In these un-Photoshopped images of Ultimo model Nicola McLean posing with Santa Claus, her stretchmarks are clearly visible. No matter, she looks amazing and sexy.
McLean is seen here the way millions of women appear after childbirth. We look as though we had a fight with Freddy Krueger or had a freak accident with knives. Even women in great shape like Nicola McLean have the potential for stretchmarks.
Often women try to cover them up by wearing shirts that cover the belly, one-piece swimsuits or even midriff-covering lingerie. It’s as though we’re ashamed of our child-bearing marks, but we shouldn’t be.
I wish we’d see more models, even celebs, bearing their so-called flaws with such class and confidence. I’m sure Ultimo airbrushes McLean’s stretchmarks for their magazine, but I wish they wouldn’t. She’s beautiful to me even though you can see them.
What's Driving This Trend
- Body Positivity
- This trend highlights the importance of embracing and celebrating natural features like stretch marks, promoting body positivity and self-acceptance.
- Authenticity
- The trend of featuring un-Photoshopped images of models showcases authenticity and transparency within the fashion industry.
- Diversity and Inclusivity
- The trend of showcasing models with stretch marks promotes diversity and inclusivity, challenging traditional beauty standards.
Who This Affects Most
- Fashion and Apparel
- Fashion brands can capitalize on this trend by featuring diverse models with un-Photoshopped images, promoting body inclusivity and self-acceptance.
- Beauty and Skincare
- The beauty industry can seize this opportunity by developing products and campaigns that celebrate natural features like stretch marks, encouraging self-love and confidence.
- Media and Advertising
- Media outlets and advertising agencies can disrupt the industry by embracing authentic representations of all body types, challenging unrealistic beauty standards.
