Dear Breasts: A Love Letter to My Body
Never Apologize for Being Authentically You
"Never apologize for being authentically you. I know it’s tough, but you are one of a kind and there’s beauty in every small imperfection."
I flash back to being 11 years old, standing in a department store with my mom, sorting through training bras. My face burned with embarrassment and I felt exposed in ways I didn’t understand at the time.
The Roller Coaster of Seeing My Body Clearly
Over the years, my relationship with my breasts has been anything but simple. I wished I could wave a magic wand to change their appearance. I envied the girls with smaller breasts, wanted to feel dainty, and often felt awkward in my curvy body. I wanted to disappear because unwanted attention from older men made me feel unsafe and anxious.
A Defining Moment in High School
In high school, the struggle intensified. Most of my friends were small-breasted and I felt out of place as the curvy girl. One day, wearing a white v-neck, I was pulled aside by a school administrator and told my shirt violated dress code. I was frustrated and confused, but my anger revealed something important. This wasn’t about me. It was about others feeling entitled to judge my body.
From that moment: I decided to celebrate my natural breasts. I refused to hide or apologize for my body. I stood proud, despite magazine “rules” or stares from others. The next day I wore the v-neck again, got sent to the dean’s office, and was suspended. But instead of embarrassment, I felt a quiet strength I had never felt before.
Where I Stand Today
Now at 25, I’m thankful for the relationship I’ve built with my body.
Laying around the house bra-free feels freeing. I appreciate my breasts’ natural asymmetry. I feel powerful and grounded after getting my nipples pierced, for me and nobody else. My breasts remind me of the resilience of the human body. Their rise and fall with every breath is a reminder that I’m still here, still moving forward, still becoming.
A Message to Young Women
To the young girls and women reading this: Never apologize for being authentically you. Notice the small imperfections because they’re yours. Your body shows up for you every single day. Treat it with honesty and respect. You are not here to shrink yourself to fit the expectations of others.
Owning Your Body
There is no shame in your natural body. I love my breasts and my body as they are, and I stand with every woman learning to do the same in her own way.
Follow Chanelle Hicks: @nellehicks
