filled out" with fat cells, it's supported. But once you remove/reduce the size of those fat cells, you end up with sagging skin that DESPITE the health problems it brings is considered a "cosmetic procedure" by USA insurance. (I live here, not sure how other countries handle things). Sagging skin can lead to skin infections because of how moisture can get trapped in the folds. (I have psoriasis while fat. I'm dealing with similar issues right now.). It's not fun at all, especially after the work a person puts in to lose the weight. And yes, even having the weight loss surgery counts as WORK in my book!
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Look this is going to get alot of down votes but girl you dont look great in a bikini HOWEVER it doesnt matter what you look like so you go out wear that bikini and it doesnt matter your inside beauty is all that matters
I commend her for her courage. I would NEVER wear a swimsuit, let alone a bikini if I looked like that.
Come on...yes more power to her, but let's be honest. that is not a good look. a one piece IS OK TO WEAR.
Please don't take this the wrong way because I can tell how much hard work you've done and it is inspiring. There is a television series called "Botched" and also "Botched by Nature". A few seasons ago I saw them help someone else in your position. They too had put in the time and effort to lose a lot of weight and was left with the excess skin. After the doctors were done they left very little mark of the procedure and the person came out looking 85% improved. All that spare skin was removed. Whatever you do in Life I wish you the best.
Chris and Chyppa - if you don't like it, don't look. She isn't shoving it in anyone's face, just enjoying her beach time.
There is nothing like a full figured woman I created a song about it!
Remember any one who says anything negitive about you is really telling you what they are like.
Hey stop seeing what other people say you look like and see what you say you look like.
Great job!!! Such achievements should be a superbrave and superstrong personality. I'm amazed! Bravo!
I don’t think it’s anyone’s business but yours, if you want to wear bikini or not. My self confidence was destroyed a long time ago by a man and now social media and media in general are slowly chipping away what ever was left of it. Every day I wish SO hard, that I could just be a happy person and that this anxiety would just be a memory...
One summer I drew tiger stripes on my stretch marks, as I feel that they are marks of my strength and stamina. Certainly nothing to be ashamed of! Glitter, color, tattoos, whatever aids in you embracing your body and ALL of its features - whether others want to see them or not - you do it! It's YOUR body, love it for all its glory! <3
This photo is amazing! She looks perfect in that swimsuit. It was meant for her!
I don’t care about her nutrition as long as she isn’t hurting anyone. She looks right for her swimsuit. And happy.
You forgot to mention that besides all the affirmations, you look G-D good in pink!!!
At least i can relate to her statement. What matters is how one wears something, not just wearing it. you might look ridiculous trying to 'prove a point' while you could have worn something that you actually look good in.
she is absolutely beautiful! i'm glad that my fellow women are embracing our flaws as i have had body issues since i was 9
I love these posts. I love and envy their confidence. Due to medical reasons, I'm the opposite end of spectrum. I get told daily to 'eat a sandwich' and older ladies feel the need to pat me on the hand and say, 'honey, you're too thin, you don't look good and need to gain some weight.' Really!? I had no clue! I want to eat! I'd love to eat! But a sandwich doesn't fit in the feeding tube stuck in my side.... I'm not seeking sympathy, just wishing people understood that body shaming hurts no matter which end of the spectrum it is. I know I don't look healthy - I'm NOT healthy but I'm trying to get there. I'm too thin, and it's not attractive, I know that. You telling me to eat doesn't change anything. Just like telling someone NOT to eat doesn't change anything. Why can't we just be nicer to each other? Why is that so difficult?
Oh how wonderfully beautiful she looks in that bikini! She makes IT look gorgeous (not the other way around) ☺
Mine too! I LOVE to swim and hang out at the beach OR the pool. YAY summertime!!
You go, there shouldn't be such a problem with worrying about body image but I known we all do it and so do I, this is a wonderful and inspiring statement
If the people who shame other's bodies had some compassion and saw this picture, they'd see a mom who loves her children, not a person whose body is wrong. I see a mother. You are wonderful no matter how you look, people love you just the same.
