GUEST POST // how you can overcome swimsuit shyness 👙

Guest post written by Nova Briar for aus.jolynclothing.com.

Although summer is a time for beach vacations and water-based activities, many people struggle with their body image and hesitate to wear swimsuits. Their thoughts and concerns are flooded with self-doubt, anxiety, and pressure due to the atypical standards of beauty portrayed in popular media. In fact, Mission Australia reports that one in four young Australians have serious body image concerns, and this can be attributed to the idealised images of bodies portrayed in social media.

If you are a teen who’s second-guessing packing your swimsuit for your next holiday, you’re not alone. After all, it’s not difficult to understand why some people dread the bathing suit. Television shows and movies often portray unrealistic beach bodies that are tanned and chiselled, with flat stomachs and curved waists. Anyone who falls short of this standard can feel embarrassed and reluctant to show off their beach bodies.

Does that situation resonate with you? If yes, here are some tips you can take note of to overcome your swimsuit shyness:

Love and embrace your body

The Queensland Government defines body image as how a person sees, thinks and feels about their physical appearance. Shyness about body image among teens is especially prevalent during the summer when more skin is exposed because of the weather. You can overcome negative thoughts and feelings that make you feel less confident by gradually introducing techniques to feel better about your body. For instance, you can note Billie Eilish’s body positivity approach. By embracing her own body, she regained full agency over how she perceives herself. Her journey towards empowerment inspired thousands of young girls that look up to her and relate to her insecurities. Now, her fans feel empowered to feel at home in their skin and take control of their bodies.

Focus on how the swimsuit makes you feel

Contrary to what the media forces to portray, any kind of body can be “bikini-ready.” There is really no need to do some sort of juice detox or particular workout to achieve a bikini body. As long as the swimsuit allows you to swim, lay by the pool, sunbathe on a beach towel or walk along the water, you should wear it by all means! Unlearning the notion that only thin bodies and flat stomachs can don a swimsuit takes some degree of mindfulness and self-awareness. By focusing on how it makes you feel and disregarding how other people may react, you will eventually realise if that swimsuit is a good fit for you. As Billie Eilish once said: “It’s all about what makes you feel good.”

Choose a comfortable & trusty swimsuit

A good swimsuit can make all the difference in overcoming swimsuit shyness. There are many different styles on the market, such as high-waist bottoms with a bandeau top or one-piece swimsuits with cutouts. On our blog, we featured our all new JOLYN Surf Collection, which includes swimsuits that are designed for long hours in the surf and on the beach. Trying on different swimsuits to see what looks best on you and makes you feel confident in and out of the water can make your next beach trip more exciting.

A swimsuit should be able to boost your confidence and make you feel good in your own skin. Because our body does so much for us, having a loving relationship with our body and highlighting its natural curves and characteristics during a beach trip is an excellent way to honour it.

Guest post written by Nova Briar for aus.jolynclothing.com.