After Julie Cross heard local teenagers saying she was ‘over the bikini,’ she was left feeling depressed and deflated.
Post by Julie Cross.
But a few days later, she decided to take to her Facebook page in protest, posting a snap of her in a bikini - arms in the air.
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The size 10 mother took to her Facebook page in a public demonstration against the unrealistic body images women are bombarded with on a daily basis - and to inspire women everywhere to love their figures.
‘We need to feel good about ourselves and know that we can handle this, because life will give you some challenges.’
In her post, Julie revealed that she has child-bearing hips, stretch marks on her stomach and cellulite on her legs, but despite this she is happy, healthy and proud of her body.
The post received over 140,000 likes in 24 hours, as people from around the globe shared her inspiring message with others.
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Speaking to the Daily Mail Australia, the Brisbane woman said: ‘We’re still not feeling good enough and constantly comparing ourselves and while we’re doing that I don’t think we’ve got the foundation to really deal with big things in our lives.’
‘We need to feel good about ourselves and know that we can handle this, because life will give you some challenges.’
Julie added that women are taught to compete against each other, when really we should worry less about this and focus on supporting each other.
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She also believes passionately in ‘loving your body’ - so much so that we don’t over or under eat, make sure we exercise, and relax into a size that is comfortable for us.
‘Just getting up and going for a walk in the morning is one of the most under-prescribed, under-utilised, natural, feel-good things that we can do.’