By Imika Neylan
Whether we wear a business suit, a uniform, a pair of jeans or a swimsuit, women should expect to be taken seriously.
Clothing should not determine how a woman is respected and what type of attention she deserves to receive. Women can be both a beach goer and an office boss and the body belongs to any woman who decides to don a bikini.
There is an overlooked misconception that many women today are still dressing for men or that most men even expect this.
Women today just often dress for fashion and each other than to objectify themselves for attention.
I am so proud of this photo which was taken by local photographer Zoe Reghenzani. The photo was a part of a body positivity photoshoot, a service that Zoe provides to encourage women to build confidence and self-acceptance around their bodies.
Personally, I have faced many body image challenges in the dance industry and I know there is not one woman who has not had her looks criticized through someone else’s eyes.
I have been told I have legs too short, I am too muscular, I am flat chested, I am too thin, I am bulky, I am too short. It is through the encouragement and support from other women that when I see this swimsuit photo, I can now happily describe myself as healthy, athletic, natural, confident and Australian.
The Miss Universe Program embraces all women, of all races, all backgrounds and asks them to take pride in every aspect of themselves. Their confidence, their compassion, their intelligence, their style, their health and wellbeing and lastly their freedom of choice and expression.
I hope I can empower other young women to know they are free to wear what they like without the fear that the clothing they don is an invitation to be judged or sexualised. You can be fun, sexy, professional and hard-working all in the same space and expect to always be taken seriously.
The bikini has had a controversial history, but the question should no longer be, why do they use bikinis to sexualise women but why is a woman in a bikini sexualised?
In 1946, Louis R¨¦ard famously designed one of the smallest two-piece swimwear for its time, le bikini, which were facing possible bans at beaches across European, Mediterranean, and Catholic nations, and even the Miss World Contest and pageants worldwide (which is wildly ironic today).
The bans then were an example of other people deciding what is right for women and passing expectations on their choices.
A bikini is not an invitation to be sexualized nor does the fault lie with the wearer. It is the Australian uniform for all women who love to enjoy the stunning beaches that Australia has to offer, especially here in Noosa.
