Lesley Miller from Texas took to Facebook earlier this month to post her story about why she waited so long to post a picture of herself in a bikini.
The 21 year old revealed that she has struggled with her body image for as long as she can remember.
In her post, it read: “I've spent the past 18 years of my life waiting.
“I kept my body covered up and hidden away. I told myself that one day I would finally let myself be seen; I would finally do all of the things I dreamed of when I was enough.
“Thin enough, happy enough, confident enough. When my body looked the way that it was "supposed" to.”
Lesley explained that she was “continually ashamed” of her body, and even lied to the woman at Weight Watchers just to join the class and “shed a few pounds”.
When she was nine, Lesley went to weight loss camp, at 11 she had weight loss surgery, and at 15 started cutting herself, because she thought she “deserved it”.
At the age of 20, Lesley revealed that she lost half her body weight in nine months and that is when she became “tired of waiting”.
Lesley admitted: “Now I'm twenty one and I bought my first bikini. EVER.
“You can see it all. Weird bulges and rolls of fat. Hanging excess skin. Stretch marks, cellulite, surgical and self harm scars. Awkward protrusion on my abdomen from my lap band.”
So why did she decide to share her post?
Lesley concluded: “I want to learn to love all of myself, not just the parts I've been told are ‘acceptable’. Because the secret is, I was always enough. And you are too.”
Incredible.
Many people have praised Lesley for her honest post, calling her an “inspiration”.
One wrote: “You are stunning! Your strength and confidence make you even more beautiful! I admire you so much!”
“You are an inspiration to others. Thank you for sharing and live each day to the fullest,” another added.
One said positively: “You are a beautiful woman… Obviously just as much inside as out. You go & rock that bikini my pretty friend!!!”
Read Lesley's full post here.
We love this touching story, and hope Lesley continues to buy bikinis to show off her body!
What did you think of Lesley’s post?
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