Hollywood Popular Artists

May 31st 2012, 16:43

True story: I'm horrified of bikinis and kinda relieved that one piece bathing suits are in. As a tween, kickin' it at the Ridgefield Park town pool, I went into the water with a one piece suit AND a Bart Simpson t-shirt. Even on Monday, to celebrate Memorial Day, I went to Rockaway Beach in Queens, NY and my stomach slightly churned at the thought of taking my clothes off to reveal my bathing suit. And I'm nervous as hell that a guy I'm chatting with via OKCupid thinks we should hit a beach as a date. But today, I'm feeling some hope of rocking a bikini thanks to Gabi Gregg better known as Gabi Fresh, a fashion blogger and former MTV TJ.

Gabi, a size 18, recently posted photos of herself rocking a not so itsy bitsy teeny weeny striped bikini. She looks absolutely classy a la Marilyn Monroe circa the 1950's! This isn't the first time Gabi represented in a bikini, she posed in one last year too. But this year's bikini turned mad heads. Jezebel blogged about her beautiful photos and on XOJane.com she posted a "fatkini" photo gallery of herself and fellow big gals fiercely rocking bikinis. You know your story went super viral when the "Today Show" features it on air and that's exactly what they did yesterday with Gabi and the fatkini revolution.

"Today's" Tamron Hall interviewed Gabi about the photos which have received praises for showing real women in bathing suits to critiques for allegedly promoting obesity. Said Gabi about why she decided to post photos of herself and other ladies in fatkinis:

"It's about empowering women. I think so often in the media all we see is thin women in bikinis. I really wanted to challenge that and say they're not the only ones, not that I have anything against thin women. I think all women are beautiful. But I just think we should see all types of bodies in swimwear."

Take a look at some of the lovely ladies in the XOJane.com Fatkini photo gallery:

I mean these ladies have the same rolls, curves and cellulite that I HAVE. Dear GOD, I hope none of my dirty crushes are reading this story. But looking at the photos above, remind me of US Weekly's magazine feature "Stars -- They're Just Like US!" Instead of stars though, I'm all "WOMEN IN BIKINIS. They're just like meeeeeeee!"

When asked where she got her confidence from, Gabi said she has a supportive system of family and friends (Hey, I do too so why am I such a scaredy cat?!) and added, "I love my body. I think we should reject these fashion rules about what we are and what we are not allowed to wear."

And what about Gab's critics that say she's promoting obesity? She thinks it's all silly and is "all for health" and thinks people should be active and aware of what they're putting in their bods. "I am on a journey to health," admitted Gabi. "But my health is not determined by my size." PREACH, mama!!

So am I gonna rock a bikini? Hmmmm. I think it's likely. Seriously. Will I post a photo on Act? #OhHellNah but hey, one step at a time, right?

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