Model Barbie Ferreira Proudly Shows Her Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are a right of passage. It means you’re growing. You’re human. You’re alive. Yesterday, plus-sized model, Barbie Ferreira posted a photo of her #tigerstripes showing the world how beautiful she is without having society’s idea of the perfect body. Her self-acceptance is quite impressive (and very refreshing) especially at a time when models strive to be skinny and free of "flaws."

In the post, Ferreira wrote, "Mi lil stripes are out here. Soothing them with vitamin e oil n noticing how cute my body can be despite lil changes !!!"

While the teen model soothes them with vitamin E oil, there's really nothing on the market that actually diminishes marks. "Nothing works. Let's start with that," Jeannette Graf, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City told Allure. "Sometimes people will use Fraxel [lasers] or certain resurfacing treatments to try to shrink or minimize them," says Graf. "It might work temporarily, but it doesn't last."

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More on why we embrace all types of curves:

1. Model Barbie Ferreira Explains the One Thing You Should Never Say to a Curvy Girl
2. Nike's Body-Positive Bra Campaign Is All About the Curves
3. Aerie Celebrates Body Empowerment With Real Women

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Regardless of her stretch marks, Ferreira is on a mission to promote self-care and acceptance. “Curvy models aren’t usually thought of as models,” the model told Time.  “But everyone being called a “curvy model” or a “plus-size” model is breaking the boundary. We’re trying to get rid of this labels and boxes and just be models of all shapes and sizes.”

In August Aerie tapped her to be a part of its photoshop-free campaign, but the 19-year-old has also been in a host of other campaigns with Lane Bryant and even mega-retailer, Target.

And Ferreira isn't alone.

Even supermodel Chrissy Teigen shared that she comes from a stretch mark–prone family. "I have them all over my butt and inner thighs," she told Allure. "Luckily, I'm with a man who could not care less about them or else I would be insecure."

And if there’s one thing we learned from Ferreira and any other woman in support of body positivity, it’s to always be yourself. There's no flaw in that.

Now check out model Myla Dalbesio's body-positive poem: