It's no secret that, here at Refinery29, we love and support breasts, butts, and bodies of all shapes. With that in mind, we decided it was high time to focus on the body parts that don't seem to get enough love: rolls and folds in the skin. You know, the totally natural bodily features that everyone has but are often omitted from mainstream media's portrayal of women's bodies.
Like stretch marks and scars, rolls of skin indicate what a body has been through and what it can do. Whether you're doing something routine (laughing, eating, walking) or something for the very first time (nailing a new yoga pose), take a second to notice everything about your body that helps you do those things. You probably have a fold or two to thank, right?
Ahead, we photographed nine women and spoke with them about why they love their bodies, what gives them confidence, and, above all, why every woman should love her whole body — rolls, folds, and all.
It's your body. It's your summer. Enjoy them both. Check out more #TakeBackTheBeach here.
Age: 23
Occupation: Recording artist, producer
What do you love most about your body and why?
"Experiencing life through my body is what I love most about it. It sounds broad and really new-age-namaste-y, but I thought about this for a while and all the answers led back to sensory experiences. I don't have a favorite body part or feature, but I find so much joy in having arms to hug people I love, eyes to watch clouds with, and legs that I can use to walk to delicious snacks that I can eat, because I have a mouth! Having senses is wild. I love everything about my body, because I can't live my life without it. You've only got one body and can't live your best life if you're spending energy thinking negative things about it."
Chronicle Books Staff, $115.00, available at ChromatOtte New York, $35.00, available at OTTE New YorkPhotographed by Rebekah Campbell.
What makes you feel the most confident about your body?
"Being physically strong and having a lot of energy makes me feel confident about my body. I really love yoga and have been practicing for around two years now. The difference between when I started and now is insane. Every time I do challenging poses like chin stand and firefly, I scream internally because I can't believe I'm that strong."
Photographed by Rebekah Campbell.
Why should more people love the rolls and folds in their bodies?
"Because self love shouldn't be compartmentalized. Learning to love every single inch of your body, rolls and all, is a beautiful, healing experience."
Photographed by Rebekah Campbell.
Age: 26
Occupation: Model with Muse NYC
What do you love most about your body and why?
"I have learned over time to really appreciate and respect my body. I love that, when I take care of my body, it treats me well."
What makes you feel the most confident about your body?
"I absolutely love my height. This was not always the case, but this difference has made me who I am today, and I take pride in that."
Chromat, $257.00, available at ChromatForever 21, $17.90, available at Forever 21Photographed by Rebekah Campbell.
Why should more people love the rolls and folds in their bodies?
"At the end of the day, I have an audience of one — myself. If I don't love all the rolls and folds, who else will? This motto can be very inspiring for women, no matter age or size. We have to learn to love ourselves."
Photographed by Rebekah Campbell.
Age: 21
Occupation: Photographer
What do you love most about your body and why?
"There's a lot of things that I love about my body; some things I had to learn how to love more than others. But, what I love the most is my eyes. I love the shape of my eyes. I think my eyes are very expressive, and that sometimes could be a bad thing, but it’s a good thing more times than not."
What makes you feel the most confident about your body?
"What makes me feel confident about my body is its ability to carry me through life. I could create with it, travel with it... I'm able to do everything I love doing because of my body."
Cacique, $55.00, available at Lane BryantLane Bryant, $57.00, available at Lane BryantPhotographed by Rebekah Campbell.
Why should more people love the rolls and folds in their bodies?
"Rolls and folds are a part of life — we've all had them since we came out of the womb. Besides, all the cute animals have little rolls and folds on them as well — who doesn't want to be compared to something cute? Might as well embrace them."
Photographed by Rebekah Campbell.
Age: 19
Occupation: Hotel front desk agent
What do you love most about your body and why?
"I think the thing I love the most about my body is its resilience and responsiveness to whatever I'm doing and want it to do. I've put my body through a lot of verbal abuse and beatings from being so clumsy, and it's always bounced back, so I'm just grateful for that."
What makes you feel the most confident about your body?
"When I look in the mirror, I always look at my hips first. I like the way my waist dips and then curves out to meet my hips, it's probably the thing I'm most confident about."
Stylist's own necklace.
Base Range, $21.00, available at Base RangeOtte New York, $35.00, available at OTTE New YorkIndex, $234.00, available at Assembly New YorkPhotographed by Rebekah Campbell.
Why should more people love the rolls and folds in their bodies?
"People should love their bodies just because of the simple fact that it works for you and only you. I feel like it's so commonplace for us to just take our bodies and organs for granted, and we never thank them for working and serving their purpose. I think if everyone took a moment to silently thank our bodies or massage our belly folds when we're feeling insecure, it would completely change the perception we have of them. It's a beautiful way to psychologically and mindfully appreciate how important your well-being is as part of a wholesome, happy life."
Photographed by Rebekah Campbell.
Age: 21
Occupation: Actress, photographer
What do you love most about your body and why?
"I generally try not to take my body too seriously or think of it as much more than a container for myself. I find it both terrifying and fascinating that aspects of my identity are seemingly reflected in my features. Whether or not these associations are true, it seems to beckon, quite literally, surface level assumptions. But ultimately, there is nothing more empowering to me than understanding my body as a tool. I love that my body is strong and capable of communicating how I feel and think visually, a language that is arguably the closest we have to universal."
Aleksandra Kolanko top and bottoms.
Photographed by Rebekah Campbell.
What makes you feel the most confident about your body?
