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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think fat women look better in bikinis than one pieces

272 replies

Justaquestionplease · 31/08/2026 11:46

Before anyone jumps on me, of course people can wear what they want and feel most comfortable in...

But ive just returned from holiday and I did think whilst lying on the beach and round the pool how much better larger women look in bikini rather than one piece costumes. I think maybe it's just a confidence thing and those who exude confidence rather than self consciousness look better overall.

But regardless of that, I just think visually they actually look better...not that anyone owes attractiveness to others obviously

OP posts:
Daisywhatsyouranswer · 31/08/2026 15:55

FourGreenElephants · 31/08/2026 15:50

It isn't about coverage or lack of, it is about fit and support when it matters the most.

There isn't one homogenous way of being larger. If you can fit the top and bottom separately, you easily get better results, than stretching one piece in a somehow compromise size.
Whether the stomach between the pieces is flat, larger or 7 months pregnant, it doesn't really matter, when the important parts fits.

That reads aggressive, I’m fully aware of this. And I’m certainly not the op or agreeing with her odd views and obsession with fat women.

Justaquestionplease · 31/08/2026 15:59

OtterlyAstounding · 31/08/2026 15:50

And yet you're also shaming people who just prefer not to wear bikinis? Which is odd.

No, women shouldn’t feel like they should have to hide their perfectly natural bodies, but they also shouldn't feel like they have to expose them either. There isn't some kind of moral superiority in showing your stomach.

I'm not shaming anyone...I'm simply saying that choosing to wear one in the belief it may make you look better/slimmer is misplaced

OP posts:
Beautifulhaiku · 31/08/2026 16:01

Justaquestionplease · 31/08/2026 15:59

I'm not shaming anyone...I'm simply saying that choosing to wear one in the belief it may make you look better/slimmer is misplaced

But why do you assume that’s why most women are choosing to wear swimsuits rather than bikinis?

SideEyeClyde · 31/08/2026 16:02

Neuronimo · 31/08/2026 12:44

YABU I think women of all sizes should wear what they are comfortable in. That would be a structured one piece for me if I ever swim again.

Why would you never swim again?

Boomer55 · 31/08/2026 16:05

Well, I wouldn't have said so, but if people feel good, in whatever they’re wearing, then all good.

Neuronimo · 31/08/2026 16:06

SideEyeClyde · 31/08/2026 16:02

Why would you never swim again?

I just haven't been into the sea or to a pool in donkey's years.

intrepidpanda · 31/08/2026 16:17

Are you talking larger younger women or larger older women?
Big snd taut is different to fat and saggy.

Justaquestionplease · 31/08/2026 16:23

intrepidpanda · 31/08/2026 16:17

Are you talking larger younger women or larger older women?
Big snd taut is different to fat and saggy.

Either.

What's wrong with saggy, older skin by the way? Do you think it should be covered up so as not to offend?

OP posts:
Illegally18 · 31/08/2026 16:28

EnterQueene · 31/08/2026 15:31

Bikinis and tankinis are so much more practical than a 1 piece when you need a wee - I hate sliding a wet swimming cossie down & back up again.

Gosh yes!

Daisywhatsyouranswer · 31/08/2026 16:29

Justaquestionplease · 31/08/2026 16:23

Either.

What's wrong with saggy, older skin by the way? Do you think it should be covered up so as not to offend?

Did you just start this looking for a bun fight, your responses are so aggressive like you’re just itching to have a fight with someone.

Clydebuilt · 31/08/2026 16:44

tilypu · 31/08/2026 11:51

Why are you studying fat women on beaches?

Yiu don’t have to ‘study’ them…you just need to look to see them!

FourGreenElephants · 31/08/2026 16:47

OtterlyAstounding · 31/08/2026 15:52

But what if the one piece does fit well, and is comfortable and supportive, for instance?

Than you are probably not large enough to qualify for this discussion ;)

Seriously, if it fits, good for you.
Many women mentioned in this thread that their top and bottom sizes just differ too much, add different torso length, and percentage of larger women who will find any single onepiece well fitting and supportive will be pretty small.

I'd agree with the OP (thought I'd phrase it differently), that well fitting two pieces can give better results than prefering coverage of onepiece.

Notellinganyone · 31/08/2026 17:11

SnowflakeSmasher86 · 31/08/2026 15:23

Depends very much on the woman and the bikini tbh

I'm a fat woman and wear bikinis.

Good supportive underwire lifts and separates my ample boobs rather than squishing them as a one piece tends to do.

High waisted briefs cover my wobbly bits and stretch marks, leaving only a couple of inches of rib cage visible.

And it’s so much easier to put on and take off, especially when wet and you need the loo! Bikinis all day long, I don’t care if anyone else would prefer I cover up.

Totally this. If anyone wants a recommendation Prima Donna bikinis are unbelievably comfortable and flattering. I’m 36 G and they are v supportive and flattering. They are very expensive but my last one lasted 10 years so absolutely worth it.

Holidaymodeon · 31/08/2026 18:56

@Justaquestionplease when you were ‘all sizes from 8-20’ did you at any time enjoy being referred to as a ‘fat woman’?

