A 33-year-old woman mocked about her stretch marks posted a response on Facebook – and her story has gone viral.
Tanis Jex-Blake was attempting to sunbathe while her children played at Alberta Beach in Edmonton, Canada on Tuesday.
“All of a sudden I heard, ‘oh my god, look at that, that’s f****ng nasty, that’s disgusting, look how gross that is,’” she told GlobalNews.
When she opened her eyes, she observed two men and a woman standing over her, pointing at her and pretending to kick her.
The woman attempted to ignore them, but couldn’t’ hold back the tears while driving home later that day.
That’s when she shared her story on Facebook:
“This is an open letter to the 2 guys and 1 girl who decided to skip work today in Sherwood Park where they were building a house, but instead decided to come to Alberta Beach to relax in the sun, enjoy the water and some beers. I’m sorry if my first attempt at sun tanning in a bikini in public in 13 years “grossed you out”. I’m sorry that my stomach isn’t flat and tight. I’m sorry that my belly is covered in stretch marks. I’m NOT sorry that my body has housed, grown, protected, birthed and nurtured FIVE fabulous, healthy, intelligent and wonderful human beings. I’m sorry if my 33 year old, 125 lb body offended you so much that you felt that pointing, laughing, and pretending to kick me. But I’ll have you know that as I looked at your ‘perfect’ young bodies, I could only think to myself “what great and amazing feat has YOUR body done?”. I’ll also have you know that I held my head high, unflinching as you mocked me, pretending that what you said and did had no effect on me; but I cried in the car on the drive home. Thanks for ruining my day. It’s people like you who make this world an ugly hateful place. I can’t help but feel sorry for the women who will one day bear your children and become “gross” in your eyes as their bodies change during the miraculous process of pregnancy. I can only hope that one day you’ll realize that my battle scars are something to be proud of, not ashamed of.”
A radio station in Edmonton shared the photo, which has been viewed by more than 12 million people and has received over 750,000 likes and 55,000 comments. Many people have also shared photos of their stretch marks in support of Jex-Blake.