OMG so true!!! People would tell me my whole life to smile, then when I gave them my natural, happy look, they told me to stop. Do they want a picture of a perfect you, or the actual you? I love photography, despite my negative experiences with it. And I won't force anyone to smile, because being told to smile now makes me frown. D:
Your statement makes me so sad. I agree that it is important to share pictures of bodies like yours (which is flawless btw!) but it saddens me that we need to make a point to share them. That anyone would be ashamed to share vacation pictures of themselves because some jerk along the way made them feel that their body was wrong. There will always be superficial jerks out there. We just need our positivity and acceptance to be louder than than the other c**p.
I got cellulite, stretch marks, but am not plus size and have not had children, it's good to get in some self confidence before I have to deal with tiny offspring. A thank you to these women for the reminders of what truly matters.
If you're not healthy or wear a suit that is way too small, you don't look good. As long as a person is healthy, then great for them. I don't care about their size. Glamorizing obesity is a mistake, though. It should always be a discussion of health, not size.
Some people look good while they are fat. The whole point is that you don’t have to look good to do a god damn thing. People aren’t created just to please your eyes. If that’s the case then all of you ugly people should wear a veil everywhere.
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This is my first two-piece. Ever. I got the courage to wear it in a safe space, where I knew I would be supported. I hope I'll be able to wear it in a more public space, soon, as objectively, it doesn't look half bad, even with the fat... 20431702_1...583e7c.jpg 
You are so pretty and I’m super jealous of your looks and your courage
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As a large woman myself, I'm all about empowerment. However, health is the most important thing. In my case, I am not healthy; my liver is showing signs of distress, and my brain doesn't function as well as it did when I was much healthier. I am pulling myself out of a bad place, and getting back on track. I want to be here for my children for a very long time. I let my kids know that I am not healthy, and I want to show them that it's possible for their mother to be fit and healthy again. For me, I see glamourising obesity as glamourising sickness. I know that's controversial, but I'm basing it purely on my own experience.
You're right, being overweight or underweight, or doing anything that can biologically hurt your health isnt something that should be encouraged. We get that people shouldn't be rude to other bc of that but trying to have an active lifestyle in moderation really helps in the long run.
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I had a vertical incision C-section and didn't wear a bikini for 30 years. I am now 50 and working on being brave enough. IMG_201805...7b2c13.jpg 
They're not glamourizing obesity - they are showing to have confidence and be comfortable in your own skin no matter what you look like. Whether someone is on their way to getting healthier, or unhealthy af. I have seen svelte women that eat like a trucker - def not healthy - that have "ideal bikini bodies" but don't have hailstorms of people pretending they give a c**p about their health. Someone shouldn't feel shamed and ugly and like they need to hide just so that dickheads don't judge them.
Yes you can be overweight and healthy... When that overweight is due to muscle, practice and training. They are morbidly obese from fat. That's not healthy, that's not "being strong" and that's sure as hell isn't beautiful. Seriously get your head out of your a*s...
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I am envious of their confidence. I am not overweight or anything like this but I am too nervous to wear a bikini, it's all in my mind i realize. I wish I could not give a ffff like these women. I feel like I should not wear a bikini unless my body is perfect, which is crazy, but there you have it.
When I was 12 I was on vacation with my family. I had brought a bikini swimsuit and a one piece. We were going to the beach and I put on the bikini. I immediately began to take it off because I hated how I looked. I've always been a little large around the middle and I felt the bikini enhanced that (I swim competitively so I never wore a bikini). I was scared that I would be harassed and body shamed if I wore it at the beach. My mom (read: my hero) came in and told me to not be scared, and to be proud of my body. I said "no I'm fat". She said "no, you are just a little plump and that is natural for a teenager, especially before a growth spurt". I put it back on and it was like I saw myself in a whole new light. I still have body image issues but they were at their worst when I was 12-14.
