Model Kelsey Merritt recently posted on Instagram pictures from her recent beach getaway. One of the photos showed Kelsey in a bikini with—gasp!—stretch marks! A netizen commented, “those tiger stripes! i love how you normalize it”.

It’s crazy to think that a model—who walked in a Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show—is flaunting her perfectly imperfect body. Who knew there would come a day when we would see more body stripes in a perfectionist modeling industry? 

In a world obsessed with flawless beauty standards, it is no surprise that imperfections are often stigmatized. Stretch marks are one of the “problems” that women face up until this day. Despite how these are natural occurrences, many women feel self-conscious and insecure about these delicate lines. They have believed that smooth and unblemished skin is the only acceptable norm.

It is truly a game changer for models like Kelsey to embrace their stretchies and flaunt them proudly. It encourages society to celebrate bodies as they are, while recognizing that stretch marks are part of the beautiful tapestry of human bodies. 

With these pictures posted on the internet, women can feel more secure in themselves knowing everyone has stretch marks. And the next time these girls go on their next beach trip, they’ll be more confident about their own bodies.