Body Positivity during Hot Girl Summer
One of the biggest priorities for us women during the summer is to get our bodies “perfect” so we can rock our new bikinis at the beach or pool. We spend so much time worrying about potential stomach rolls or cellulite on our thighs that we do not allow ourselves to enjoy the warm weather. We are too worried about how we look to other people. Do they think I look fat? Are they noticing my weight? Do I look good? These are many questions that women need to stop asking. Instead of worrying about how we appear to others, we need to focus on how we view ourselves. By changing the way we view the “perfect” body, we have the potential to change how much we really get to enjoy our “Hot Girl Summer”.
The first step in changing our mentality about body image is by changing how we picture the “perfect” body itself. Each person is shaped differently. We all have different heights and weights, but we also carry that weight in different ways. It is just unrealistic to have one body standard and hold every single woman to it. The only opinion about our bodies that should matter is our own.
Something that I like to remember is that everyone has a different ideal body type. Throughout history, the ideal body image has changed. In the 50s, women that were busty and more voluptuous with an hourglass figure were considered perfect. Only 10 years later, women were expected to appear more androgynous and thin with a boyish look. The point is, fashions change. We are never going to remain the “perfect woman”, so why should we worry about it? There are always going to be unreachable standards that are placed upon us, and we will always be expected to try and maintain them. So it's simple, don’t. Just enjoy how you are built and know that everyone has an ideal body type. Although, there is something else that is important if you want to enjoy yourself this summer.
The true key to having a Hot Girl Summer is to have confidence. Confidence is key. Nothing is more attractive on a woman than her feeling good in her own skin. I can remember being at the beach and seeing a girl who did not have the “ideal” body type. She had curves and cellulite like many other people. She could have also been considered heavier than many women, but what made her stand out was the confidence she had in her own skin. There was something so attractive about seeing a woman enjoy herself without worrying about the opinions of others. And if she did care, she cared very little about what other people thought about her. I think women, myself included, need to take on this mindset. We are all beautiful in different ways and need to recognize that.
Hot Girl Summer is the time to enjoy ourselves. It's the time to lay out in the sun and drink margaritas with our besties. It is the summer where women should not care about the opinions of anyone or anything. Ladies, know that you are beautiful. Do not let your insecurities get you down. Enjoy yourself. Don’t let anything stop you from having the best summer possible.
