Aly Raisman is back with more body positivity–a few weeks after she was body-shamed by a TSA agent. Two days ago, Aly posted a photo of herself in a bathing suit, explaining how we all have days days of insecurity. Naturally, because it’s Aly, it went viral–with over 165,000 likes and more than 1,600 comments.
So, what did she say that resonated with so many people?
“Wear whatever makes you feel happy and confident. Don’t EVER let anyone tell you how you should or shouldn’t dress. We are all entitled to wear what we want. Females do not have to dress modest to be respected. Be proud of your body. It’s never about the number on the scale it’s about the way you feel. You are all unique and beautiful in your own way. No one is perfect. AND no matter who you are, male or female, we all have those days of insecurity. We are all human. Everyone’s story is important. EVERYONE. You never know what someone is going through. Thank you all for continuing to inspire me each and everyday.”
What I also love about her caption is the fact that she defends women who show more skin–since so many women are shamed for flaunting their bodies. Whether women choose to cover up or wear a bikini, it’s our business. We can defy these stigmas by talking about them and sharing our own stories.
Her post is partly a reaction to the recent criticism her former teammate McKayla Maroney received for for posing in a thong in an Instagram post. Raisman also made sure to think her mom for her genes and confidence with the hashtag, “#IGotItFromMyMomma.” Love it.
That being said, we can apply Raisman’s post and confidence to so many aspects of our lives, like our jobs and beliefs. Asking for what we need–and feeling confident to ask for our worth, whether in a job or in a relationship–shouldn’t make us feel guilty or ashamed.
