Curvy me in a bikini – do I dare?
I am always trying to challenge myself regarding my own comfort level with my body (thus my foray into a women’s nude yoga class–a story for another time). So, at the end of swimsuit season last year, I decided to buy myself a cute, skirted bikini.
I’ve wanted to wear a two-piece swimsuit since, well, forever, but I’ve never had the nerve. However, when I saw a version of this cute INC International Concepts suit in a size 16, I took it to the dressing room to try it on.
Even under the cold flourescent glare of the fitting room lights, the suit looked cute. I liked the cut and the skirt was just the right amount of flouncy. I took it on and off several times, and each time I liked it on more than the last. The thought crossed my mind: this suit is meant for tall, lean, size-16s, not 5’5″ size-16s. But, I let that thought go, and bought my first bikini.
I took the suit for a test drive at the complex pool last season when I figured that no one would be around. I was pleased.
But the real test came this weekend, at our homeowner’s association pool party. Did I have the nerve to wear my (not so)-itsy-witsy-teeny-weeny black-and-white skirtini in front of all my neighbors? Could I sit in a lounge chair by the pool with 30 other people?
I rarely feel self-conscious around clothes and public settings. If I like how I look, that’s good enough for me. So, I screwed up my courage, put on my cute sarong cover-up, and headed to the pool. My reaction when I arrived really surprised me: I couldn’t bring myself to remove my cover-up.
I had the following dialogue with myself:
Just take off your cover-up and get in the pool.
But, I don’t know if I’m ready to be known by my neighbors as “the fat girl in the bikini?”
Didn’t you make peace with the whole “fat girl” thing a long time ago?
Yes, but, remember what they say on “What Not To Wear”: You may not care what you look like, but the rest of us have to look at you.
Anyone offended by you in a bikini by the pool can avert their eyes. Just take off the sarong and do it.
So, I did. And no one screamed out in disgust or ran in horror.
And how did I look in my bikini?
Curvy me in a bikini, do I dare? I did, and I do.
13 comments
You look absolutely fabulous! And you’ve inspired me to post a photo of myself in my new bikini (got it last week!), once I get a chance to take a photo.
Thanks, Julia. The same dialogue about wearing the bikini at the party went through my head when I posted the picture, but I’m glad I did it. I hope everyone who so desires whips out their bikinis and wears them with pride.
WOW! You truly inspire me. I look forward to the day when I can do that. But, my God, do I have work to do.
You are SO beautiful!
p.s. Don’t forget the sunscreen (wink)
You ROCK!!! That is so awesome!
you look SO beautiful!!!!! you are such an inspiration!
Now I need to get myself in one of those lol
You go girl! And you look fabulous. Love the blog as well… keep it curvy!
ps: Having been anywhere between the low end of a size 6 and the high end of a size 14… I find that the hardest part of having curves where I wished I didn’t was to find a way to dress well. Which is a lot easier nowadays. The good news about losing weight the healthy way… (my doctor had an opinion about this..:-) is that i get to keep my curves and that i can finally stop importing bras from France!!!!
Angela,
the only way I could tell the difference between you and the model was by you smiling face, and I had glasses on. You looked good.
sd
[...] That’s been my most popular post ever, and it’s not because I look hot in a bikini, although frankly I think I look just [...]
You are an inspiration!
@Kathianne–thanks so much for that.
hey girl! i have never seen this site before but im so happy i found it. i am fourteen and i have hips and a butt and boobs and im sick of being looked at as different because of it! i look like a woman rather than the other girls who look like boys. you look so amazing! youre an inspiration to me.
Super hot!
hey, u r doing great job, im male, for me i love curvy women more than skiny, im married, my wife is curvy too, and i love her body more than any super model. just be ur self, enjoy ur life, i like ur body, and u must like the way u r. have a nice time.
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