NovemberMorn · 31/08/2026 18:58

Justaquestionplease · 31/08/2026 14:58

When I was bigger I would wear one peices, but actually looking back i wish I thought fuck it and just worn a bikini like loads of larger women on the beach do. The sky wouldn't have fallen in and small children wouldn't have run away screaming in horror. Id have been much more comfortable and looked much better

You are putting your own insecurities onto others.

I bet most of the women you judge don't give a flying fuck about the opinions of others, whether they are in a one-piece, a two-piece or a coverup.

The beach isn't the catwalk...live and let live.

Justaquestionplease · 31/08/2026 19:00

Holidaymodeon · 31/08/2026 18:56

@Justaquestionplease when you were ‘all sizes from 8-20’ did you at any time enjoy being referred to as a ‘fat woman’?

I wouldn't have been thrilled to be called it to my face...but I'm not doing that am I? Having said that I have been a fat and a thin woman...thats just a fact

OP posts:
MrsPapillon · 31/08/2026 19:00

Justaquestionplease · 31/08/2026 15:59

I'm not shaming anyone...I'm simply saying that choosing to wear one in the belief it may make you look better/slimmer is misplaced

You’ve never seen my stretch marks and scars from multiple surgeries. Even my friends wince when I dare to show them the car crash that is my torso! I’d never inflict that on any unsuspecting holidaymaker. I’ll keep it covered, thank you.

ManyATrueWord · 31/08/2026 19:02

Fat is such a wide range. Do I at stage three lipoedema look good in a bikini? No, my flesh is mottled and bumpy. Does a much younger and smaller woman look good? Probably.

Daisywhatsyouranswer · 31/08/2026 21:37

Justaquestionplease · 31/08/2026 19:00

I wouldn't have been thrilled to be called it to my face...but I'm not doing that am I? Having said that I have been a fat and a thin woman...thats just a fact

use whichever term you wish, it’s the sitting watching them I find distasteful

JaceLancs · 31/08/2026 21:43

I’m fatter than I would like to be - currently size 16-18 and on holiday
I’ve taken 2 bikinis and 6 swimsuits
I think I look better in the swimsuits but am relying on the bikinis for bad IBS days!

Illegally18 · 31/08/2026 22:14

Daisywhatsyouranswer · 31/08/2026 14:48

I find this very creepy. A source of great interest. Ugh.

A source of great interest is creepy? Really? Why?

SexyFrenchDepression · 31/08/2026 22:49

I think some one pieces can be extremely unflattering, i don't look good in them as my legs are not that shapely but I have big boob's and tummy is ok. It has a bit of a bulge at the bottom which is not a good look in a one piece. The pull in ruched style are better but I find having a proper bra top so much more flattering.

I think it is definitely a very individual thing, one of my friends is really tall and has great legs, she isnt fat but definitely her legs are her best bit rather than tummy, plus she has a smaller chest so she looks amazing in a one piece compared to a bikini. Much better than I do.

WhisperingHi · 31/08/2026 22:52

I agree. I think the bikini draws attention to the boobs and bum, whereas a suit highlights your midriff more, which is what most overweight people want to disguise.

lljkk · 31/08/2026 23:13

Last year I was in sunny Spain.
Women who sunbathed topless seemed to mostly be fat ones.
These partic ladies seemed more red than tan.
Honestly all I could think about was sunburnt nipples <ooooouuuchccchhh>

anyway, at least somewhat more covered up is good to avoid sunburn; more skin is more to hurt if it gets burn, so that's a reason for the plump to not wear bikinis.

I don't care how they look, I just want people to minimise burn risk.

Itsasecretnow · 01/09/2026 00:06

Justaquestionplease · 31/08/2026 15:22

I just don't like waltzing about in what is essentially knickers in front of random strangers

Why are you sexualising a bikini? It's just clothing. This is such a weird, mainly British hang up...that bikinis are sexual ergo you must be physically attractive to wear one

Why are you sexualising her knickers? Nothing she said about not wanting to be out in (essentially, in her opinion) her underwear in front of random strangers was even remotely sexualised or anything to do with sex. She was purely comparing bikini bottoms to knickers, because that’s exactly what they are. Just different materials/patterns to your usual pants that you just happen to wear around water/in hot weather to get a tan/whatever in place of pants that serve the exact same purpose as a pair of pants, because that’s basically what they are - pants you wear outside.
Good lord, op, are you really not getting it? People, including women (shock, horror!), have the freedom to choose what they want to wear. For whatever reason they want to. Because it’s their own choice. Not because some random, weird woman tells them what they should be wearing, and what looks better on them - or more precisely what you feel is subjectively better. Who says you know what looks better on someone than they think? I bet you wear some godawful clothes that don’t suit you, but would I tell you so, and tell you are wrong to wear it and should instead be wearing a bright dayglo green pair of dungarees with a pair of fake crocs because I think it looks better and my opinion is correct and yours is wrong ? Because I think you should cover up whatever bit of you I find unpleasant to look at? No. Because I’m not an arsehole.
You are the reason why some women feel too self conscious to wear certain things, because they don’t want strangers looking at them and judging them. Women can choose what they wear. Are you understanding this concept? Because you appear to just not get it. We also have the vote now too! I know, right, crazy!?

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