LILY ANDERSON / ASST. OPINION EDITOR

TW: Mentions of body dysmorphia

“Drop your lbs, not our weights.” That’s the sign I found, as I was stretching in Pacific Ridge’s gym.  I looked up at the mirror and noticed this massive slogan plastered on it. It’s pretty hard to miss, because it is at least five feet wide. At that moment, I decided I had finished my workout. I was angry. First, I’m at the gym to gain muscle, not lose weight. Second, I don’t want or need my apartment complex to remind me of my own insecurities and society’s weight loss agenda. 

Weight loss propaganda is around us everywhere. With the rise of Ozempic and “diet talk,” pursuing thinness by all means and costs necessary has become a societal norm. Once the temperature rises and summer break creeps closer, another harmful weight-loss concept begins to loom overhead: the “bikini body.”

The idea of a bikini body, popularized by decades of advertising and media portrayal, strengthens harmful beauty standards that prioritize unrealistic ideals. It contributes to widespread body dissatisfaction and reinforces a culture of exclusivity in the fashion and fitness industries.

The bikini itself first emerged in 1946, created by French designers Jacques Heim and Louis Reard. Many cities banned bikinis from beaches because people found their small amount of coverage highly controversial. In the 1960s, the bikini made its way to the U.S. Since then, the style has been a go-to for many people. 

It wasn’t until 1961 that the term “bikini body” was coined in the way we think about it today. An ad campaign by a chain of weight-loss salons known as Slenderella International appeared everywhere. One of Slenderella’s advertisements, which appeared in news sources such as the New York Times and the Washington Post, proclaimed: “Summer’s wonderful fun is for those who look young. High firm bust, hand span waist, trim, firm hips, slender graceful legs — a Bikini body!”

Since 1961, little has changed. In 2014, Australian fitness guru Kayla Itsines launched the “Bikini Body Guide,” a workout program that promised to slim you down for summer. This program took the world by storm, catapulting her to fitness fame and spurring the launch of the “Sweat with Kayla” app in 2015. The app quickly soared to the top spot in the App Store in 142 countries within its first year of release.

When I was around 13 years old, I discovered the app on Pinterest  through screenshots of the  workouts  that  users  posted so people could follow  it for free. 

I rapidly compiled all the different screenshots onto a Pinterest board and decided to follow this plan. It was meant to be done at home and didn’t require much equipment. I thought this would be the solution — I would finally feel confident in a swimsuit. 

Now, this isn’t Itsines’ fault; it is a combination of many factors, but that was the moment when I became aware that society expected women to look a certain way in a swimsuit. Since then, reminding myself that I should feel comfortable in my skin — regardless of what I look like — has become something I practice daily. 

12 years later, Itsines changed the name of her infamous program to “High Intensity with Kayla” to promote a more body-positive approach to fitness. 

Itsines isn’t the only one who noticed that the trends are changing. In 2015, Target launched its attempt at body-positive swimwear with the “Target Loves Every Body” campaign. This campaign, which featured five women of different sizes wearing all styles of swimsuits, was well received. As far as I can remember, this was one of the earlier, positive attempts at providing swimsuits for all different types of bodies. 

A quick search on Target’s current website does not reflect this same message. When I went online to look at the swimsuits in stock at the Mission Valley Target, I didn’t see a model wearing anything larger than a size small or medium until page nine of the results. Worse yet, they marketed most swimsuits for larger sizes with labels like “tummy control” or “full coverage.” On top of this, most of Target’s swimsuit designs only go up to size XL. If buyers want a larger size, they must buy separate designs offered in 1X-3X sizes. 

I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t seem very inclusive to me. As someone with thin privilege, I already have to size up in Target swimsuits. I can’t imagine how frustrating it might be to find swimsuits at Target if you aren’t a size small, medium or large. 

Luckily, there are other brands that do a better job of catering to all body shapes and sizes. Summersalt, a company that bases the fit of their products off the measurements of 10,000 different women, offers all styles of swimsuits in sizes XXS-3XL. Brands such as CUUP base their top sizes off of bra sizes, and provide up to a 44H. In the last few years — while there is still an incredible amount of room for improvement — the overall discussion around body positivity has increased. 

I hope that one day, we can truly get rid of the idea of a “bikini body” and the pressure to get “summer-ready.” Moving forward, I also hope that brands can stay true to their promises of inclusivity and that representation of different bodies continues to increase. 

I feel for my younger self and women worldwide who feel scared to wear what they want, because of society’s messages about how we should look. The “bikini body” isn’t achievable for everybody; people carry weight differently and fall naturally within certain sizes. Being comfortable in your skin is easier  said  than     done,     but      it   is far from impossible. By giving yourself grace and choosing to radically accept your body for what it is, you can empower both yourself and other people. 

The best body for a bikini is a happy and healthy body, regardless of the size on the swimsuit label. 

CUUP is a brand that bases their bikini top sizes on bra sizes, providing sizes up to 44H. Photo courtesy of  @cuup/Instagram