Despite the Seattle rain, I’m determined that summer is almost here.  In an attempt to will the sun out with my mind, I’ve been thinking a lot about swimsuits lately: the current styles, the retro trends, the way they make us feel, the intense amount of Photoshopping involved in showing them off, and how that all relates to personal body image.  Before I share my own thoughts, though – and they’re not all sunshine and girl power – I thought I’d ask all of you what you think.

And what better way to do so than a poll?

If I missed something, or if you’d like to elaborate (please do!) you can do so in the comments.  The biggest question on my mind is this:

If you were to be completely honest with yourself, what would you say is the reason you chose your current swimsuit?

How much of that choice was based on style, or trends, or the media, or your personal body image, or *gasp* what others might think?

Full disclosure: this was a really tough question for me to answer, personally…and I’m hoping it was tough for some of you, too.

Using an RSS reader?  Go to TheDemoiselles.com to take the poll!

Welcome to the second installment of The Demoiselles: Your ABCs!  Every couple weeks, we’ll post a video, asking you to participate in ABC, aka A Body Challenge. These are the basics of introspection, designed to direct you to the source of your current body image, and shape it into a positive – whatever state it’s in.

For this video, we tackled a scary subject: the body parts we least like.  (Even the most body-positive Demoiselle gets down on herself sometimes.)  The real question isn’t what we dislike, though; it’s whether we can change it.

Now that you’ve heard from us, here’s your assignment:

• Think about the body part you agonize over.  Is it something genetic, the result of your health habits, or something else?
• Can you change that part of your body?  If so, why haven’t you?
• If you can’t change it (or if that change is a long process), how can you deal with that part of you positively?  What beauty can you find in the thing that makes you most uncomfortable?

We’d love to hear your thoughts!  Respond in a comment, video (respond to us on YouTube!), email us directly, or use the contact page.

Looking for other ABC videos and podcasts?  Find them here.

Welcome to a new facet of The Demoiselles: Your ABCs. Every couple weeks, we’ll post a video, asking you to participate in ABC, aka A Body Challenge. These are the basics of introspection, designed to direct you to the source of your current body image, and shape it into a positive – whatever state it’s in.

This week, we decided to start with the most basic of basics: childhood icons. We challenge you to recall your body idols, and how it made you react to your own, growing figure.

Alright! Here’s your assignment:

• Recall who your childhood icon(s) was/were. This can be anyone from a girl at school to a musician to a model.
• Really think about how that shaped your perception of yourself – either as a child, or now – and how you felt about your body.
• Think of ways that you can commemorate that icon in a way that doesn’t punish yourself or your body for physical impossibilities, or result in unhealthy behavior.

Respond in a comment, video (respond to us on YouTube!), email us directly, or use the contact page.