Need proof that women of all shapes and sizes get stretch marks? Not only does Kayla Itsines --you know, the fitness trainer with the insanely toned bod and more than 7 million Instagram followers -- have 'em but she tells her followers, "...I love them." In a shot revealing marks along her hip, she goes on to say, "I am a woman, and I am proud to be one and have these marks!" Healthy body, healthier mindset!
Sure, companies like ASOS may have hopped on the #bodypositive trend to try to sell us stuff, but we definitely don't mind the brand's summer 2017 swimsuit campaign that advertised gorgeous models' stretch marks along with trendy two-pieces.
Image via ASOS
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Model Behavior
No surprise here: the stylish Sports Illustrated model was ahead of the body positive trend, taking to Instagram back in 2015 to share a shot of the stretch marks on her thighs. "Stretchies say hi!" she nonchalantly captioned the shot, letting her multitude of followers know the marks are NBD in her mind. A few years later, she let us know that she still feels "whatevs" about them.
We're used to Instagram influencers like Lexi Mendiola uploading carefully curated shots making their lives -- and bodies -- seem nothing less than perfect, so it was refreshing to see the young social media star post a stretch mark-baring swimsuit shot. "It's taken me quite a while (23 yrs to be exact) but putting this out there to remind myself and everyone that it's really nothing to get all worked up or feel weird about," she said. "Here's to learning to love the lines." Excuse us while we hit "like."
Don't believe stretch marks can be beautiful? Spanish artist Cinta Tort Carto literally turns them into works of art, decorating the grooves with a rainbow-array of shades that serve to celebrate rather than hide the female body. She also applauds periods, body hair and vaginas via art on Insta, in case you're feeling self-conscious about any of those things, too.
