Shanice Instagram @Tr3ndyshushum

Hi, I am Shanice and 28 years old from South east London. Am all about body positivity and challenging on how society see different types of body shapes and sizes. Always happy to announce I am full figure young lady and embracing my curves. By showing my family, close friends and other it's okay to be unique as long as you're comfortable within your skin as myself. Which has allowed me to push my boundaries in doing something, I always wanted to do. A nudist body paint experience where I was just in my underwear . I posted some of my images on my social media platform and try to encourage other people to build confidence and acceptance of their own bodies. Also addressing realistic body standards where society lacks. Promoting the acceptance of all bodies.

Photographer @queenofhe_art.

Ady Del Valle

I feel seen when I’m able to be me as I am in the skin I am today. There is nothing better than loving who you are now the way you are and embracing those flaws that make you who you are.

Chartruice Morgan

I feel seen when I am providing joy through my performance art.

Photographer Eli Schmidt

Baboski

I feel seen when I'm nude because it’s not about being naked, but about being vulnerable. Revealing your flaws, insecurities, and embracing your inner beauty.

Photog: IG/FB: MalloryErinPhotography

Clementine Desseaux shot by Lily Cummings for VOLUP2 Magazine

Refinery 29 launched ’67% Project’ in 2017, which drew attention to the fact that over 67% of women are plus-sized, yet they only make up 2% of images we see - Richman, fastcompany.com 2019

Meagan Kerr | Style Blogger thisismeagankerr.com

Part of me is sunshine, and part of me is darkness. Sometimes you need one to balance out the other.

Photographer: Doug Peters @ambientlightnz

Liris Crosse

Nude to me has so many meanings. One is being bare like I am here. No makeup, no hair extensions, no filters just the bare essence of me. My natural hair, my scar on my forehead, my super pink lips, my golden skin. Nude is ME!

Nude can be called a skin tone at times. We’ve been programmed that it’s the color of white women but actually we are our own shade of nude. I love when I bask in the sun as it helps shows off my shade of nude in my itsy bitsy bikini. We are all NUDE! Appreciate your individual shade.

Denise Bidot Photo by Nikki Gomez for VOLUP2 Magazine

However, despite a rise in the inclusion of plus-size models at major fashion events in the past few years, the number has disappointingly fallen in the most recent fashion shows, according to The Fashion Spot report — only 30 plus-size models took part in each of the four major fashion cities (Milan, Paris, London, and New York). -Retail Gazette 2018

Lisa Schoenberger, Mustang Sally Two

I feel seen when people look past my physical appearance and see the woman I am from the inside out. This photo represents a milestone in my self-love journey, I have given myself the freedom to love my body, to embrace it, and to share it without shame or guilt. To be authentic and unapologetically me.

Photographer Rebecca Northcott Photography.

Jessica Yupele

Nude to me is living beyond society's expectation of what it means to be a woman and what it means to be Black. It's vulnerability, softness, fun, strength, confidence, self-love, health, an act of rebellion, it's beauty and grace. It's freedom. I feel seen when I am in front of my own camera, capturing photos, like this one, that allow me to express myself without judgement or limits.

Brandi Smithwick

I feel seen when I feel I have impacted someone in a positive way. I especially love helping women find beauty within themselves because it is hard nowadays to feel confident. I am constantly wanting to make others feel good about themselves in any way I can, and if that means getting in front of a camera and showing them that if can do this, you can do this...I will.

Yanderis Lodos Photo by Velvet d’Amour for VOLUP2 Magazine

Out of 422 models in the 460 Spring 2016 campaigns, only six plus-sized women made an appearance, which equates to a minuscule 1.4%. -The Telegraph 2016

Kavah King "Kavah King Of The Gentlemen's Curb"

My quote is I feel seen by observing the beauty of the earth. I feel seen observing the beauty of others and the beauty within myself.

Photo Credit: Prescient Photos

Georgina Horne Photo by Velvet d’Amour for VOLUP2 Magazine

An increase in body confidence and the support of key fashion influencers have undoubtedly helped to normalize the plus-size industry and encouraged its popularity growth.-Retail Gazette 2018,

Vivienne Rose

"Her arms sweep above and away in celebration, unabashedly revealing her ample curves. The instruments of her hiding have become her wings.

