TK Sanders
Most adults — men and women both — have some stretch marks from getting older, getting bigger, or getting pregnant. Stretching skin is a universal dilemma that all humans face with age; few are immune, and most of us are self-conscious about them, too.
In the entertainment industry where image means more than reality sometimes, stretch marks usually get airbrushed out of photos, leading regular consumers to believe that celebrities simply aren’t afflicted by them. Obviously, that’s rarely the case, and a few famous women are now making a point to purposely show off their imperfect skin via social media.
These celebrity women prove that no matter how you look on camera, in real life stretch marks are just a regular part of life, especially when pregnancy is involved.
Halsey
Singer Halsey gave birth to her son, Ender, in 2020 and immediately took to Instagram to show off her postpartum stretch marks. “Well….this is what it look like,” she captioned the collection of photos, meaning ‘this is what motherhood really looks like.’
Ashley Graham
Plus-sized supermodel Ashley Graham made a splash in the fashion industry by owning her atypical body type and embracing it. In January 2020, Graham gave birth to her son, and instead of hiding her stretch marks, she collaborated with a swimwear brand to put those marks front and center of a campaign.
Graham said of the shoot: “I’ve got more weight on me. I’ve got stretch marks. A lot of women I speak to have image issues, body issues around confidence. I want them to understand that we all have things that society has told us to cover up and why do we need to do that? So here I am with mine out and about and proud.”
Joudan Dunn
Model Joudan Dunn showed off her natural stretch marks in an Instagram photo with fellow model Cara Delevingne, as the two debuted matching “DD” tattoos.
Robin Lawley
British Model Robyn Lawley wrote an impassioned open letter on Facebook a couple years ago about her stretch marks in response to a story was written about her on a UK gossip site. “They are some bad ass tiger stripes. And I earned them,” she wrote of her stretch marks. You can read the letter here.
What other celebrity pregnancy (or non-pregnancy) stretch marks stories made an impact on your life? Let us know on Instagram!
“By His stripes, we were healed” ( Jesus being whipped mercilessly by the Pagan authorities).
By our mother’s stripes, we were born and given our lives. Moms and motherhood deserve respect.