And now, an uncontroversial opinion: Plus-size women shouldn't need to drop hundreds of dollars — or visit specialty stores — to find a bikini that actually fits.
Though the average UK woman is a size 16, there's still a significant gap between the need for body-inclusive swimwear and the sizes retailers actually provide. Case in point: British model Sunny Turner's recent Instagram post.
On Tuesday, Turner took to social media to show "the reality of shopping as a thick/plus size woman." Alongside three dressing room selfies of herself in a black bikini, she wrote: "I am wearing the largest size from one of the most popular high street stores;" she noted that, in her experience, the majority of online and brick-and-mortar stores "do not cater for women of [her] body type." In the post, she also maligned the lack of style choice available for plus-size women, declaring that "it's not fair that we can't [wear] cute swimwear just bc [sic] we are built differently. We deserve to walk into a store and pay £10 for a nice bikini without breaking the bank and our body confidence." Man, do we agree.
Turner's Instagram is (unsurprisingly) gaining serious online traction — it's spreading an important message (#everyBODYisbeautiful) and reflecting a widespread feeling (that "changing rooms can be scary places"). In fact, a recent survey of Refinery29 readers found that 54% of people say trying on clothing in-store is one of the most stressful body-centric situations they experience.
Well, it's time for that to change — and progress is made when women like Sonny Turner vocalize that need. And until retailers catch up, we'll continue to highlight the swim brands doing plus-size right. It's summer, after all, which means it's time to take back the beach.