Ashley James, star of the reality show Made in Chelsea, took to her social media to post a video in which she appears in a bikini to showcase her real body.
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In the clip, the 37-year-old British presenter showcases her body while commenting that “all bodies” are “bikini bodies,” highlighting her hairy legs, spots, and the natural folds of her belly.
“Sometimes I feel silly posting stuff like this these days, but then I think about the girl and woman I was, who tortured herself over every enlarged part of her body – and I do this for her [and] for you, if it’s still you,” she wrote in the caption of the post.
She also commented on how difficult her journey has been to love her body. “What’s ironic, in a way, is that [my body] is the oldest it’s ever been, I’ve given birth and breastfed two children and I’m not the thinnest version of myself – like when I was a model,” she said.
“Basically, all the things were made for women to fear – getting older, having children ‘ruining’ your body, not trying to be small, shriveled, and empty. What I’ve learned is that feeling [beautiful] and confident doesn’t come from being the smallest and most shrunken version of yourself, with zero ‘flaws,’ but just from learning to accept yourself.”
“So when I think about making this kind of post, I shrink a little, but I look around at diet culture and talk about Ozempic, and a return to ‘thin’ as a trend and I think it’s important to keep pointing that out. Keep fighting,” the muse analyzed.
After reflecting on the life she led in her twenties, she took the opportunity to send a message to her followers: “Now I live a life free from restrictions and diets, and I exercise for fun and not to punish myself, and I wish I had that confidence when I was younger.”
“How different life could have been. Now I love my body, not for how it looks, but for everything it allows me to do. I want that for everyone,” she concluded.
Photo and video: Instagram @ashleylouisejames. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.