To ask what parts of yourself you love that beauty standards says you shouldn't?

[WheresTheLambSauce]

(Lighthearted )

Another summer is upon us, and with it come the shorts, the flowing summer dresses, and the skirts. And, of course, the increased sale of shaving supplies.

It's also yet another summer where I'll be setting aside the razor blades and embracing the wild grasslands that are my legs. What started as a political statement when I was a teenager has now grown into an honest appreciation of my leg fluff. I love how soft it feels under my fingers, how it keeps me just that little bit warmer in winter. I love that I'm embracing a part of myself that's natural, a small way that my body tries to stay safe and cosy.

And, yes, part of me does enjoy surprising people when it's brought up in conversation

So does anyone else have any quirks or natural parts of themselves that they've fallen in love with, even when it flies in the face of what's considered attractive?

@Wearywithteens

I’m size 14 which all the fat haters on MN say will drive me into an early grave and I’m disgustingly obese and they just couldn’t cope as even a size 12 is to be subhuman. I’m ok with it.

I'm anything between a 16 and an 20! I'm short, I'm fat and I'm not going to change.

Quick, someone get the vapours.

My wrinkles

My dm passed away from cancer at 33 when I was 4. I have a 4 year old daughter now and just can't imagine the pain dm went through knowing she wouldn't see me grow up. I'll take every wrinkle, grey hair, jowel and sag going if it means I get another year with my dc.

I've got a tiny little mouth with thin lips and I quite like it, it's like a doll or a painting of a renaissance queen.

Gosh this has given me pause for thought.
It's made me realise that I do have parts of myself that I like- eg my waist/abs- but they are without exception the parts that fit with beauty norms. The (many) parts that don't fit, I don't like.
That's messed up isn't it? Like our body image is driven by the norms to the point where our own personal feelings are irrelevant.

@MissGendered

My wrinkles

My dm passed away from cancer at 33 when I was 4. I have a 4 year old daughter now and just can't imagine the pain dm went through knowing she wouldn't see me grow up. I'll take every wrinkle, grey hair, jowel and sag going if it means I get another year with my dc.

My DSiS passed away last year at 37. Life really is far too short for all of this hating yourself shit.

I have recently let my hair grow out grey. I feel absolutely liberated and wish I had done it years ago. It's in great condition and rather wavier than I expected after years of chemicals and straighteners. Some people have commented very positively, others have kept a polite silence.

I have "thin, cruel lips" and I love them. I've actually had fillers in my marionettes - but leave my thin lips alone please!

A slash of red lippy (on those RARE occasions I can be arsed) is very powerful.

@Snuggleworm

I wish I could say I liked something about myself :( But at the moment I don't. I used to be quite attractive until last year when menopause hit. Actually, my hair is nice, it is thick and blonde.

I know how you feel. There is another thread asking about something similar. (what we do to look good) I like myself when I look OK in the mirror. I can face the world on those few occasions :)

@FunnyWonder

I have recently let my hair grow out grey. I feel absolutely liberated and wish I had done it years ago. It's in great condition and rather wavier than I expected after years of chemicals and straighteners. Some people have commented very positively, others have kept a polite silence.

Me too... why don't you try the curly girl method ? I have been grey/white for the entirety of lockdown and my hair looks good thanks to co-washing and never having to dry or straighten ever again :)

I have brown wrinkly stubby hands. I love looking at them because they remind me of my mothers hands. I prefer my pale skin fake tan takes the natural glow off it. I have long thick curly hair and I like it when it air dries and ends up different every time like clumps of rats tails I love it. I actually quite like a bit of hair frizz as well. I probably look like a hedgerow.

I like my fat round face with dimples. I think it keeps me looking younger. I am now 51. I have had a fat face with chubby cheeks even when I was young and a size 8. I am now a size 14-16, feel my chubby face has kept wrinkles at bay

I have boring brown eyes, and used to long for something more interesting but now I love them and think they're interesting: warm amber on some days, dark and expressive when I'm cross.

My brown skin and natural hair. Melanin is a great extra sunscreen, and anti wrinkle booster!

@moulderingoldlady

I like my fat round face with dimples. I think it keeps me looking younger. I am now 51. I have had a fat face with chubby cheeks even when I was young and a size 8. I am now a size 14-16, feel my chubby face has kept wrinkles at bay

I have a fat face too . Definitely good for wrinkles

I am small chested which I used to dislike but now appreciate especially when doing exercise

I have a big hairy mole. My dad has always, since I was small, called it my beauty spot. I genuinely believed it was something to be proud of all through my formative years and now I just see it with affection.

I have a mole inbetween my lip and nose. Everyone took the mick out of it growing up but my aunt has one in the same place and now my DS has one there too. It’s almost a family trait and I love it.

I love my broad shoulders and muscularity.

I also love my pubes...I'm super hairy everywhere below my waist, I love stroking it! Makes me feel quite sexy, though DP does not agree.

Love this thread! I have a squidgy tummy. It's quite small but definitely sticks out. I actually like the look of it in high-waisted jeans with a tucked in top.

I grew the colour out of my hair about 20 years ago when I started reacting to the colourant. It's a kind of silvery blonde, gets lots of compliments and I love it.

@Anordinarymum I'm vaguely following the curly girl method. It's definitely less labour intensive than blow drying and straightening, which I suppose means that I'm treating my hair more like it wants to be! I find all the different curly girl products a bit confusing, but have discovered any old cheap, silicone free conditioner to co wash, then Cantu curl creme scrunched in gives me something like beach waves. Or maybe I'm deluded and it looks more like seaweed😀

I love my naturally curly hair, ,tanned olive skin but what I think is quite cute on me is my white birth mark on my side it's quite noticeable when I undress.
It's not vitiligo, white birth Mark's are a thing

I have stretch marks on my inner thigh I quite like stroking.

I have a big mole on my arm I'm quite fond of. Someone once commented that it was weird and should probably be removed (for health reasons). But I like it and the dr says its fine.

And I don't have pierced ears because I really like my intact earlobes!

I'm tall and fat (size 20) and muscley. Stomach muscles spilt in two when I was pregnant. 20 years ago I would have been distraught, but now, I really don't care. I love my body because it's survived some serious illness, addiction, suicide attempt, attempted murder, overdose and it's still going strong and it's beautiful.

[quote FunnyWonder]@Anordinarymum I'm vaguely following the curly girl method. It's definitely less labour intensive than blow drying and straightening, which I suppose means that I'm treating my hair more like it wants to be! I find all the different curly girl products a bit confusing, but have discovered any old cheap, silicone free conditioner to co wash, then Cantu curl creme scrunched in gives me something like beach waves. Or maybe I'm deluded and it looks more like seaweed😀[/quote]
Stick with it - it will get better. On some days I have the beach waves depending upon what products I use and on other days there are curls. Those are the good days.
I use ASIAM for the co-wash and Cantu creme conditioner to scrunch in and on non washing days I wet it and use any leave in conditioner. The longer I leave between washes the better it gets.
It's trial and error but I enjoy doing it.