This Woman Documented Her Bathing Suit Shopping Struggles
By Daryl Lindsey ·

The dressing room can be a stressful place. This is especially true if you’re a plus-size woman attempting to buy a swimsuit at a big box store.

Body-positive model Sonny Turner posted a mirror selfie to Instagram to document her experience shopping for a swimsuit as a plus-sized woman.

“THE REALITY OF SHOPPING AS A THICK/PLUS SIZE WOMAN,” the post begins.

Sonny goes on to explain that she picked out a bathing suit in the largest size available, (a U.S. 8-10), which provided virtually no support or coverage for her body.

“HighStreet store bikinis do not cater for women of my body type,” she wrote, referring to a popular shopping destination in London. “The majority of online stores don’t either. NO ONE GETS IT.”

The 19-year-old model, who frequently uses the hashtag #EveryBODYisBeautiful, advocates for body love and societal acceptance of all body types. She continued her post with a long, all-caps list of “tips” for future swimsuit designers.

THE REALITY OF SHOPPING AS A THICK/PLUS SIZE WOMAN. ‼️ changing rooms can be scary places. I am wearing the largest size from one of the most popular high street stores sells in bikinis which is 12-14. High street store bikinis do not cater for women of my body type. Majority of online stores don't either. NO ONE GETS IT so for any upcoming designers I got come tips for u BIG BREASTS NEED UNDERWIRE FOR SUPPORT FOR A YOUTHFUL LIFT WE NEED CUP SIZES THAT CORRELATE TO BRA SIZES AND THEY NEED TO GO PAST DD WE NEED CUPS THAT ACTUALLY COVER MORE THAN OUR NIPPLE WE NEED CUPS THAT BRING OUR BOOBS TOGETHER SO THERES NOT A MASSIVE GAP IN-BETWEEN THEM WE NEED STRAPS THAT AREN'T SO TIGHT ITS AS THOUGH OUR NECK IS ABOUT TO SNAP OFF WE NEED BIKINI BOTTOMS THAT DONT GIVE IS WEDGIES WHEN WE WALK WE NEED STRING BIKINIS THAT DONT EXPOSE OUR VAGINA LIPS WE NEED SWIMSUITS THAT FIT OVER OUR HIPS WITHOUT DRAGGING THE NECK OF THE COSTUME DOWN CAUSING NECK ACHE WE DESERVE MORE CHOICE IN THE SELECTION FOR OUR BODY TYPE THAT ISN'T JUST THE GENERIC BLACK SWIMSUIT WITH A KIMONO YES BELIEVE IT OR NOT , SOME OF US ACTUALLY WANT A THONG BIKINI , THE WHOLE SELECTION DOESN'T HAVE TO BE HIGHWAISTED WE'RE GONNA NEED YOU TO STOP USING MODELS WITH FAKE BOOBS THAT AREN'T A REAL DEPICTION OF WHAT THE BRA WOULD LOOK LIKE ON OUR REAL DROOPY ONES ITS NOT FAIR THAT WE CANT WALK WEAR CUTE SWIMWEAR JUST BC 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. #everyBODYisbeautiful bottom line is: MAKE CLOTHES FOR ALL SIZE & BODIES.

A post shared by SONNY TURNER (@sonnyturner___) on

 

The list included:

  • Underwire to support larger breasts.
  • Cups that cover more than the nipple.
  • Swimsuit sizes that correlate to bra sizes—and are available beyond DD.
  • Bottoms that “cover our vagina lips.”
  • More choices for plus-sized swimsuits beyond generic black colors and high-waisted cuts.

“It’s not fair that we can’t wear cute swimwear just [because] 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,” Turner wrote.

 

The post earned more than 14,000 likes on Instagram, along with hundreds of comments thanking Sonny for spreading the message that all bodies deserve representation in stores.

We hope the message spreads far and wide.

This article originally appeared on HelloGiggles.com.