Nothing wrong with wearing a bikini, but I don't wear one myself, not cause im ashamed of my body but i just don't like that much skin showing, I don't know, im weird
You're not. I'm the same. I don't want to show so much skin to strangers and I don't feel confident in few scraps of material as costume. I don't go in only underwear on daily basics and I won't want to wear bikini (even more revealing then some underwear!) on the beach.
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Well... I mean it's nice to see all these people comfortable in their own skin. But besides the first girl, the others are all weight/and or stretch marks. What about scars? As a very stupid, idiodic teen I made some bad choices which left me with many, many scars. And I see all these girls and women saying that's it's ok to have an imperfect body (in some cases the weight is a choice for them, and they could lose it) yet my body isn't ok, because I have scars (which are permanent by the way, I cant diet and exercise to lose them) and tbh it annoys me. It seems like it's more socially acceptable to be overweight and not healthy than it is to have marks from past screwups years ago!
1. Who said they aren't healthy? 2. Why is it not okay for people to imperfections? Literally every person on the planet has some sort of imperfection so why should we all have to feel like s**t about ourselves? Let's embrace what we were given and just be happy.
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If you're sunbathing, and people gather around, saying ''We need to push it into the water before it suffocates'', you probably need to lose weight.
It's great to see women with confidence! Me, I feel like I have to lose 20 pounds before I can go back my my yoga studio, and of course not doing yoga makes it hard to lose weight, so it's a vicious cycle. Body shamers don't do anyone any favors or improve anyone's health. We'd have much less of an obesity epidemic if everyone had the courage to just get out there and get active without having to look a certain way in a certain outfit.
Wear what you want but let's stop promoting obesity as a good thing. Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, your odds for any or all of those is high. That's facts, so if you want to convince yourself that it's all good, just remember that.
My thing is if you have a big bust I suggest wearing something that has a little more fabric and maybe has straps. Or you might accidentally flash people, trust me I've done it. So embarrassing 😳
So many virtue signallers in the comments. I'm sorry, but no matter how many article are written to try to say " fat is beautiful", it's not. Being so morbidly obese that you're on the verge of dying from a heart attack, diabetes or cancer is NOT beautiful, period.
You know, to each their own... I always had weight issues but never ever let it go so far.
The larger women here are all way bigger than me. Yet I would NEVER wear a bikini and takes everything for me to wear a one piece. I'm super self conscious though. I feel like when I'm out everyone is staring at me (I'm super white so I stick out) on top of not being beach body thin. I don't think I could ever be confident as these fat women and tbh I don't know why/how they are. Obese people have a higher risk of having a heart attack, diabetes, and a lot of other health problems. It's nothing that should be celebrated. I agree we should rely on looks so much, but we shouldn't glorify being unhealthy. that's my 2 cents....
what a revolution - I do not believe in this - they can feel good as much as they want, they have the right to that, yes, no one ever want to deny this to another human being, but mankind was not born those sizes
Why does showing that someone with a bigger body exists mean we're "glorifying" anything?
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How many articles do you go to featuring super models and ask them to stop mainstreaming anorexia? Just curious. Is it really about health, or is it about you wanting fat people to know how you really feel about them?
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Who forced you to click on the article? If someone is holding you hostage, call the police.
Load More Replies... So many women in their 30's and beyond look amazing in swimsuits.
Load More Replies... Nobody is promoting obesity. Simply featuring larger bodies doesn't mean anyone is saying "hey, let's all be obese!"
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And I'm f*****g sick of people acting like having an ounce of fat is the unhealthiest thing in the world. Some people are very overweight, and yep... that's really bad. However, having fat isn't the #1 indicator of a person's health. You can have a little extra fat and still be perfectly healthy. Ask your doctor. Ask ANY doctor. I never see articles showing stick thin models with anyone complaining about them "promoting anorexia," but the instant a person who is above a size 2 shows off their body, everyone flips the f**k out and says they're "promoting obesity." It's nonsense. The mere fact that someone who is larger exists in a public space doesn't mean anyone is promoting everyone be that size.
