My Body by Ria Kershaw

My body doesn’t exist on an ever-changing schedule, moving and adapting to every external person’s opinion. My body isn’t to be hidden away in tight, dark spaces. My body deserves to see the sun, it deserves to lie on a sun lounger without pulling the bikini up, down, side to side in an effort to conceal any lump or bump. My body deserves to have a second, even a third portion of dinner if she so chooses, just because, she doesn’t even need to be hungry. My body is allowed to have full fat yoghurt, she’s allowed to not always have the least amount of fat, sugar, salt, sodium or joy. My body is allowed to be fat, to be lumpy, misshapen, riddled with acne in places it’s usually not. My body deserves to be adored, to lusted after and looked at with pure adoration. My body deserves to adorn beautiful lingerie which doesn’t cover, doesn’t shield and only highlights. My body deserves to show up in her rawest form, always. My body doesn’t change depending on the opinion of others, it will remain regardless. Much as the Mona Lisa doesn’t begin to smile if art critiques decide they don’t understand her value, she remains unchanged. I too, vow to remain unchanged. My body, is just that. My body.

Words by Ria Kershaw | IG @riakershaw

Images by Melias Dolls | IG @meliasdolls