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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Why do celebrities never seem to get stretch marks?

102 replies

LilySays · 06/12/2018 09:40

This isn’t a criticism, as I know everyone is different and they look great.

But I watch the Mummy Dairies and Sam, Billie, Ferne etc. all look amazing in bikinis. There are no stretch marks whatsoever. Same with a lot of other Insta accounts/ celebs etc.

Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one who’s stomach got completely ruined by pregnancy. I could exercise (and stop eating biscuits) to improve it but I have a lot of stretch marks that will never go away. I don’t think I could ever wear a bikini again.

Just a bit envious!

OP posts:
Adversecamber22 · 06/12/2018 10:31

A Doctor friend had a theory that if pg when younger as the skin is still firmer it will be more prone to stretch marks. Older skin has more give so less prone. Their words not mine and no idea if true.

thecatsthecats · 06/12/2018 10:32

My elder sister had twins and stretchmarks. My middle sister is mark-free with one, though put more weight on all over than oldest sister, who remained very slim and snapped back after.

I have a fair few burger-based stretchmarks myself. I'm glad in a way that I got overweight, and am now losing it - some people I know who've always been thin struggle with their bodies changing (still look gorgeous to me, but to them they're just not used to being 'heavy'), but I've already been there, done that!

Mishappening · 06/12/2018 10:33

I do think it is genetic. I got no stretch marks during 3 pregnancies - but I did get piles, varicose veins and a bad back - on the whole I might have preferred the stretch marks!

Agree about the air-brushing.

Knittink · 06/12/2018 10:35

I've got some. Don't care in the slightest!

Hisaishi · 06/12/2018 10:37

Anyone who honestly thinks celebrities don't have stretch marks cos of genes/luck/exercise etc must be out of their minds.

Filters. Photoshop. Lighting. Professional photographers. Make up. It is 80-90% those things.

Don't get me wrong, they might have what is considered to be a 'good' body compared to some, but they are by no means perfect.

Kate Moss has loads of cellulite and stretch marks if you see her without photoshop. And she looks great!

I am a size 8, one pregnancy, 39, no stretch marks, but yes, I also have a cellulitey arse. And I don't care! It's my body! Not some kind of disgusting prison that must be starved and distressed and cried over. It's a vessel for getting me from a to b and I will never hate it, even when it gets saggy and wrinkled.

NottonightJosepheen · 06/12/2018 10:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lovemusic33 · 06/12/2018 10:39

I have quite a few stretch marks, mainly in my inner thighs and hips, my mum doesn’t have any. I am a size 10 and this year was the first year have been able to wear a bikini, i still have stretch marks but they have faded a lot, I spent last year working out a lot, going to the gym almost every day to flatten my tummy out, I’m not sure if it was worth it. Bio oil has helped a little and time (my kids are now teenagers), I have also effected the fact that they are a part of me and lots of people do have them.

NottonightJosepheen · 06/12/2018 10:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

paige789 · 06/12/2018 10:44

@DerelictWreck I didn't say they didn't 🤨
Just saying that I know that it works to get rid of stretch marks

LisaSimpsonsbff · 06/12/2018 11:10

I think all the 'well I have no stretch marks so it's just genetics' posts are a bit beside the point (and I don't have any stretch marks from my pregnancy on my stomach either, though the bottom half of my boobs are now covered in them - but obviously you wouldn't see that in a bikini) - of course some women don't get them, but it's unlikely that almost all celebrities fall into that category. Photoshop is a much more likely explanation.

kmc1111 · 06/12/2018 11:40

A lot of celebs do have stretch marks and a bit of loose skin, but they’re slim and fit so it’s only really noticeable when they bend over or are sitting. Katie Holmes, Elsa Pataky, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Garner and Kate Hudson for example look like they have perfect stomachs when they’re standing straight, but at other times you can see the stretch marks and loose skin.

Mostly though it is just genes. Skin elasticity is one of the things that contributes heavily to attractiveness, and celebrities are by and large very attractive, so as a group they’re naturally going to fare better than a group of regular people.

I think there’s also this idea that pregnancy should be an equaliser, but if you didn’t have the body of a model or beautiful actress before pregnancy, there’s no reason to think you should look more similar afterwards.

