Blogger's 'thick and visible' stretch marks promote body positivity

Nisean Lorde
·2 min read

Instagram model Isabella Mabey (a.k.a. bellafituk) shared a powerful photo of her stretch marks in effort to prove that they are “normal” — and that having them doesn’t mean you’re fat.

“Love yourself,” the 19-year-old U.K. beauty captioned alongside a revealing photo of her in underwear and a sweatshirt, while pointing at her marks. The photo was taken in her “natural form,” with no tensing and no posing.

“This is not a sexy picture, nor is it me trying to look sexy. I really want to make a point about something so natural that a lot of women (and men) get — stretch marks! As you can see, I have a lot on the tops of my legs and my bum and i used to hate them so much.”

Mabey, who follows a healthy diet and workout regimen, said she started puberty at young age, but didn’t stop until last year (age 18) when she hit the final phase: hip widening.

Also see: Blogger gets real about ‘least favourite part’ of her body in powerful post

LOVE YOURSELF ❤ Ive thought alot about posting this picture as i dont want people to get the wrong idea. This is me, in my natural form, no tensing, no posing. This is not a sexy picture, nor is it me trying to look sexy. I really want to make a point about something so natural that alot of women (and men) get- STRETCH MARKS!! As you can see, i have alot on the tops of my legs and my bum and i used to hate them so much. I started puberty young but didnt actually stop until last year when I hit the final phase, hip widening. Within a few short months I had them so bad they looked like I had been whipped and scratched. I had 0 confidence and wouldnt have been seen dead in shorts and even felt uncomfortable in a bikini on holiday. But… you should not let yourself get down about them. They are so normal! My family kept telling me they would fade and they did. They are still thick and visible but having stretch marks does not mean you are FAT. Stretch marks can appear where ever and whenever your body grows quickly and this can also occur when building muscle. Your body needs to readjust and your skin will tighten. I have learnt to love my body and appreciate my curvs. I am not 'skinny' and i am happy with that. Instead i want to build on what i have and become more musclar and curvaceous. Remember to love all your imperfections and embrace them. Tigers, wear your stripes proud! ????????❤ #stretchmarks #wearyourstripes #loveyourself #bodypositivity #bodyconfidence #health #bodybuilding #weightlifting #girlsthatlift #fitnessgoals #musclegrowth #diet #mindfulness #student #dontgiveup #WomenIRL #RealSimple #body4me

A post shared by BellafitUK (@bellafituk) on Mar 23, 2017 at 10:48am PDT

“Within a few short months I had (stretch marks) so bad they looked like I had been whipped and scratched. I had 0 confidence and wouldn’t have been seen dead in shorts and even felt uncomfortable in a bikini on holiday. But… you should not let yourself get down about them. They are so normal!”

The stretch marks are still thick and visible, but Mabey reiterates that “having stretch marks does not mean you are FAT.” Stretch marks can appear whenever the body grows quickly, even when building muscle, as Mabey is attempting.

“Your body needs to readjust and your skin will tighten. I have learnt to love my body and appreciate my curves. I am not ‘skinny’ and i am happy with that. Instead i want to build on what i have and become more muscular and curvaceous.”

“Remember to love all your imperfections and embrace them,” she concludes. “Tigers, wear your stripes proud!”

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