Brooke Shields started wearing revealing bikinis at 53 for the most empowering reason

We’re here for this.

brooke shields
(Image credit: REX)

We’re here for this.

Brooke Shields may be a world-famous model and actress, with one of the most enviable bikini bodies around, but according to the 53-year-old, she has only just started having the body confidence to wear revealing swimwear.

The reason? It’s all about her daughter, and how she wants to empower her to be confident in herself.

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‘We all have different body types and spend so much of our time comparing ourselves with others,’ Brooke wrote in a personal essay for InStyle US. ‘But I’ve found if you look at your individual physiological structure and play up the strong points, it’s empowering. It’s not in my DNA to be waiflike, so I ask, “What do I have?” and highlight that.’

She continued: ‘To be honest, I was never concerned with being in shape on the set of [1980’s] The Blue Lagoon because I was only 15 and hadn’t even developed yet. When I began working out later, it was about high-impact carb burning — the more I’d sweat, the better I thought I had exercised.’

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But Brooke has now changed her opinions, going on to explain, ‘only recently, while meeting with a trainer in preparation for knee surgery, have I become fully cognizant of how to strengthen my muscles. That’s why I was so proud to post these bikini pictures on Instagram: I had been working so hard.’

‘I used to wear these bathing suits that practically came to my knees. My oldest daughter would say, “That makes you look so big and uncomfortable.” I realized I had to be confident in my skin to set the right example for her.’

Here, here, Brooke.

Jenny Proudfoot
Features Editor

Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. She has worked at Marie Claire UK for seven years, rising from intern to Features Editor and is now the most published Marie Claire writer of all time. She was made a 30 under 30 award-winner last year and named a rising star in journalism by the Professional Publishers Association.