Bra: The High Cost of Being a D-Cup

Bra: It’s a common stereotype, but let’s face it: who among us girls didn’t have Victoria’s Secret phase at some point in our lives?

I still remember their lip-glosses that would stick to everything and the cute phrases on their PINK undies that were all the rage during my middle school days. Back then, I wasn’t a woman with a 38D cup size. At most, I was a B-cup, but that was still more developed than most of my peers. Those memories are still vivid even now. My body went through early puberty, and while the growth was concentrated mainly in my chest, it had a significant impact on my self-esteem. Hearing remarks from both girls and boys about my breasts being too big only made things worse. To complicate matters, my mother, who is an A-cup and not interested in Victoria’s Secret, couldn’t offer any advice on what kind of bra would be appropriate for me.

As a six-year-old, I had already begun my journey as an athlete, and my first experience with bras was through sports bras. Unfortunately, no one warned me that these types of bras can give you the dreaded uni-boob. I tried every type of bra available in the PINK section — push-ups, lightly lined, strapless — but none of them seemed to fit me properly, leading to feelings of body insecurity.

It wasn’t until high school when a woman in the fitting room measured me that I discovered I had been wearing a 34B all along when in reality, I was a D-cup. After discovering my true bra size, I went on a shopping spree and tried on every style available. It was a brief moment of excitement in an otherwise frustrating journey. Unfortunately, I quickly realized that bras in my size were expensive, even more so than smaller sizes. Despite taking good care of them, the straps on these bras would give out, and the wires would start to poke through the seams. It was frustrating to see these $45 bras fall apart after just a couple of months. While it’s recommended to replace bras every eight months, not everyone has the money for that. Even recently, I went to purchase a sports bra from Victoria’s Secret with my friends, and to my dismay, the price for my size was over $20 more than my friend’s B-cup bra.

During my younger years, I eagerly anticipated watching the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, akin to how some young girls look forward to the Super Bowl. However, as time passed, my perspective shifted. Instead of solely admiring the “flawless” models, I found myself more drawn to the musical guests who exhibited more realistic body shapes. Being a woman who has considered breast reduction surgery on several occasions due to the physical burden they place on my back, it’s disheartening to see how women with larger breasts are often excluded from this prestigious fashion event.

To make matters worse, the fashion magazine Vogue declared cleavage as “over,” which sends a message that certain body types are no longer fashionable. This attitude is not conducive to fostering self-love and acceptance among girls who may already be struggling with body image issues. As a person who has triumphed over a journey of poor body image and low self-esteem, it’s disheartening to witness these highly influential corporations still disregarding or belittling women with diverse body types. To the young girl who recently shed tears over her physical appearance, please understand that you are stunning just the way you are.

Don’t pay attention to the negative messages of these companies or the unkind remarks of others. Your appearance is merely a fraction of who you are — your growth, achievements, and character are what truly matter.

The Bottom Line

In conclusion, while many of us may have had Victoria’s Secret phase at some point in our lives, it’s important to recognize the impact this brand and others like it can have on our self-esteem, particularly for women with diverse body types. The journey toward self-love and acceptance can be difficult, but it’s crucial to remember that our appearance is only one aspect of who we are.

We should not let corporations or negative comments from others define our worth. It’s time for us to celebrate and embrace all body types, regardless of what fashion trends or beauty standards may say.