Whether it’s for dressing, being hired, or going out to eat, people with larger bodies often face discrimination. Whether intentional or not, the looks can be hurtful and create insecurities in the person receiving them.
Marie Southard Ospina shares her experience as a curvy woman on the beach.
As the sunny days and beach outings approach, many women start dieting. In contrast, Marie Southard Ospina decided to embrace the trend that every body is a beach body and that everyone should feel confident enough in their skin to wear a swimsuit.
So, while on vacation in Spain, she chose to wear a two-piece swimsuit for the first time, showing off her curves, cellulite, stretch marks, and scars. Accompanied by her partner, she walked along a crowded beach and noticed various reactions.
Some were positive—people were neutral, not staring at her, or offering big smiles—while others were more negative.
She recounts one of the most striking negative behaviors she experienced: a young couple who mocked her. The young man saw her pass by and stifled a laugh before forcing his girlfriend to look at her as well. They then openly showed their disdain.
Fortunately, her experience wasn’t entirely negative as she noticed many curvy women wearing similar swimsuits and humorously claims that all this time, she must have been going to the wrong beaches!
