One body positivity advocate, wife and mom of two is inspiring others with a viral Instagram post about growing to love her body just the way it is ― curves, stretch marks, rolls and all.
On Friday, Jasmine “Jazzy” Owens (@a_body_positive_jazzy) posted a photo of her and her husband of six years Keenan in their bathing suits, holding hands on the beach. In the caption, Owens opened up about what it’s like to be married to someone with a different body type (her husband was “born fit,” as she puts it) and how she struggled for years to embrace her larger frame.
“Over the years this man has loved every curve, every roll, and every stretch mark on my body,” she wrote on Instagram. “I never understood why! How could he love something that isn’t ‘perfect?’ How could a man who was ‘born fit’ love someone like me!”
Since embarking on her body positivity journey, Owens’ confidence has soared.
“I don’t have a flat stomach, I jiggle when I walk, hell if I run up the stairs too fast my body claps (lmao)!!” she continued. “But now I see I do have the ‘perfect’ body!! Every roll, every curve and every stretch mark is put on me just perfect to make both of us happy!!! I love my body and I finally see why he does too!!”
Owens told HuffPost that she had tried all kinds of diets, supplements and even considered surgery to help her feel better about her body but none of it worked.
“Over the years my negative body image has held me back from enjoying life with my husband and kids and I was finally fed up with hiding from the world,” she said. “As one of my [Instagram] posts said, I stood in the mirror and truly looked at myself. Before I couldn’t even stand to see myself, so to be able to get naked and stand in front of the mirror and just look at my body was a huge first step for me. Since then, I have made steps such as buying my first two-piece bathing suit, wearing it to the pool and to the beach and learning to stop judging myself.”
Some Instagram commenters fat-shamed her and condemned her for “promot[ing] being physically unfit” (insert eye roll here), but many others shared their support and words of encouragement.
“Girl, my body claps too, can I get a round of applause?! Love this,” one commenter wrote.
“I also have a very fit husband, and I’ve always been very insecure about it,” another woman wrote. “Especially when meeting all of his fitness friends for the first time...I know he loves me and my curves, and I’m slowly accepting myself for all that I am! Thanks for the wise words!”
“You’re beautiful. It’s plain to see in everyone’s eyes, not just your husband’s,” another said.
Through it all, Owens said her husband has been her No. 1 fan and supporter.
“When I started receiving negative comments and opinions, at first I was really hurt,” she told HuffPost. “But my husband was the one who first told me that they are just opinion and that I was too beautiful to let the insecure, negative people impact my life. If it was not for my husband being my number 1 supporter and encouraging me to get out there and show the world who I am, I would be still inside my little torment box I called my comfort zone.”
Keep doing you, Jazzy!
This story has been updated with commentary from the couple.
H/T Insider
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