Sara McGinnis
posted in CelebritiesVanessa Carlton isn't the kind of singer you typically find in a belly-baring crop top, but as a new mom she recently felt inspired to share two very different photos of her post-baby body.
Take a moment to check out the side-by-side images the 35-year-old, who previously suffered an ectopic pregnancy, shared on Facebook.
“Normally exposing myself like this would feel mortifying and inappropriate to me, but given what I've been seeing online and knowing the way young girls and boys are affected by what they see, well, I feel moved to do this,” the mother of 14-month-old Sidney wrote.
To her fans she continued, "Given this little platform that I have I just want to encourage young people to take themselves out of this cycle the best they can. I'm a 35-year-old woman. I'm in good shape. I can fit in a sample size sometimes. I've had a three abdominal surgeries."
If you look carefully, Vanessa's c-section scar is visible in the photo on the left.
"These photos aren't filtered and if I tried really hard I could make my abs look perfect and then post it online and make a bunch of young girls feel like sh-t about their own abs," the woman pictured here in her pregnancy days continued. "But my abs can also look like they do on the right. I'm presenting the whole picture. I carried an over-8-pound baby for what felt like 16 months. I'd say I earn both of these shots."
Vanessa Carlton went on to write in her closing remarks:
"But all you social media devotees know that life online can be adorable and funny and connected and it can also be a manifestation of deep insecurity and faux perfection. In my opinion we are beautiful when we are kind and empathetic and curious and laughing. Explore the world. Get off your damn phone. Spoken like a mom right? Ps. This is a message to myself too."
Isn't that entire post wonderful? I'm hoping you're nodding yes -- but I honestly won't be too surprised if you're not. I've been pleased to see other celebrity moms show off their post-baby bodies before, only to hear from our readers they're not impressed. The gist of it, I believe, is many of you don't feel kudos are deserved for the "bravery" it takes to show your midsection if said midsection happens to be darn-near perfect.
Vanessa's stomach, even though she did show a slightly roll-y, hunched over photo, certainly isn't anywhere near overweight or covered in stretch marks. Even I can see that, but I do still love her words!
Photo: Henry Lamb/Photowire/BEImage/BEI/Shutterstock
BabyCenter moms share photos of their c-section scars:
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