When you think of your thighs, what descriptors comes to mind? Are they "thick"? "Honest"? "Magical"?
One word many women associate with their thighs is "complicated." It can be hard to be 100 percent into your thighs when the only ones we seem to see are attached to airbrushed models in magazines and advertisements. Quite often, those "perfect" thighs don't even exist without the help of crafty retouchers. (Spoiler alert: 90 percent of women have cellulite.) But knowing that intellectually doesn't always assuage the visceral shame women can feel when they feel like they don't measure up to an ideal.
As an antidote, HuffPost Women photographed 25 pairs of thighs belonging to a diverse group of inspiring women between the ages of 20 and 70. We asked each woman to pick a word to describe her thighs, and talk a little bit about her relationship with the body part that can make her feel "strong," "feminine," "resilient" and at times "dimply." The resulting photos are stunning -- and entirely unretouched.
Ladies and gentlemen, these are what real thighs -- thick, thin and in between -- look like. They may not be "perfect," but they are damn beautiful.
"I used to be a little self-conscious of my thighs -- I thought they were too big. I no longer feel that way, and I'm not totally sure why. I think as I've gotten older, I've gotten more comfortable in my body, which is a really gratifying feeling."
"Gams"
"Unfortunately, most of the time I don’t like my thighs much because of the dimples, otherwise known as cellulite, otherwise known as fat. When you get older, you begin to bare less and less, cover up more and more. ... Then I think about the fact that I am healthy and strong, and to hell with my dimply thighs. I'm just glad I have them."
"Resilient"
"I selected the word 'resilient' because my thighs and I have been together through thick and thin. Literally. They've never let me down. Their size and shape may have evolved from svelte to chubbier, but they serve their purpose and keep me rooted to the earth -- moving, walking, running and dancing, forward."
"Sturdy"
"I go through periods of feeling pretty self-conscious about them, because I have a lot of stretch marks. But when I mentioned that to my boyfriend a few weeks ago he was like, 'What are you talking about?' which reminded me that no one is as critical of my body as I am."
"Pies"
"My chosen profession necessitates standing in a kitchen all day where thoughts of thighs gravitate towards buttermilk and flour and deep-fat frying. I rarely think about my thighs, other than to wish they spent more time in the sun."
"Complicated"
"On the whole, I like my thighs. They are muscular and strong. I have moments where I wish they were smaller, or that they didn't touch quite so much when I wear dresses -- bike shorts are my best friend in the summer -- but for the most part I am OK with them."
"Advantageous"
"My thighs have always been outwardly (and inwardly) indicative of my passion for sports. I bridled at this heightened attention throughout my teens because adolescents don't really know how to deal with muscly girls besides destroying their self-confidence or fetishizing them."
"Thick"
"I'm OK with them. They're probably the one body part of mine that I don't ever really despise, but my affinity for them definitely wavers daily. I don't particularly like the cellulite when I'm wearing a revealing outfit, but I've adopted a very 'that's life' mentality with them."
"Powerful"
"I really love my thighs. I love the strength of them and how I can run for miles with them. There have been times (notably when the 'thigh gap' was trending) that I didn't like my thighs, but thanks to Nicki Minaj, Bey and Rihanna, I love my thick thighs. I would never want anyone else's."
"Happy"
"I spent 20 years running to keep my thighs lean and toned, but there was a price to pay in the form of exhausted, tired legs and tight quads and hamstrings. Two years ago while I was out running, I realized how tired my legs were, so I stopped dead in my tracks, turned around and walked home. I haven't missed running one day since."
"Honest"
"Every bruise and nick has a story, and I've learned how to wear those with honesty, despite my occasional flare-ups of insecurity. I am proud of my thighs, just like I'm proud of the rest of this body that I've worked to keep healthy and real and happy."
"Magical"
"These are the thighs that allowed me to dance in a professional ballet company at the tender age of 10 years old. They are the thighs that helped me secure a Division I track and field scholarship to college. Most recently, they are the thighs that I tightly gripped as I birthed my beautiful son."
"Solid"
"It's only after a weekend of dancing when I really appreciate them for their strength, because if the music is good, I'm not stopping no matter what the time is (and neither are they)."
"Thick"
"In my culture, having a curvier shape is the beauty standard. Having thick thighs conforms to that, and I definitely embrace it."
"Feminine"
"I vacillate between resenting them and appreciating the feminine curves they add to my body. I feel the best about them when I’m not focusing on how they make me look, but what they can do -- they can pedal my bike up a steep hill; they can keep my body stable in a difficult yoga pose; and they can power me through a long hike."
"Soft"
"I've wasted an inexplicable amount of time and energy in my life worrying about the fact that my legs don't necessarily fit into what society says they're 'supposed' to look like. ... When I look at them today, I don't worry about how they'll fill out my shorts, but I see all the places they've gone or will go, and I'm proud."
"Delicate"
"As a kid I felt like my thighs were too thin. After watching 'Sailor Moon,' I noticed that the Sailor Scouts didn't have a gap between their thighs. ... I really think the lack of a thigh gap is so beautiful, sexy and womanly. So as I've gotten older I've only grown to love my thighs more and more!"
"Leg?"
"I feel pretty good about them, but to be honest I don't spend a lot of time thinking about my thighs one way or the other. When I do, it's usually, 'Should I try to conceal this ill-conceived tattoo?'"
"Lengthy"
"I've always had a love/hate relationship with my thighs. Growing up, I think they were my least favorite part of my body, especially since I have a birthmark that goes up my entire right thigh. And as I've gotten older, sometimes I'll celebrate my thighs and then one day I'll feel really insecure."
"Dimply"
"Overall, I tend to be pretty self-conscious about them. They are always a larger part on my body; they never tan or get any color like the rest of my body even when I try; and as I've gotten older, they've gotten dimply and riddled with cellulite. ... Despite all of these issues and insecurities, these thighs have taken me a long way in life."
"Under-appreciated"
"They're not an especially beautiful part of my body or something I'd ever try to highlight. But I appreciate them for being the powerhouse of my workouts and physical activities."
"Grateful"
"I appreciate all that my thighs can do, and I love them for it. I can run, dance and squat over public toilet seats. But sometimes I feel like a hypocrite, because I'm also grateful for my genes. I don't have to work very hard to have the body society says I should have."
"Strong"
"I generally feel pretty good about my thighs. I get weird or judgmental comments about them once in a while, which can throw me off. But for the most part, staying active and healthy helps me focus on what my body can do rather than what it looks like to other people."
"Supportive"
"They're not my favorite part of my body, but they're OK. They're much stronger than they used to be, thanks to lots of spinning."
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