Alberta woman responds to stretch mark taunters on Facebook

A Canadian woman sunbathing on the beach was taunted for her stretch marks and recently took to Facebook to call out her alleged bullies.

Tanis Jex-Blake, a 33-year-old mother of five, said she decided earlier this week to bare her not-so-tight tummy in a bikini on Alberta Beach. While she was tanning, she overheard a woman and two men making fun of her.

“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,” wrote Tanis Jex-Blake, of Edson, Alberta on her Facebook page.

“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,” Jex-Blake went on to say.

Jex-Blake’s friends agreed with everything she said and showed plenty of support for her on her Facebook page.

“Well said!! You’re beautiful and have five beautiful babies!! Hugs sweetie!!” wrote Shauna Velestuk.

“You hit it right on lady… Someday the women who give them children will look just like us… And we will feel for them because we know these battle wounds are the greatest blessing ever!” wrote Jadianne Page.

“Tanis, you are an amazing young woman who has earned every stretch mark and supposed imperfection. The proof is in your amazing children. How lucky they are to have a mom who is so morally and ethically above the losers who mocked you,” said Leila Fritz.

Tanis Jex-Blake says she’d like to host a ‘Post-Baby Bikini’ sit in where all sorts of women in their glory can rock their bikinis in pride.

“Not looking for an ego boost or anything, just wish I could spread the word to all women that we should be free to rock our bikini’s no matter what we look like, without fear of being treated how I was,” she wrote on her Facebook page.

Agencies/Canadajournal