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?

This is such a lovely thread.

I’ve never had particularly thick eyebrows but overplucked in the noughties and so have had very thin brows for years as they never grew back. I started using Rapidbrow recently and the hair is actually growing back now They are quite patchy and nothing on today’s standard of brows but I’m quite stupidly proud of them

I also quite like the fact that my left foot is bigger than my right foot.

This is a fabulous thread, I was inspired to say something even though I'm having a hard time identifying anything. So I'm going to take a deep breath and say my fingers which are one of the few bits of me that are small and slim but conversely my boobs which are huge and unwieldy but my lovely husband loves them, and I have to give him a little credit as he's a very clever man xx

My hair. So many people with brown hair dye their hair blonde it but I love my chocolate brown hair with natural dark red highlights that I inherited from my grandma. I wouldn't trade that and hazel eyes and olive skin for being naturally fair haired or blue/ green eyes etc.

Being tall. I have only ever had negative comments on it from very short people, mostly short men. It's nice to be able to reach things, to see over people in crowds, and to have long legs!

@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.

That really is pause for thought, that we are lucky to have the chance to age and experience more of life and watch our children grow up.

small boobs (still very perky despite me being in my 40s and having breastfed 2 kids into toddler-hood).

Oh yes, definitely this too! To still be able to go braless in your 40s with no sag is wonderful.

My lower legs at the front are kind of sinewy and have a few dents in the shins from cycling. Makes me look really sporty when I'm actually not.

Csection pooch is a badge of honour I'd say.

I have fairly muscular upper arms and shoulders, a relic from when I did actually used to be sporty. They've stayed that way even though I've been mnetting on the sofa for ten years -

I love my hairy arms and big full eyebrows.

My thighs. Its the only part of my body that I really like. They're naturally muscular and well defined and I feel really sexy when I wear a short skirt that shows them off.

TRIGGER WARNING

My self harm scars. After nearly 2 decades of cutting I'm covered in them but to me it shows that I overcame a very serious addiction. I used to get tattoos to try and hide them but now because I'm scarred everywhere I just embrace it. When I see people staring I'm happy to address it as it's just another part of mental health that we need to talk openly about. Also I feel like the scars make me look like a badass so there's that.

My scars. DH says I look like I have a million stories. I like going swimming with my babies - I get to transition from demure, conservatively dressed lady to a badass woman with a bullet wound, surgical scars across my spine and abdomen, scarring on my ribs.

I have a normal looking mouth but my actual mouth is so small I can’t use normal spoons. Used to be embarrassed but now I think it’s quite funny when I whip out a baby spoon at lunch. I love my hair - it has so many different shades in that I can accentuate a new colour every day. I have hands that are the same size as DS1 (4). Not ladylike, but I love that when DH holds my hands, I feel extra safe.

I'm very vain and have regular Botox/tweakments, although for the last year opportunities to have these have been limited. Every time I go the doctor suggests filling my facial 'marionette' lines. I always refuse because I like them.

I just learnt today that the belly pouch is there to protect a woman's womb, bit like how we have a rib cage protecting our lungs and heart, well we have a little pouch of fat to protect our wombs. 😭🥰
All of a sudden I'm looking at it affectionately and its making me feel more feminine, not something that needs to be hidden or dieted away.
It's my womanly safety pouch 🥰

@BroccoliStinksOfAss

I have very muscular calves. They're very large.

Me too. Slim jeans are not for me!

I didn't realise that people didn't like freckles. I think they're lovely.

Came on to say my veiny hands.
Bit upset to see fre I also didn't realise freckles were considered un-ideal. I love them. Mine and other people's

Freckles

The freckles thing dates back to when the Western beauty standard was lily-white skin (this is drawn from my reading of Anne of Green Gables by the way) so it's odd that anyone still sees them as an issue now we're all supposed to be sun-kissed all year round. I realise this is all horribly un-inclusive of anyone of colour.

Another one happy with my very pale skin, I mean it suits the U.K.’s weather (and pale skin absorbs more Vitamin D) but it’s very much not the beauty standard here compared to tanned skin.

I’m an ex-self tan addict but have recently learnt to embrace my pale skin

I'm flat chested, got apparent chest bones, and protruding eyes which can't see much so I wear glasses all the time. Love all of that.

Love this thread

@StiffyByng

The freckles thing dates back to when the Western beauty standard was lily-white skin (this is drawn from my reading of Anne of Green Gables by the way) so it's odd that anyone still sees them as an issue now we're all supposed to be sun-kissed all year round. I realise this is all horribly un-inclusive of anyone of colour.

I would add that the origin of paleness as desirable was all about money (paleness = not working outdoors, no manual labour, 'high class').

Still is to a degree. Just think about the negative connotations and the actual meaning of 'redneck'.

My lovely long shiny hair even though I’m 52.

I have a birthmark on my ass, half of it is visible when I'm wearing my swimsuit. I also have big ears, my sister did as well. She always wore hear her down and got surgery twice to fix her ears. Meanwhile I don't give a damn and wear my hair up whenever I want