Load More Replies... Where do you have your MD from? It's not your body so get the f**k over it.
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Every woman on earth wasn't put here for YOU to find attractive. You're not that special. Nobody gives one f**k what you think about anyone else's body.
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If you're not healthy or wear a suit that is way too small, you don't look good. As long as a person is healthy, then great for them. I don't care about their size. Glamorizing obesity is a mistake, though. It should always be a discussion of health, not size.
Some people look good while they are fat. The whole point is that you don’t have to look good to do a god damn thing. People aren’t created just to please your eyes. If that’s the case then all of you ugly people should wear a veil everywhere.
Load More Replies... This is my first two-piece. Ever. I got the courage to wear it in a safe space, where I knew I would be supported. I hope I'll be able to wear it in a more public space, soon, as objectively, it doesn't look half bad, even with the fat... 20431702_1...583e7c.jpg
You are so pretty and I’m super jealous of your looks and your courage
Load More Replies... As a large woman myself, I'm all about empowerment. However, health is the most important thing. In my case, I am not healthy; my liver is showing signs of distress, and my brain doesn't function as well as it did when I was much healthier. I am pulling myself out of a bad place, and getting back on track. I want to be here for my children for a very long time. I let my kids know that I am not healthy, and I want to show them that it's possible for their mother to be fit and healthy again. For me, I see glamourising obesity as glamourising sickness. I know that's controversial, but I'm basing it purely on my own experience.
You're right, being overweight or underweight, or doing anything that can biologically hurt your health isnt something that should be encouraged. We get that people shouldn't be rude to other bc of that but trying to have an active lifestyle in moderation really helps in the long run.
Load More Replies... I had a vertical incision C-section and didn't wear a bikini for 30 years. I am now 50 and working on being brave enough. IMG_201805...7b2c13.jpg
They're not glamourizing obesity - they are showing to have confidence and be comfortable in your own skin no matter what you look like. Whether someone is on their way to getting healthier, or unhealthy af. I have seen svelte women that eat like a trucker - def not healthy - that have "ideal bikini bodies" but don't have hailstorms of people pretending they give a c**p about their health. Someone shouldn't feel shamed and ugly and like they need to hide just so that dickheads don't judge them.
Yes you can be overweight and healthy... When that overweight is due to muscle, practice and training. They are morbidly obese from fat. That's not healthy, that's not "being strong" and that's sure as hell isn't beautiful. Seriously get your head out of your a*s...
Load More Replies... I am envious of their confidence. I am not overweight or anything like this but I am too nervous to wear a bikini, it's all in my mind i realize. I wish I could not give a ffff like these women. I feel like I should not wear a bikini unless my body is perfect, which is crazy, but there you have it.
When I was 12 I was on vacation with my family. I had brought a bikini swimsuit and a one piece. We were going to the beach and I put on the bikini. I immediately began to take it off because I hated how I looked. I've always been a little large around the middle and I felt the bikini enhanced that (I swim competitively so I never wore a bikini). I was scared that I would be harassed and body shamed if I wore it at the beach. My mom (read: my hero) came in and told me to not be scared, and to be proud of my body. I said "no I'm fat". She said "no, you are just a little plump and that is natural for a teenager, especially before a growth spurt". I put it back on and it was like I saw myself in a whole new light. I still have body image issues but they were at their worst when I was 12-14.
Nothing wrong with wearing a bikini, but I don't wear one myself, not cause im ashamed of my body but i just don't like that much skin showing, I don't know, im weird
You're not. I'm the same. I don't want to show so much skin to strangers and I don't feel confident in few scraps of material as costume. I don't go in only underwear on daily basics and I won't want to wear bikini (even more revealing then some underwear!) on the beach.
