Women’s Health Bans ‘Bikini Body’ Term After Realising All Women Have A Bikini Body

As a woman who can physically put on a bikini, I have a bikini body. No it’s not toned, yes, I have wobbly bits and no, I refuse to give up chocolate to lose them. So when Women’s Health decided to read through their latest feedback from readers of their magazine, they decided to take action immediately. Editor-in-chief Amy Keller Laird has announced the magazine will no longer be using the term ‘bikini body’, confirming the news in an article she wrote on the subject to wave goodbye to 2015. Image: Women's Health Just as we prepare to beat ourselves up over those Christmas treats, Keller Laird wrote: ‘Dear 'bikini body',

You're actually a misnomer, not to mention an unintentional insult: You imply that a body must be a certain size in order to wear a two-piece.

You've got a shaming, negative undertone that's become more than annoying.’

She continued by referring to reader feedback, which quoted: "I hate how women’s magazines emphasize being skinny or wearing bikinis as the reason to be healthy," and insisted that Women's Health "never want[ed] to be that type of women's magazine. So, 'Bikini Body,' see ya. Wouldn't wanna be ya." The US lifestyle magazine has been praised for its decision to remove the term, as well as a promise to readers not to offer tips on how to ‘Drop 2 dress sizes’ on its front cover: “You told us you don’t love the words shrink and diet, and we’re happy to say we kicked those to the cover curb ourselves over the past year. But we’re still using two other phrases—“Bikini Body” and “Drop Two Sizes”—that you want retired. Since our goal is always to pump you up, and never to make you feel bad, here’s our pledge: They’re gone. They’ll no longer appear on Women’s Health covers.” The move comes as plus-size model Tess Holliday shot to fame in June after releasing a video on how to attain a ‘bikini body’, saying: “All women need to do to get a bikini body is to put a bikini on, then they’re ready to hit the beach! There is no such thing as a perfect body and the hardest barrier for women to overcome is themselves. And no wonder, considering the skinny body ideals that are portrayed widely across the media today.”