WHAT AMAZING FEAT has your body done? That’s what Tanis Jex-Blake, a 33-year-old mother of five, is asking the people who ridiculed her stretch marks on the beach.
The Canadian mum has gone viral after sharing this picture on Facebook, along with an open letter to the group of people who decided to make fun of her body as she relaxed in her bikini.
She wrote:
I’m sorry if my first attempt at sun tanning in a bikini in public in 13 years ‘grossed you out’. I’m sorry that my stomach isn’t flat and tight. I’m sorry that my belly is covered in stretch marks.
I’m NOT sorry that my body has housed, grown, protected, birthed and nurtured FIVE fabulous, healthy, intelligent and wonderful human beings. I’m sorry if my 33-year-old, 125 lb body offended you so much that you felt like pointing, laughing and pretending to kick me. But I’ll have you know that as I looked at your ‘perfect’ young bodies, I could only think to myself “what great and amazing feat has YOUR body done?”
She went on to say that though she bore their remarks well at the time, she “cried in the car on the way home”.
I can’t help but feel sorry for the women who will one day bear your children and become ‘gross’ in your eyes as their bodies change during the miraculous process of pregnancy. I can only hope that one day you’ll realise that my battle scars are something to be proud of, not ashamed of.
The letter was picked up by a local radio station and shared over a million times, leading to Jex-Blake being interviewed by a Canadian TV station.
She told them her shame has now turned to ‘empowerment’ – and she hopes her situation will make other women feel more confident about their bodies.
You. Go. Girl.
(h/t Buzzfeed)
