ALL Bodies are Bikini Bodies: Embracing Women’s Changing Bodies

This is little Jaiden:

Circa 2010, I was dressed to impress for the white beaches and warm waters of Panama, Florida. If you couldn’t tell, I was not shy in front of the camera and was performance-ready at any given moment.

This girl wasn’t worried about how she would fit into a swimsuit, how other people might judge her appearance, or how her hair would become a tangled mess of sand and saltwater by the end of the day. She just wanted to have fun and stay stylish while doing it. 

15 years later, young adult Jaiden is still obsessed with the beach, but now she is self-conscious about her body image. Summers were now a dreadful reminder of the “dream body” she could never attain, scared and uncomfortable when wearing a bikini. 

I’m sure many people relate to this narrative. What used to be an afterthought during the summer is now an all-consuming dysmorphic monster that we battle. 

But…why? I think a HUGE culprit we can all agree on is the advent of 

SOCIAL MEDIA

You probably have it in some form, right? Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X, and Snapchat. It’s all around us ALL the time; a constant reminder of the comparisons we make as human beings

Not that picture, your cellulite is showing.

Definitely not that one with a triple chin. 

God, I wish I had abs. 

Ugh, this one’s cute, but it looks like you’re trying too hard. 

Forget it, back to doomscrolling. 

But it’s not just social media, it’s also the media we consume in film and television. A repeated narrative that the only attractive bodies are those with little to no body fat. Unrealistic and oftentimes unhealthy, these on-screen bodies do not speak to the vast majority of REAL, unedited bodies we see and live with every day. 

Turning the Tide in Runway Diversity

Fortunately, designers are beginning to paint a more ACCURATE reflection of women’s bodies, not what some people deem as “beautiful”. Strong and healthy bodies should be the only concern, and at the end of the day, no one knows your body better than you. 

Stretch marks, body fat, curves, cellulite, acne, and body hair. THIS IS ALL NORMAL! This is what makes us human and should be celebrated, not criticized. And these are NOT defining traits. A model is a model regardless. Strutting a runway in front of hundreds of people for the first or fiftieth time is a feat in itself and should be acknowledged not just for its diversity but for the courage, confidence, and skill it takes to do so.  

Whether you’re lounging at the pool or taking a much-

needed beach day, the way you look should never override your excitement to soak up the summer sun. 

Empowerment at CAFW

At California Fashion Week, we are committed to championing more runways of female diversity, allowing any model the opportunity to be showcased in our event. Just like little Jaiden, we want everyone to feel confident just as they are and feel connected to our West Coast roots. We are proud to share all the diversity of West Coast culture, knowing that EVERY body is a bikini body. 

So go, go wear that swimsuit and take those pictures. Go lounge and get your tan on. Go build sandcastles in the sand and run in the salty water. There is no age limit to having fun and feeling good. 

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