Jessica Kane is tired. The beauty and fashion blogger is tired of the faux compliments that commend her for having the courage to wear a bikini just because she doesn’t fit a preconceived standard of what’s the “right” size to wear one.
“THIS WAS NOT BRAVE,” Kane wrote on a Facebook post about posing in a bikini on the beach. It’s simple: She loves herself the way she is.
“I’ve been told how brave I am for not having a coverup, but going with out (sic) a wrap would only take bravery if I cared what others thought of me, but I don’t,” she continued. “I spend my time worrying about things I CAN control and this day, I was only thinking about how fab I felt and how much sun I was catching.”
Kane then goes on to school the naysayers on what the true meaning of “brave” really is.
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“Things that DO take bravery? A family battling tragic illness, a mother trying to beat addiction, a person trying to break free of domestic violence, reaching out for help when you have already planned your suicide and feel like you can’t breath (sic) one more day. THAT is brave. Not wearing a swimsuit at the beach. LIVE life and only worry about what really matters.”
Her message is an important one, especially since summer — and the much-feared bikini season — is rapidly approaching. Too many women are going to skip a fun event because of a fear they don’t have the “right” type of bikini body, as decreed by others. It’s time we stop. If not for our own sake, for the sake of young girls learning about what it means to be beautiful and comfortable in their own skin.
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“What if we let the critics in our head win?? What if you turn down that pool party invite?? Your happiness will suffer in exchange to make someone else more comfortable with THEIR own issues, our children’s self esteem will suffer and they will think this is how they should be as well (why should they love themselves unconditionally when they don’t see you doing that?),” Kane continued in a separate blog post.
“… Eff the critics babygirl, and eff anyone else’s version of beauty if it forces you to deny embracing moments like these… live your life NOW.”
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