How Art Modeling Helped Me Embrace My Body
Body confidence is a journey, a long, long journey, a lot of the time feeling lost along the way.
Growing up as an athlete, I was always strong, fast, and competitive, but there was one thing that constantly weighed on me: my chest and overall size. Being an athlete with a small chest, I often felt disconnected from the typical standards of femininity that society celebrates. For years, I struggled with these aspects of my body, wrestling with the idea that I wasn’t “womanly” enough. I thought, “How can I fully embrace my femininity when I don’t even fit the mold of what’s considered feminine?”
This internal battle went on for far too long, shaping the way I saw myself and how I felt about my body. Despite being physically strong, what I like to joke about as being “built like a brick” I felt strong insecurity. My body was rectangular, solid, and powerful, but because it didn’t have the soft curves that are often associated with femininity, I felt I was lacking something.
It wasn’t until I began nude art modeling that my perspective truly started to shift.
When you’re standing in front of an artist, completely exposed, there’s no hiding. Every line, every muscle, every angle of your body is there to be seen. At first, this vulnerability was intimidating. I thought my insecurities would be magnified, that my small chest and my “unfeminine” physique would be scrutinized. But the exact opposite happened. Instead of focusing on what I thought were flaws, the artists saw me as a whole. My strength, my unique shape, and yes, even my chest, became part of a larger story. A story of the human body in its raw, natural form.
Through the eyes of artists, I began to see my body as art itself. My rectangular shape wasn’t something to hide, but something to celebrate. The more I modeled, the more I realized how much beauty there was in diversity. Art doesn’t require a certain body type, a specific measurement, or a predefined idea of femininity. It celebrates what is, not what’s “supposed to be.”
Nude modeling helped me reframe how I saw myself. My small chest, which once felt like a symbol of everything I wasn’t, became just one part of my story. I started to see my body as a powerful, unique aesthetic rather than something that didn’t measure up. I found feminine energy in my strength, in my presence, and in the lines and angles of my form.
And yes, I still have days where I struggle to feel feminine. Some habits and insecurities die hard. But now, I look at my body with a deeper appreciation and love. My “brick” physique is mine, and it’s a part of me that I truly love.
What I hope others can take from this experience is the idea that body confidence isn’t about reaching perfection or fitting into society’s standards. It’s about finding love for yourself in every stage of the journey, even the parts that feel uncomfortable. Whether it’s through art, movement, or simply accepting yourself a little more each day, confidence is a process.
For me, nude modeling became a powerful tool in that process, a mirror that reflected not just my physical body, but the strength, resilience, and beauty that lie beneath the surface. It showed me that bodies are meant to be seen, celebrated, and embraced.