Every day, we’re bombarded with headlines about so-and-so celeb’s hot bikini pics. So when we saw the latest viral bikini pic this week getting attention for a very different (and in our opinion, way better) reason, we were thrilled.
Rachel Hollis, founder of The Chic Site and mother of three, posted a photo of herself rocking a bikini on Facebook with a message that’s empowering moms across the country to flaunt their own perfectly imperfect post-baby bodies:
I have stretch marks and I wear a bikini. I have a belly that’s permanently flabby from carrying three giant babies and…
Posted by The Chic Site on Saturday, March 21, 2015
Hollis told Cosmopolitan that the responses have been overwhelming and humbling. “People have been so positive and writing the most beautiful, inspiring things,” she said. “I love hearing that someone is going to wear a bikini for the first time in 20 years or that this picture changed their perspective.”
As for the haters — which of course comes with the territory of posting anything about yourself online— Hollis said she doesn’t even need to respond to them herself. Other commentors and supporters “would jump in and defend the post before I even had a chance to,” she marveled.
The photo has racked up almost 400k Facebook likes — many of which Hollis has personally replied to. The 32-year-old mom told Today.com that her photo was taken one week after she completed her first marathon. “My body is never going to be smaller than it is right now, so if there’s ever time to show off your belly, this is probably it,” she said.
Channeling that self-confidence has made a huge impact that Hollis never would have imagined, and now thousands of women are inspired to rediscover their own and learn to love — and flaunt — their own beautiful post-baby bodies. We love it!
READ MORE: Drew Barrymore’s Solid Post-Baby Body Advice for Moms
