Bluebella has arranged an incredible underwater lingerie shoot with Team GB Olympians Kate Shortman and Isabelle Thorpe for its new #BeStrongBeBeautiful campaign celebrating female empowerment. The pair, who are among Team GB’s leading contenders for gold medals in Japan in Artistic Swimming, wants young girls to know that women’s athletic bodies are beautiful and they should not feel ashamed to look physically strong.
Kate and Isabelle, both from Bristol, are backing Bluebella’s campaign to get more girls back into sport, as half of secondary school girls drop out after the age of 13 due to body issues. Izzy said: “I was self-conscious about my body growing up, but now I celebrate it and I think it reflects all my hard work. I would love it if this Bluebella campaign helps to show young female teenagers out there that to be strong is to be beautiful.”
Bluebella founder Emily Bendell adds: “We have to change the perception that the strong female form is not ‘feminine’. The idea that strength and femininity do not go together is a really damaging perception for keeping women in sport but also more broadly. We are thrilled that two of our most exciting Olympians Izzy and Kate are supporting #BeStrongBeBeautiful and helping to challenge attitudes which are sadly still too prevalent. We are in awe of the dedication and skill that goes into competing at the highest level and we are so excited to watch Kate and Izzy at the games in Tokyo.”