Photographer Girl Cat Photography

Asha Dahya

I feel seen when my worth is not tied to my appearance, my bank account, or my job status. After struggling with my postpartum body, coming to terms with career project failures, and feeling insecure about my place in the world, I've done a lot of thinking about my own self-worth. I realized that I am scared of what other people will think of my appearance, my career and my worth because I don't think much of them. Being nude for me is much more about the symbolic nudity. Who am I when all else is stripped away?

Kate Nolan Photo by Velvet d’Amour for VOLUP2

Art can never exist without Naked beauty display'd.

WILLIAM BLAKE, on etching of the Laocoön

Dani

Our bodies are as natural as the grass and sky, we all deserve to feel that freedom

Laurie Roche Photo by Velvet d’Amour for VOLUP2 Magazine

65% of people voted they look better dressed, whilst a strong 30% voted they love themselves both naked and dressed - Women’s Health 2017

Shelby Savoy

I feel seen when I feel free! In this picture I want to portray the power in being free, the freedom of being comfortable in your own skin is so powerful.

Lys Photo by Velvet d’Amour for VOLUP2 Magazine

Despite the recent leap forward, plus- size women still account for less than one percent of runway models, even though 67 percent of women in the U.S. wear a size 14 or above. -Glamour, 2017

Carmina Suzanne

NUDE means showing the whole all of me; no retouching, no perfect posing, no good lighting, no flattering angles. This body has been through 7 major diseases, multiple hospitalizations, a couple brushes with death, domestic abuse, and a 30-year cycle of weight gain and loss. I can reach more people as a model and body love advocate this way than I can showing the perfectly photographed me. Both are real. Both are me.

But this one is my naked truth.

Charlie Hooson-Sykes

As a child, I hated my freckles. I wanted clear skin, dark and tanned - I mean this was the 80s, I also wanted bright blonde hair and long legs and was blessed with none of the above. As I've gotten older, I've learned to appreciate more what I've got. Every dot, every smudge, every tan coloured fleck that pops up when the sun touches my skin. As summer goes on, they change from a dot-to-dot puzzle, they blend together, almost but not quite one. Sun kisses.

Angelica Fenney

The human body is the best work of art. To me, there is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful, than a woman being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection. As this is the true essence of beauty.

Aurélie Grenetier

Life is too short to focus on what society calls imperfections : fat body, stretch marks, belly rolls... It's time to make our body viewable on media and social media and to embrace it !

Lyna Sweet Photo by Velvet d’Amour for VOLUP2 Magazine

To see you naked is to recall the Earth.

FEDERICO GARCIA LORCA, Casida de la Mujer Tendida

Sophie O'Reilly

I feel powerful when I'm nude. I embrace and love every inch of my curves and so should you. This is my body and I won't hide it.

Jacqueline Hornet Photo by Velvet d’Amour for VOLUP2 Magazine

“Female nudity is not just about sexualization, it's about maintaining social hierarchies, like those of race and class. Non-idealized female bodies used autonomously undermine a continuous narrative about body-based sex and race differences. When our cultural production is singularly focused on hyper-gendered, racialized and sexualized representations of nudity, it is easier to maintain racist and sexist ideas -- and nude female bodies outside socially approved, sexualized contexts challenge those.“

SORAYA CHEMALY, "Why Female Nudity Isn't Obscene, But Is Threatening to a Sexist Status Quo",

Chelo Pons

It’s not the bridge, it’s not the landscape, it’s the woman in it.

That’s her body.

That’s her.

She loves herself.

She feels happy.

And that’s why she’s really beautiful.

#NiTallaNiEdad

#NoSizeNoAge

Photographer Gabi Ferrán

Sonya Belkin @sonya_belkin

I feel seen when I know that my beholder sees a strong and confident, perceptive and eloquent, interesting and compelling woman, looking beyond skin color, dress size and sexuality; this gives me a sense of empowerment unrivaled by any other gaze.

Photo by @darkside_photos ...

Jessica Ellison

I feel seen when the moonlight reflecting off my skin highlights the very scars that have made me who I am as a daughter, a mother, and a woman.

Perry Barrellie

I love my body and skin I’m in, the scar tells a story of my journey with Crohn’s Disease, don’t be ashamed of your story it will help others.