"Honestly, probably dancing in my apartment alone in my underwear. Growing up, I was incredibly self conscious and was anxious that appearing confident would be misinterpreted as having a big ego. It was an incredibly detrimental habit. When I first started booking modeling jobs, instead of feeling reassured, I had a minor crisis wondering why anyone was interested in me. Now, I feel a growing confidence acknowledging the success that used to make me want to anticipate failure."
Why should more people love the rolls and folds in their bodies?
"Because we are human and come in all shapes and sizes, all of which have rolls and folds. They are fun and cute and if you haven't enjoyed them yet, act fast to make up for lost time."
Photographed by Rebekah Campbell.
Age: 27
Occupation: Designer, illustrator
What do you love most about your body and why?
"I love the entirety of me, so pinning down one aspect is difficult. I love how much space I take up. I love the softness of my curves. I love that my mouth can laugh and kiss and eat and speak words of love. I love that I carry the body of the women of my family, full and strong and resilient."
What makes you feel the most confident about your body?
"Being naked! I feel most confident and happy when I’m at home with myself. That’s when I don’t have any other voices to distract me. I’ll celebrate my body by taking long baths, doing intense skincare rituals and walking around in slinky slips and lingerie. Pampering my body and seeing it uncovered makes me appreciate it."
Stylist's own top, bra, and bottoms.
Otte New York, $38.00, available at OTTE New YorkPhotographed by Rebekah Campbell.
Why should more people love the rolls and folds in their bodies?
"This is a generation that wants to see more types of faces, bodies, and identities represented. The status quo is so heavy and oppressive, and it can be hard to accept what you have while we’re being bombarded by so many images of the 'right' way to look. Our bodies are amazing and do a lot for us; we need to extend them love and compassion. I had a pretty devastating tragedy happen to me a year ago, and I realized that life is too short to be so preoccupied with if my body is 'acceptable' to others. I have bad self-image days, like everyone, and I allow myself the chance to feel it and let it pass, but my body is my own. A few extra rolls doesn't negate your worth."
Photographed by Rebekah Campbell.
Age: 24
Occupation: Buffalo Exchange buyer
What do you love most about your body and why?
"I love all my rolls, butt, and boobs. I love they way they are shaped and how they jiggle. I've actually grown to love everything about my body; I feel like my body is art."
Universal Standard, $80.00, available at Universal StandardPhotographed by Rebekah Campbell.
What makes you feel the most confident about your body?
"It took me so long to be confident in my body. I use to hate my body and try to hide it under clothes that were not my size. When I got older, I told myself that I only have one life and one body and this is the body I was given. So I started embracing it. I started wearing things people said weren't meant for my body type. I started walking with my head up high and letting everyone [know] that I loved my body and I'm going to continue loving it, even [if] it was hard. Also, seeing other plus size women expressing themselves and wearing what they want makes me confident about my body."
Why should more people love the rolls and folds in their bodies?
"People should love their rolls and folds in their body, because they're art and they're beautiful. You only have one life and one body, so embrace those rolls and folds."
Photographed by Rebekah Campbell.
Age: 19
Occupation: Singer/songwriter
What do you love most about your body and why?
"I love my body's functionality and the endless passions and hobbies it facilitates. I love its ability to sprint for the subway when I see it approaching down the block, the almost instinctive movement my hips have when a good song comes on, and how it conforms against my bed at the end of a beach day. I feel like we tend to revolve our perception of our bodies around only how it looks and forget how purposeful it is. Aesthetically, I love my legs. Apparently, tip-toeing when you climb stairs qualifies as a calf work-out, because they are toned and the only non-jiggly part of me [laughs]. Don't get me wrong though, I am also very much in love with the jiggle."
Stylist's own shorts.
Forever 21, $15.90, available at Forever 21Photographed by Rebekah Campbell.
What makes you feel the most confident about your body?
"What makes me feel most confident about it is further emphasizing mentally how bullshit and contrived beauty standards are. When you throw preconceptions of what your body 'should' look like out the window, you'll view it in a new and refreshing light. Whenever I think something is 'wrong' with my body, I think about who deemed it that way and what makes their opinion so much more valid. Confidence comes along with constantly questioning everything you're told."
Why should more people love the rolls and folds in their bodies?
"Loving the parts of you that are considered unconventional or unattractive is undoubtedly an act of rebellion. You are not meant to be a walking Facetune or a walking Photoshop, and it is inevitable for rolls and folds to be prevalent. There is beauty in unfiltered beauty; there is beauty in making people uncomfortable with the rawness of it all; and there is beauty in being carefree enough to embrace the same things society has conditioned you not to."
Photographed by Rebekah Campbell.
Age: 19
Occupation: Model, writer
What do you love most about your body and why?
"What I love most about my body is my belly. I think it's one part that I've always genuinely been happy with — it's big and soft and has cellulite, but I've always been happy with that, and I think that's why it's my favorite. It's unconventional and never bothered me."
Kahle top, stylist's own underwear.
Photographed by Rebekah Campbell.
What makes you feel the most confident about your body?
"What makes me feel confident about my body is pampering it. If you treat your body like royalty you will feel like royalty. Pamper it. Give it all of its favorite nutritious foods, drink tons of water, and strut everywhere you go."
Photographed by Rebekah Campbell.
Why should more people love the rolls and folds in their bodies?
"More people need to love their rolls and folds, because we need to realize that [our] body types will always be here. The faster you learn to love yours, you will see the beauty in everyone else's. It makes the world so much happier."
Photographed by Rebekah Campbell.
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