This Curvy Model Posted the Ultimate Rant Against Too-Teeny Bikinis

Social media has helped bring the body positivity conversation to the masses, but sometimes brands are slower to catch up. There have certainly been some reassuring recent strides in fashion inclusivity, but with the average woman in America wearing a size 16, it’s not quite enough. Thankfully, women continue to speak up, as plus-size model Sonny Turner did.

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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 Jun 27, 2017 at 12:50pm PDT

The UK-based curvy model experienced the all-too-familiar swimsuit shopping angst, but she did not let it get her down. Instead, she took to Instagram to explain exactly why her shopping trip was a bust. Turner posted a slideshow of photos of her pulling faces in a black triangle bikini that didn’t leave much to the imagination — but the skimpiness was not exactly what the model was going for.

In the long caption that accompanied the photos, Turner laid out her gripes. “THE REALITY OF SHOPPING AS A THICK/PLUS SIZE WOMAN,” she began. She continued, “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.”

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how I pop back up onto ur TL after being gone for a lil bit. sometimes i need a break from posting because listening is just as important as being loud. Hello I'm ready to give you guys some great content now (lol) 🦋🦋🦋

A post shared by SONNY TURNER (@sonnyturner___) on Jun 26, 2017 at 11:58am PDT

The model continued her rant to designers in all caps for emphasis (but we’re de-capitalizing for your sake). “Big breasts need underwire for support… 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,” she wrote. “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 swimsuits that fit over our hips without dragging the neck of the costume down causing neck ache.”

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LOOK HOW I WENT FROM INSTA BADDIE TO INSTA ''FATTIE'' REAL QUICK. Same girl. Same time. Just Different poses. 👯👯👯👯 Notice how in 0.5 seconds I can go from having the worshipped hourglass figure that would probably label me as a more attractive, sexy, and make me more worshipped on social media. When in reality I had to suck my stomach in, sit in an awkward position and angle my camera so I looked as though my waist was skinnier. We are constantly comparing ourselves, making ourselves feel less desirable in comparison to other women. Stop believing everything you see online. STOP COMPARING YOURSELF to surgically enhanced bodies, stop comparing yourself to photoshopped bodies, stop comparing yourself to well angled selfies, stop comparing yourself to women who probably have insecurities of their own. Empower and uplift one another. No matter what body shape you posses. And remember ''another woman's beauty does not mean the absence of you own 🦋 '' To be beautiful means to be yourself. Not a replica of a Jenner or kardashian or your favourite celebrity. #everybodyisbeautiful

A post shared by SONNY TURNER (@sonnyturner___) on May 16, 2017 at 11:45am PDT

Plus, she had some news for people who think curvy women are trying to hide their curves. “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.”

She finished with an important PSA to designers on behalf of all women who might not fit a “normal” body profile, “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.”

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Tips on how to have a summer body 1) put a swimsuit or bikini on 2) that's it. Real women are fat. And thin. And both. And neither. And top heavy. And hourglass shaped. And athletically built. And in between. There are no size requirements that dictate who can and can enjoy summer. You don't need to lose weight in order to have a 'bikini body' You don't need to lose weight to be worthy of respect You don't need to lose weight to be worthy of love You don't need to lose weight to prance around on a beach and take banging pics for the gram. PERIOD A real woman is whatever she wants to be 💜💚💛❤️💗#everybodyisbeautiful

A post shared by SONNY TURNER (@sonnyturner___) on May 9, 2017 at 1:21pm PDT

Although some women feel defeated after this type of shopping trip, Turner decided to use the opportunity to speak up for diversity, “#everyBODYisbeautiful bottom line is: MAKE CLOTHES FOR ALL SIZE & BODIES.”

Bravo, we couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

Does Sonny’s experience feel familiar to you? Share how you relate @BritandCo!