Mini Mangat Insta handle @mini.mangat

“This is as nude as it gets for me and my true self! I feel seen when I present myself in a way that helps me to own my own space and when my activism is visible through my fashion. I believe in the power of loving my body from inside out as this by default equates self-love and acceptance. I represent the South-Asian, curvy, mature woman and I carry these characteristics unapologetically with pride and joy ♥️“

Bittersweet Photo by Velvet d’Amour for VOLUP2 Magazine

Instagram AI technology which detects images with over ’60% skin’, this algorithm has disproportionately affected larger bodied Instagram users - Richman, Fastcompany.com, 2019

Heidy Jantzen IG @heidyjofficial

Here I am sitting comfortably in my own skin in a bra and underwear In all my shades; tan lines from bathing suits, sports bra, t-shirts because I’m living not just alive. With my stretch marks and my jiggle because through the years, I’ve flourished inside and out.

MB Gaines Photo by Velvet d’Amour for VOLUP2 Magazine

15% voted, I love the way my body looks -Women’s Health 2017

Anonymous

A fire built by another will turn to ash when it rains, while the flames from within will burn eternally. When she least expected it, a single spark lit her world on fire.

Anonymous

Nudity meant vulnerability. My weight has fluctuated up and down, my self-image with it. Learning to love myself at any weight changed that to acceptance.

Molly Moonstone

I feel seen when I can express myself and my passion through my art. And I see my body as a piece of art, all female bodies are. And it is my biggest inspiration.

Photographer Äärirajoilla Photo

Madeline Jones

Nakedness is personal, you are neither right nor wrong in how you celebrate your body. Make sure you actually feel how you say you feel and not live your life through a social media scope where curated versions of ourselves live.

Photographer Luke Jones www.lucaspicturesnyc.com

Secretplussizegoddess

After hating the sight of my body for years, I wanted to join in the campaign to show that there is beauty to be found in all bodies. I love the curves and dips of my body and my smooth skin. I am not ashamed of who I am or what I look like anymore.

Jes Baker Photo by Velvet d’Amour for VOLUP2 Magazine

The campaigning and activity of plus-size models for greater acceptance and awareness have almost certainly been driving forces behind the rising value of the plus-sized market. In fact, global mentions of the hashtags: #BodyPositive, #LoveYourBody, and #BodyConfidence all increased between August 2015 and August 2017. Retail Gazette 2018

Ellie Photo by Velvet d’Amour for VOLUP2 Magazine

We alternately think of nudity as a perversion and a state of innocence. Why is our response so contradictory and why is nudity treated so differently in different contexts?

RUTH BARCAN, Nudity: A Cultural Anatomy

Jennifer Jonassen Artistic Director www.intrepiddanceproject.com

I love the sunlight on my body and its' becoming almost magical clothing.

Roxanne Martin

This image is nude to me. It is a space on my body that I currently don't like. Makes me feel exposed, naked, vulnerable. I know the more I photograph it the stronger I become, yet not strong enough yet to photograph the scar she left behind on her entry to the world.

"My tummy"

Abby Powell Photo by Nikki Gomez

As of 2017, the plus-size market was worth approximately £6.6 billion, according to a PwC report, and £4.7 billion of this was for female plus-size clothing only -Retail Gazette 2018

Yamin Fox Photo by Velvet d’Amour for VOLUP2 Magazine

Content moderation on social media apps is usually a mix of artificial intelligence and human moderators, and both methods have a potential bias against larger bodies. -Buzzfeednews.com

Erika Storm Kelley for VOLUP2 Magazine

Photographer Janée Caroll Photography

Nakedness reveals itself. Nudity is placed on display.... The nude is condemned to never being naked. Nudity is a form of dress.

JOHN BERGER, Ways of Seeing

Grace Teshima

Photographer Velvet d’Ammour

The photographer's eye makes me feel seen. From the time I was a little girl in my first communion dress being photographed by my daddy, to many years later in Paris when the eye of photographer Velvet d'Amour captured me in my apartment's bathtub, I see these images and know that for a brief moment I was really seen.

Gigi Photo by Velvet d’Amour for VOLUP2 Magazine

When asked ‘do you feel the need to fix any of these?’ about a series of body concerns; 50% voted to change their cellulite, 27% for stretch marks, whilst 24% voted ‘no, who cares?!’