What These People Can Teach You About Accepting Yourself

Here is some inspiration from women around the world—and how the country you live in, the culture you follow, and the food habits you inculcate can have a massive impact on how you see yourself.

- Jo Usmar

What do you think about when you’re in a swimsuit?

Unfortunately, for a lot of us, the answer is: how my thighs/tummy/bum look. Sarah K* doesn’t think that way. Why? Because the advertising consultant lived in Spain between the ages of 12 and 34, and she thinks this has had a profound impact on her body confidence. “For over half the year (most years, that is), everyone is at the beach—aunts, uncles, neighbours, friends—which means you grow up used to seeing bodies of all shapes, sizes and ages,” she says. “Nobody is looking or judging. In the UK, though, there’s no sense of shame or embarrassment associated with bodies.” In India, the idea of reclining in nothing save a few patches of polyester is enough to send most of the population reeling, too. So what lessons can we learn from women just like us around the world?

GET NAKED