NameChanger22 · 06/12/2018 11:45

I didn't get any. I've also never had any spots and I don't have wrinkles now I'm old. Good skin runs in our family. We all have terrible hair though. You can't have everything.

JoyofSticks · 06/12/2018 11:45

It's lies, they have stretch marks but they are hidden in order to make viewers feel shit and buy even shittier products to keep some twat on a yacht while women rub chemicals into their bodies in front of a mirror, crying and wishing they looked like someone who doesn't even look like themselves. OK?

OneForTheRoadThen · 06/12/2018 11:50

I know Kim Kardashian had said she had hers removed with laser surgery so I guess a lot of them have that.

Some people don't get them though.

SilverbytheSea · 06/12/2018 11:55

I think it’s luck and genetics, I was very fit and toned in my first pregnancy, exercised and ate well throughout, moisturised my bump twice daily, bump was even very small despite the 9lb baby inside and I still ended up covered in them 😂

Can’t say they bother me too much though and my DH loves them.

ToastyFingers · 06/12/2018 11:58

I didn't get any stretch marks and still have a pretty flat stomach. Skin with more melanin tends to be more resilient, also oily skin stretches better. I'm mixed race and oily as anything so it makes sense.

Pregnancy ravages you in so many ways though. My boobs are small, sad and shrivelled, I've got piles and my gag reflex is buggered from months of morning sickness. You wouldn't see any of that in a bikini though.

paap1975 · 06/12/2018 12:03

I've never had a baby and I have loads of stretch marks from when I was a teenager, on my arms, my breasts and my abdomen. I absolutely loathe them and the lumpy feel of them.

I have a healthy BMI, but awful non elastic skin.

What does the laser treatment actually do?

Xuli · 06/12/2018 12:05

They do. I like this picture of Cindy Crawford. I have a friend who didn't believe it was real, but mainly because she absolutely bought that all the airbrushing and camera angles and all that weren't there, and that celebrities genuinely looked perfect.

jputthekettleon · 06/12/2018 12:16

I put on a lot of weight in my pregnancy as I felt sick all the time and eating was the only thing that helped and it happened I only really wanted heavy carbs. I didn't get any stretch marks though and stomach looks like before just a bit of excess weight on it as I'm still a stone overweight a year later. Still no stretch marks though I was really surprised

TheFairyCaravan · 06/12/2018 12:18

I don't have any stretch marks but my mum and sister both got quite a few. However I got SPD so bad that 22 years later I've had 6 major surgeries on my pelvis and I can't walk unaided so I definitely would have preferred the stretch marks tbh

silkpyjamasallday · 06/12/2018 12:22

I religiously oiled my bump from early in pregnancy, and didn't get any stretch marks. But I forgot about doing my bum and boobs so they are covered in them! Mine have faded to silvery now so aren't noticeable, I imagine if I fake tanned you wouldn't be able to see them at all. Also having DC in your twenties as Billie and Sam have means your skin has more natural elasticity which will help prevent stretch marks.

DonDrapersOldFashioned · 06/12/2018 12:26

silk, oiling might’ve made zero difference. I moisturised my skin religiously too and still ended up with them.

Foggymist · 06/12/2018 12:31

I'm convinced Beyonce has stretch marks from the twins (which would be expected!) that she is now hiding, between the very odd stomach in her first published photo with the twins and the fact the she never shows her stomach now in stage costumes, everything is high waisted/bodysuits and probably very sucky-inny. It would be great if such a huge profile celebrity acknowledged the physical changes instead of hiding them, if she does indeed have a common/normal post twin pregnancy stomach. But that's pure speculation on my part Smile

LisaSimpsonsbff · 06/12/2018 12:31

Also having DC in your twenties as Billie and Sam have means your skin has more natural elasticity which will help prevent stretch marks.

Actually, apparently that one isn't true - just about the only thing that gets better about pregnancy as you age is you're less prone to stretch marks because your skin is less tight in the first place. Which makes sense, as teenagers are quite prone to stretch marks.

Trinpy · 06/12/2018 12:31

Mixture of good genes, exercise, surgery and good lighting/airbrushing. Permanent tans and make up probably help too.

Yes they fade but they make your skin go all weird and saggy. I'm in my 20s (just about!), size 6, exercise daily and yet I have to tuck my stomach into the waistband of my trousers like you tuck in a t shirt Xmas Blush. I'm never going to feel ok about that.