For most of her life, Jazzmyne Jay has felt the need to hide her body away from the world.
But after years of hating her body and feeling “not good enough”, she decided enough was enough.
She went bikini shopping, bought the sexiest number she could find and rocked it on the beach - for the first time ever.
Growing up, Jay was very self-conscious and aware of how her body differed to her friends.
If she went to the beach, she would cover up behind swimsuits and shorts.
“I went through a hard time of eating disorders and therapists and really getting down on myself,” she told BuzzFeed.
But now, after years of hating her body, Jay has had enough. So much so that she decided to wear a bikini on the beach for the first time ever.
“I really want to do this because I see other women, bigger than me, wearing them and I’m like, ‘you go girl’,” she explained.
“I want to work on being the most confident version of myself.”
Jay posted photos of her beach trip to Instagram and was met with waves of admiration from her followers.
One person wrote: “You’re such a inspiration and beautiful!”
While another added: “You look amazing in this picture!!! You are so pretty and amazing. Keep feeling free and don’t ever let anyone put you down.”
Jay said that prior to her beach trip, she was really anxious and couldn’t stop thinking about how many people would be there.
But she soon relaxed, forgot all about them and really enjoyed herself.
“I went out and wore this because I don’t have to limit myself to just “plus-size high-waist swim suits,” she said.
“This is me, in a bikini, and I fucking love it.”
Men And Women Who Inspire Positive Body Image
James Corden(01 of17)
Open Image ModalHe stripped off in an underwear advert spoof alongside David Beckham. The message: "Beauty is skin deep, it's underneath that counts."He also wrote an open letter which was published by Glamour magazine in which he asks people to accept themselves for who they are. "Respect your body. It is what it is, so embrace it," he wrote. "Love every scar, ripple, and imperfection, and you won’t need others to do it for you." (credit:FOX via Getty Images)
David Beckham(02 of17)
Open Image ModalDavey B stars alongside James Corden in the underwear spoof for D&J briefs to promote healthy body image and the idea that beauty is only skin deep. (credit:J. Countess via Getty Images)
Serena Willliams (03 of17)
Open Image ModalLupita Nyong'o(04 of17)
Open Image ModalMatt McGorry(05 of17)
Open Image ModalThe Orange Is The New Black star spoke openly about his body concerns during his first shirtless scene on OITNB. He told Yahoo: "I was obsessively dieting, and when I saw that scene before the show ever came out, I thought I had blown it. I was like, 'Oh no! I didn't get as lean as I could've'. But then the show came out, and no one said anything negative about it, and it's funny because from one perspective you could say, 'Oh, he's letting himself go,' but from another perspective, I just don't need that validation I once did."I still love working out, and I think it's good for my health, and I feel good doing it. But I think with mental health, allowing myself to be who I am naturally in terms of my body, I think that's sort of practicing more self-love that way." (credit:Jennifer Lourie via Getty Images)
Prince Fielder(06 of17)
Open Image ModalFielder is a baseball player for the Texas Rangers who was featured on the front page of ESPN magazine, naked. The photograph of him was attacked on social media. The baseball player has since spoken out and said that just because a person is plus-size, it doesn't mean they can't be athletic.In an interview with ESPN.com, he said: “A lot of people probably think I’m not athletic or don’t even try to work out or whatever, but I do. Just because you’re big doesn’t mean you can’t be an athlete. And just because you work out doesn’t mean you’re going to have a 12-pack. I work out to make sure I can do my job to the best of my ability. Other than that, I’m not going up there trying to be a fitness model.” (credit:Ronald Martinez via Getty Images)
Tess Holliday (07 of17)
Open Image ModalGok Wan(08 of17)
Open Image ModalThe presenter is an advocate for body confidence in both men and women. He has been incredibly open about his struggles with obesity growing up. He presented a show called Gok's Teens: The Naked Truth, which looked at body image in young people. He also launched a campaign to get body image classes taught in schools across the country. (credit:Dave M. Benett via Getty Images)
Chrissy Teigen(09 of17)
Open Image ModalBen Cohen(10 of17)
Open Image ModalKate Winslet (11 of17)
Open Image ModalRobert Pattinson(12 of17)
Open Image ModalThe Twilight actor has been open about his struggles with Body Dysmorphia (BDD), an obsessive anxiety disorder which is characterised by the individual's preoccupation with flaws in his or her appearance which are unnoticeable to others.In the process, he's helped raise awareness of the disorder among men. (credit:Jason Kempin via Getty Images)
Demi Lovato (13 of17)
Open Image ModalAshley Graham (14 of17)
Open Image ModalAmy Schumer(15 of17)
Open Image ModalJameela Jamil (16 of17)
Open Image ModalAlexa Chung (17 of17)
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