Mum praised for embracing cellulite and stretch marks in Instagram snap

A blogger is earning praise for reminding women that when it comes to getting your body ready for summer, you shouldn’t feel any pressure to look a certain way.

Sarah Nicole Landry, also known as The Bird’s Papaya, is known for keeping it real about body confidence.

The Canadian mum gained a dedicated online following for being open and honest about her journey towards self-acceptance after a massive weight loss and divorce forced her to reexamine her relationship with herself and the rest of the world.

In a recent post to her more than 400,000 followers on Instagram and Facebook , Landry shared a powerful message about showing up for yourself, no matter what you show up looking like.

“You don’t owe the world a two-piece bikini. You don’t owe them perky boobs and a flat stomach, either. You don’t need to apologise for your bloat that day, or explain why you’ve gained those extra 15 lbs,” Landry began.

“But, it’s also OK if you do. It’s OK to wear a two piece. It’s OK to have perky boobs and a flat stomach. It’s OK to share why you’re bloated. It’s OK to talk about those 15 lbs, perhaps even normalising a flux in weight.”

The mother-of-three also addressed the common misconception within the body positive community that all influencers or public figures remain firmly planted in a stasis of body confidence and acceptance.

As one of the fastest rising faces in the movement, the mother-of-three refuses to not acknowledge the ups and downs of her ever-evolving relationship with her body.

For many people summer and summer fashion can be a time filled with anxiety after months of hiding behind layers of clothing.

The desire to hide or cover up can often prevent people from creating memories with their loved-ones and children, out of fear of being exposed for having “imperfections.”

For Landry, the destination is the journey, and each journey begins with taking the first step of accepting the invitation to the beach or the pool party, in whatever way you please.

“Just come. ⁣Just show up. ⁣However you are today,” she continued.

“If you wear full jeans in the summer because you’re not ready for shorts, thanks for being here. If you rock a two piece and own your cellulite and stretch marks, thanks for being here. ⁣If you’re bloated and PMSing or holding extra weight but came anyway, thanks for being here.⁣If you’ve got perky boobs and a flat stomach, naturally or not, thanks for being here. ⁣The point is not (and never will be!) HOW you show up. The point will always be just that you DID.”

⁣Landry’s post has sparked an overwhelming response from her followers, many of whom are mothers, heeding her advice and choosing to take the first step towards nurturing their own body love.

“Because of you, I’m taking my 2.5 year old swimming today at a public pool. Ever since I have had him I feel extremely uncomfortable in a bathing suit. But today, today I’m doing it for him,” one follower wrote.

“I can’t let my zero confidence ruin my kid’s summer. He deserves to have fun. So I’m gonna be the fun mom. I’m gonna embrace that cellulite and those stretch marks and and I’m gonna have a damn good time.”

Another added, “Yes! A million times yes! It can be so hard to step away from the mirror inspecting all of your perceived flaws. I put my new bathing suit on yesterday afternoon, stared at myself in the mirror, almost took it off and put my clothes back on. Instead, I gave myself a smile, wrapped a towel around my waist and walked to the beach with my 12-year-old daughter.”

“As we swam and chatted, my daughter looked at me and said, ‘You look so happy and peaceful,’” the commenter continued. “A moment she wouldn’t have seen if I let my ‘flaws’ keep me engulfed in my oversized maxi dress.”

Words by Elizabeth Di Filippo

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