Load More Replies... Well... I mean it's nice to see all these people comfortable in their own skin. But besides the first girl, the others are all weight/and or stretch marks. What about scars? As a very stupid, idiodic teen I made some bad choices which left me with many, many scars. And I see all these girls and women saying that's it's ok to have an imperfect body (in some cases the weight is a choice for them, and they could lose it) yet my body isn't ok, because I have scars (which are permanent by the way, I cant diet and exercise to lose them) and tbh it annoys me. It seems like it's more socially acceptable to be overweight and not healthy than it is to have marks from past screwups years ago!
1. Who said they aren't healthy? 2. Why is it not okay for people to imperfections? Literally every person on the planet has some sort of imperfection so why should we all have to feel like s**t about ourselves? Let's embrace what we were given and just be happy.
Load More Replies... If you're sunbathing, and people gather around, saying ''We need to push it into the water before it suffocates'', you probably need to lose weight.
It's great to see women with confidence! Me, I feel like I have to lose 20 pounds before I can go back my my yoga studio, and of course not doing yoga makes it hard to lose weight, so it's a vicious cycle. Body shamers don't do anyone any favors or improve anyone's health. We'd have much less of an obesity epidemic if everyone had the courage to just get out there and get active without having to look a certain way in a certain outfit.
Wear what you want but let's stop promoting obesity as a good thing. Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, your odds for any or all of those is high. That's facts, so if you want to convince yourself that it's all good, just remember that.
My thing is if you have a big bust I suggest wearing something that has a little more fabric and maybe has straps. Or you might accidentally flash people, trust me I've done it. So embarrassing 😳
So many virtue signallers in the comments. I'm sorry, but no matter how many article are written to try to say " fat is beautiful", it's not. Being so morbidly obese that you're on the verge of dying from a heart attack, diabetes or cancer is NOT beautiful, period.
You know, to each their own... I always had weight issues but never ever let it go so far.
The larger women here are all way bigger than me. Yet I would NEVER wear a bikini and takes everything for me to wear a one piece. I'm super self conscious though. I feel like when I'm out everyone is staring at me (I'm super white so I stick out) on top of not being beach body thin. I don't think I could ever be confident as these fat women and tbh I don't know why/how they are. Obese people have a higher risk of having a heart attack, diabetes, and a lot of other health problems. It's nothing that should be celebrated. I agree we should rely on looks so much, but we shouldn't glorify being unhealthy. that's my 2 cents....
what a revolution - I do not believe in this - they can feel good as much as they want, they have the right to that, yes, no one ever want to deny this to another human being, but mankind was not born those sizes
Why does showing that someone with a bigger body exists mean we're "glorifying" anything?
Load More Replies... How many articles do you go to featuring super models and ask them to stop mainstreaming anorexia? Just curious. Is it really about health, or is it about you wanting fat people to know how you really feel about them?
Load More Replies... Who forced you to click on the article? If someone is holding you hostage, call the police.
Load More Replies... So many women in their 30's and beyond look amazing in swimsuits.
Load More Replies... Nobody is promoting obesity. Simply featuring larger bodies doesn't mean anyone is saying "hey, let's all be obese!"
Load More Replies... And I'm f*****g sick of people acting like having an ounce of fat is the unhealthiest thing in the world. Some people are very overweight, and yep... that's really bad. However, having fat isn't the #1 indicator of a person's health. You can have a little extra fat and still be perfectly healthy. Ask your doctor. Ask ANY doctor. I never see articles showing stick thin models with anyone complaining about them "promoting anorexia," but the instant a person who is above a size 2 shows off their body, everyone flips the f**k out and says they're "promoting obesity." It's nonsense. The mere fact that someone who is larger exists in a public space doesn't mean anyone is promoting everyone be that size.
Load More Replies... Where do you have your MD from? It's not your body so get the f**k over it.
Load More Replies... Every woman on earth wasn't put here for YOU to find attractive. You're not that special. Nobody gives one f**k what you think about anyone else's body.
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