‘Stretch marks are a gift from Mother Nature’: Pregnant Ashley James shows off her blossoming baby bump as she reflects on her battle with body image
She has spoken candidly about her issues with body confidence in the past.
And Ashley James reflected on her battle with her image as she penned an empowering post alongside a radiant bikini snap that showcased her baby bump.
The pregnant DJ, 33, looked radiant in a vibrant turquoise bikini on the sandy shores of Cornwall as she shared a stunning snap of ‘bump’s first time at the beach’ on Monday.
Beach babe: Ashley James embraced her blossoming baby bump in a bright turquoise bikini on the sandy shores of Cornwall on Monday
In one of the snaps, the former Made In Chelsea star tugged on her blue bikini bottoms whilst posing for the camera.
Ashley opted for a stylish coordinated turquoise bikini that revealed her growing baby bump and enhanced her radiant glow.
She paired the look with a beaded sea-shell necklace and dangling gold earrings.
Baby on the way: The Made In Chelsea star, 33, looked radiant as she opted for a minimal makeup look and natural ombré tresses whilst she caressed her baby bump
Candid: In her caption, Ashley divulged her struggle to feel content with her physique, but she explained how pregnancy has made her finally embrace her ‘amazing’ body
The TV personality let her ombré tresses fall in a natural loose wave and she opted for an au naturel make up look.
In a second snap posted online, Ashley cradled her baby bump and gave a delicate smile.
In her caption, Ashley divulged her struggle to feel content with her physique, but she explained how pregnancy has made her finally embrace her ‘amazing’ body.
She said: ‘Bump’s first time at the beach. I’ve obviously done a lot of work on my body image over the years, but I’ve never been more in awe of it as I am now.
‘I absolutely love getting to watch my body grow and evolve to grow a tiny human.
‘I mean, I could do without the boob pain and it’s getting harder to fit in my clothes, but otherwise I can’t imagine judging myself harshly as life grows inside me.
‘I read that a lot of women don’t take many images of their body whilst pregnant due to insecurity about the way they look, and that 41% of pregnant women feel bad about their body image.
‘Honestly diet culture has a lot to answer for as does the fact that social media is now serving me ad after ad of weight loss stuff amongst all the baby s**t.’
No filter: The celebrity DJ declared to her followers that she does not use any image retouching and frequently posts candid snaps of her body to encourage others to love the skin they’re in
Ashley added that she finds tracking her baby’s development and growth, and engaging in a form of exercise everyday is the secret to feeling happy with her body.
She also believes it is important to see stretch marks as a ‘gift from Mother Nature’ and to remember that the way her body looks is something to be celebrated not punished.
The celebrity DJ announced on Instagram last week, that she is expecting a baby with her boyfriend of nine months, Tom Andrew.
Ashley spent six years single before settling down with tech professional Tom in October, however, the couple first met ten years ago
The blond beauty admitted she was never particularly maternal, but she has found a new form of elation and contentment with her impending motherhood.
The couple’s commitment to one another has blossomed with Tom giving Ashley a Cartier Trinity ring, although she insists that they’re ‘not interested’ in engagement or marriage, and want the accessory to ‘symbolise’ them and their baby as a family.
New couple: Ashley spent the last six years single before she began dating her boyfriend of nine months, tech professional Tom Andrew, and announced their pregnancy earlier this year