Hot Mom Summer Real Body Swimsuit Shoot

Well mamas, it looks like hot mom summer is here and we are ready to celebrate! I couldn’t have imagined a better day to launch this dream project! The sun is shining, it’s 70 degrees with a slight breeze, and I’m spending the day in my two-piece bikini by the pool!

This project has been a dream for several years and I am incredibly grateful to our partners at Pix Idaho and Krystal Leonardson Photography for helping us make the dream come true!

So what exactly is the dream? The dream is to showcase REAL mom bods in a REAL photo shoot! No photoshop, no sucking it in, just real bodies having fun!

How many times have you made a choice to hide your body out of shame or guilt? How many times have you shifted your plans to avoid showing your body in the warmer months? I hope the answer is that you haven’t done that very often, but if you are anything like me, you’ve done it many times. NO MORE.

This is the year we claim every single imperfection as beautiful!

Throughout these images, you will see stretch marks and body hair, rolls, loose skin, scars, cellulite, and even stomach aprons. You will also see incredible, brave women who are tired of hiding their magnificent bodies and are paving the way for us to feel the same! You will see women who created the miracle of life and are ready to reclaim their real bodies!

Hot Moms (that’s every single one of you) this is OUR year!

“I’ve always struggled with swimming suits. I would make sure they had shorts to cover my big bum. But then when my husband and I decided to take a trip to Hawaii earlier this year, I got suits that I loved. They were flattering and I felt good in them! And they were all bikini bottoms and not shorts. It was a huge step and helped me realize that I can wear whatever I want and be confident in the suit!” -Kayla

“I spent so many of my early motherhood years loving my body conditionally. Based on my own perceptions, expectations, and unnecessary stress centered around what I thought my body should look like in order for me to finally be happy. Comparison really is the thief of joy. Now, anytime I find myself on the verge of comparing myself to another woman, I immediately remind myself of the following: Her genetics are not mine. Her journey is not mine. Would I be willing to walk the path that she is on to get to where she is? I would encourage all of us to ask that question anytime we’re tempted to compare any part of our human experience to another’s. Motherhood—and life, in general—can be hard enough without all the unnecessary negative self-talk and comparison.  Love your body now. Love the season that you’re in. Give yourself grace. Find joy in movement. Find your tribe. Find your cheerleaders (if you need one, I got you). BE a cheerleader! Happiness is not a pant size or a number on the scale.” -Charisa

“Representation and inclusivity matter. The privilege of being around supportive, diverse women to represent REAL and HONEST bodies was soul-filling and exciting. Enjoy life and celebrate yourself exactly where you’re at. That’s what the shoot felt like to me and I am HERE FOR IT.” -Laura

“I’ve always been super nervous to wear a two-piece; it was always something that I’d seen petite women wearing rather than a woman who, despite being tall, wore her weight differently. Growing up where I did, the women who were confident enough to wear a two-piece (bikini or otherwise) were well-endowed and thin, all of which are beautiful things but often used to attack individuals regardless of what they look like. This swimsuit shoot was the first time I felt okay wearing a two-piece as I wasn’t the only person who didn’t have the ‘perfect body’ that shows up on social media. It was a relief and really refreshing!” -Ellie

“I used to be so hyper-aware of my body and was so concerned about what other people thought. When I was diagnosed with a debilitating disease in 2017, I was not able to do any physical activity. As I’ve slowly healed, I’ve learned to celebrate my body for how it is and what it CAN do. Our bodies are incredible, and they do so much for us.” -Lauren

“This was the first time I have worn a swimsuit since having a baby. I’ve always had a skin condition I’m afraid to show, and then having new stretch marks on top of that was nerve-wracking. When I got there, I saw women of all shapes and sizes being confident with their bodies, and that helped me be confident too.” -Lauren

“Growing up in the 90s, I’ve had quite the journey with self and body acceptance. From the age of eight, I remember being made fun of for having curves, which, as you can imagine, affected me for years. When I found out East Idaho Moms was doing a photo shoot to represent all moms’ bodies to help build comfort and empower all women, I couldn’t have been happier. Participating in this shoot was not only another step in a long healing journey, but it showed me that these women truly practice what they preach. I have never been more proud to be part of a community.” Deanna, Owner of Pix Idaho (Thanks for sponsoring this shoot!)

“You’re beautiful, cellulite is normal, stretch marks are beautiful, rolls are sexy, and your body does NOT define your worth! Wear the swimsuit this summer! Enjoy the time with your kids because they don’t care what you look like in a swimsuit, they just want to create memories.” -Amy

 

Mama, aren’t you tired of making yourself smaller to make the world around you more comfortable? Let’s do our part to start changing the perception of hot and sexy and let’s normalize real bodies!!

How can you help?

– Wear the dang swimsuit

– Take pictures of your real body in real clothes (and tag us to be featured!)

– If you post your pictures on socials—and we post our pictures AND your pictures on socials—imagine how many moms will be seeing real-life, unretouched bodies on their feeds!?

Will it take a day? No. A week? No. But the reality is that the more we can spread the message, the closer we will get to building a stronger village of empowered, beautifully confident women making memories with their families here in East Idaho and then the nation. Are you in?