Body acceptance creators Bella Davis and Sara Puhto have sparked a healthy debate after sharing pictures of their unshaved bikini areas, and declaring you "don't have to be hairless to go to the beach".
In a joint post on Instagram, Bella and Sara, who are both champions of self acceptance and mental health, proudly posed in their bikinis, with their natural hair on display to make a point.
They declared that you shouldn't "judge others for what they choose to do with their own body hair", and that your "razor bumps aren't shameful" and "your body hair isn't gross".
In the caption, posted on their @saggysara and @isabelladavis6 accounts, they wrote: "It's your personal choice to shave, wax or grow your body hair. There's no wrong way for your body to look. You don’t owe anyone a smooth, bump free, hairless body!"
The post continued: "Don't let your body hair or razor bumps hold you back from wearing the bikini, from being intimate or from making precious memories!
"You deserve to see body hair and bumpy bikini lines represented in the media. Because you deserve to feel seen, empowered and a little less alone in your body."
The post has received over 43k likes, with many grateful to the women for attempting to remove the stigma from the subject. One person commented: "Seeing posts like this always means so much to me since I have a lot of body hair and it's just nice to know that I'm not alone."
Another added: "Thank you. A million times thank you for normalising what is normal."
However, not everyone was onboard with their inspirational message. One person commented: "'Hair down there isn't hygienic' is the most stupid statement. Why do you think it exists there in the first place?"
Others felt the hair highlights their "private zones," which is why they feel the need to shave. One person explained: "To me the hair is the perimeter of the intimate area, if that makes sense?" adding it's a "very private area".
Another, citing cultural aspects, added: "I would never wear a bikini with a full hairy bikini line like this, never, not even if paid."
Speaking to The Mirror, Sara, 25, from Finland, added that it's important to spread the message for "those who need the reminder that what you do with your body hair is your choice and your choice only:
She added: "Additionally, some people will choose to not remove their body hair due to several different reasons (mental health- depression, physical health- rashes, sensitive skin etc) and we as a society should move away from stigmatising people (especially women) with body hair as being unhygienic.
"As it's just scientifically untrue, as the body would evolve to not grow hair if it was unhygienic and for the best interest of survival for the human body. It's just important to have these conversations as they aren't talked about enough in society!"
Meanwhile, writer Bella told us she's "tired of being told to shave away my shame". She added: "Body hair is human and not unhygienic".
Do you have a story to share? Email us at ariane.sohrabishiraz@mirror.co.uk
