When the people over at Swimsuits For All approached me to be involved in an Aussie Beach Babes challenge with three other Aussie bloggers, I was so excited that a little bit of pee came out. Okay, maybe not THAT excited, but definitely thrilled! I live right on the beach and regularly swim laps at my local swimming pool after work most days, so I'm always on the lookout for cute and practical swimwear. I've often lurked the Swimsuits For All website, and I'm so glad I finally took the plunge (pun intended) and gave them a go!
But....
Then I realised that I'd actually have to model swimwear (eek). However, before I got to the photo-taking part, I had a good month of trying each pair out; for the swimsuits to become a staple part of my wardrobe and take a place of pride in my "swimming drawer".
I am in love with my swimsuits and can't wait to show them all to you!
For this first post, I wanted to write a little bit about beach confidence and what I've learned. I used to be the girl who would never swim without a t-shirt and board shorts. Somehow that changed. My sister helped me with this post and taking the photos, and we had a great conversation about body confidence. My sister is a very different shape to me, and by no means "plus size", but she's still had her struggles and insecurities despite that. It's funny how we can think that people who seem to have the perfect body don't struggle with body confidence. It's just not true.
Here are our sisterly tips on how to get your bod in a swimsuit and down the beach without a freak out!
- It all goes downhill from here. Yep, when you're pushing past 50, you may just wish that you had your current body back and had enjoyed it a little more instead of criticizing it for its perceived flaws. Think of your body in terms of the enjoyment and movement it can give you, not in terms of body-fat ratio.
- Don't assume that everybody on the beach is some "enemy" out to judge every roll of fat. It's just not the case! And even if someone does look at you and has a judgmental thought, they'll probably either keep it to themselves (as they should) or they'll get bored and move on to think about something else. Or there's the possibility that someone might look at you and think, "Her swimsuit is cute," or "I admire her confidence." You can't assume that everyone who looks at you is thinking something negative. Also, don't judge other bodies. Be the change you want to see.
- Have a few comebacks ready in your mind just in case someone does say something. I've made up my mind that if someone is ever rude to me, I will come out on top with my witty response. No more 'ducking-my-head-in-shame-because-I-deserve-it' bullshit.
- When it comes to the beach, all bets are off. Everyone has a right to wear what they want and bask in the sun. Including YOU.
- I tend to be an "all or nothing" type person and used to believe that to prove I was body confident, I would have to go dramatically from wearing t-shirts and knee-length board shorts to wearing a bikini. It's simply not the case! Small steps of courage are okay. Start with a cover-up over a one-piece, or a bikini top with board shorts. Don't feel guilty for not being "body confident" enough. It's about finding what works for you.
- Read fashion blogs by people of all sizes. Seeing other plus size babes confident on the beach will inspire you to do the same.
This cover-up is so perfect for the beach, I just love it! The board shorts were part of a duo, but I wanted to bare a bit more skin today. I love these board shorts because they have built in knickers and POCKETS. Soooo good! The matching tankini is pretty cute too, though. You can find the entire swimsuit combo here.
Here's my sister in the same cover up but in a Valley Girl bikini. She's my love! :)
As always, thank you for reading! xx
Want to join us? Simply tag your Beach Babe photo on instagram and use the hashtags #S4ADownUnder #s4aAussieBeachBabe
