Woman Proudly Shows Stretch Marks In Bikini Competition After Losing More Than 9 Stone | HuffPost Life

Woman Proudly Shows Stretch Marks After Losing 9 Stone

Rachel Moss— The Huffington Post UK

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A woman has given us all a lesson in body confidence by proudly showing off her stretch marks in a bikini competition - and winning.

Conner Rensch, from Nebraska, weighed 19 stone at her heaviest and began to worry about the long-term impact comfort eating would have on her health.

With the help of a nutritionist and personal trainer, she ditched processed food and took up kickboxing. Her dramatic change in lifestyle helped her to lose 130 pounds (9.3 stone) in just two years.

She celebrated her achievement by wearing a bikini for the first time in her life at the 2015 World Beauty Fitness And Fashion contest.

Much to her surprise, she ended up winning in the "transformation" category.

Rensch's weight loss has left her with stretch marks, particularly around her stomach area, but she says she views them positively.

"I wasn't ever ashamed, I was always very proud. I really have grown to love them," she tells InsideEdition in the video above.

"I don't think I would ever get rid of my stretch marks, even if I could, just because they are my battle wounds. They're a daily reminder of the battle that I won."

Her remarkable story has clearly inspired other women to love their bodies.

She now has more than 45,000 Instagram followers with fans leaving comments such as: "I'm only on the first steps of a similar journey and have said the first 17lbs goodbye. I know I can do it, because you did it. Thank you for inspiring and trailblazing."

According to Rensch, every woman has flaws on her body.

She adds: "But if we can be vulnerable and show each other that that's okay, I think that is so empowering for women."

SEE ALSO:
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Woman Loses 13 Stone In 18 Months With These Diet Swaps

Our Body Image Heroes

Serena Willliams (01 of10)

Serena Willliams was told she is "built like a man" by Twitter trolls, but that didn't stop her being super body confident."I love that I am a full woman and I’m strong and I’m powerful and I’m beautiful at the same time," she said. "And there’s nothing wrong with that." (credit:TIMOTHY A. CLARY via Getty Images)

Tess Holliday (02 of10)

Lines like this are why we love Tess Holliday: "It's okay to be yourself, even if you happen to exist in a fat body. I'm sexy, confident and give no fucks. Also, fuck anyone for saying otherwise. " (credit:Curve Fashion Festival)

Demi Lovato (03 of10)

Having previously opened up about her struggles with an eating disorder, Demi Lovato posed for an un-touched nude photo featured on the cover of Vanity Fair."I basically went from hating every single inch of my body to working on myself and trying to figure out ways to love myself and love the skin that I'm in," she said in an accompanying interview."I learned after working very hard on my spirituality and my soul and my body, I learned that you can get to a place where you love the skin that you're in and I'm excited to share that with the world." (credit:Vanity Fair)

Jameela Jamil (04 of10)

Jameela Jamil has launched an inclusive clothing range to end the plus-size divide once and for all.“I find it infuriating that in this industry, size 10 and above is defined as ‘plus size’ especially when the average dress size in the UK is a 16," she said."We really shouldn’t be putting a label on size, fashion is for all and I think confidence and happiness is more important than dress labels.” (credit:David M. Benett via Getty Images)

Chrissy Teigen(05 of10)

Chrissy Teigen proved even models aren't perfect when she posted a picture of her stretch marks on Instagram.Her post promoted comments like: "I've had stretch marks since I was 12 years old at 5'9". So important for young girls and now 29 year olds to see." (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)

Kate Winslet (06 of10)

Actress Kate Winslet is determined to help her daughter develop a healthy body image."When I grew up, I never heard positive reinforcement about body image from any female in my life," she said. "I only ever heard negatives. That's very damaging because then you're programmed as a young woman to immediately scrutinise yourself and how you look.""And so I stand in front of the mirror and say to Mia, 'We are so lucky that we've got a shape. We're so lucky we're curvy. We're so lucky that we've got good bums.' And she'll say, 'Mummy, I know, thank God.' It's working, that thing that I've been doing. It's paying off." (credit:Matt Crossick/Matt Crossick)

Lupita Nyong'o(07 of10)

Lupita Nyong'o has spoken out against the lack of diversity in the media saying: "European standards of beauty are something that plague the entire world—the idea that darker skin is not beautiful, that light skin is the key to success and love."She also loves her skin, as proven by her appearance in a brilliant Sesame Street sketch. (credit:Joel Ryan/Invision/AP)

Ashley Graham (08 of10)

Model Ashley Graham refuses to be defined by her size."It’s fantastic when I’m not labeled as a plus size model in any interview or editorial I do," she told HuffPost UK Style."It makes a statement for women out there, 'look she’s not being described by her size, she’s being honoured by the things that she’s doing in the world'." (credit:Andy Kropa /Invision/AP)

Amy Schumer(09 of10)

When a film critic called actress and comedian Amy Schumer "chubby", she responded by saying: "I am a US size 6 and have no plans of changing. This is it. Stay on or get off."Brilliant. (credit:Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Alexa Chung (10 of10)

Alexa Chung has been skinny-shamed and called "gross" by online trolls, but instead of letting the haters get her down, she's become a spokesperson for body diversity in the media."I would love to look like Daisy Lowe, but I don't... but I'm happy with how I look. Equally, I don't want to use this as an example of how young girls should look," she said. (credit:KGC-146/STAR MAX/IPx)

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