My Bikini body…is beautiful

As a little girl I always loved the beach.  I loved being in the sun, by the water, just soaking up the rays.  I loved how my hair looked after being in the ocean, I loved the feeling of walking through the sand (not a fan of playing in the sand for the record though lol) but one thing I did not love was being in a bathing suit at the beach.  I can remember wearing shorts and a t-shirt at the beach or even when I went to a pool.  I can remember putting on beach cover-ups as soon as I got out of the water so no one could really see my body.  Being in swimsuit caused me major anxiety and the hatred for myself and my body was just so intense. 

Strangely enough it never stopped me from going on a plethora a Caribbean vacations over the last 15 years.  My love for the beach and the sun was greater than my total hate for my body.  But, there comes a point in a woman’s life where she needs to address the immense hatred she has towards herself because let’s be honest…it’s almost like being in a prison 24/7…the prison that is your body.

Your body goes everywhere with you.  It helps you accomplish the things you do in life.  It helps you get from point a to point b and back home to bed every night.  Your body was meant to be loved.  It was meant to be cherished.
Over the last couple years I’ve been on a journey to embrace my body and I’ve taken it a step further to love my body, every curve, lump, bump and roll.  I got to the place that I was comfortable in a swimsuit and then I got comfortable wearing a high waisted 2 piece bikini and this past week I took it up a notch by wearing a normal bikini…this meant my tummy was out there for all to see.  When I packed my bag for my trip I only packed bikini’s – 1 for each day.  There was no chickening out.  I was jumping in with both feet.

And guess what….I’m still alive!  I did not die, I did not cover up, I did not feel ashamed.  The first day was a little nerve wracking but by the end of my trip the ‘bold’ statement I thought I was making wearing a bikini just felt normal.  I felt even more comfortable in my skin and could actually look in the mirror and say to myself ‘damn, I look good’.  I actually met a mother and daughter on the trip and they looked forward to seeing what my bikini of the day was.  Their fav one was the one I wore on my last day by Becca Etc. Swimwear.  It was the one I was most nervous about wearing because it was a white background and not black and I just loved it. 

Since returning home from my trip and posting the pics of me in bikinis, I’ve had so many women leave me comments about how I have inspired them to be comfortable in a swimsuit.  And that if I can wear a bikini, they sure has heck can wear a one piece or even a bikini. 

Ladies, it’s time to stop covering up.  It’s time to stop hating the beautiful body that God created for you.  It’s time to live your life bold and proud in your skin.  It’s time to see all of you as beautiful – just not parts of you, the whole package.  You are the whole package!

So….without any further adue….take a look at the bikini’s I wore on my trip (and some of my outfits too) 

​Stay Beautiful,