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New levels of body shaming: Why 'arm vagina' is the pits

It’s a new low when it comes to the latest body part to be shamed among female celebs, who have had to bear the brunt of living up to unrealistic beauty standards and perceptions

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Clockwise: Deepika Padukone, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Shraddha Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Jennifer Lawrence and Chrissy Teigen
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Female celebrities have it hard. With each passing year, they are body shamed for different reasons — right from muffin tops (spillage of flesh from a tight waistband), bingo wings (the droop of flesh hanging from middle-aged arms), crankles (chubby ankles) to most recently armpit vaginas (a slight fold of flesh that appears where the arm meets the body). In fact, celebrity stylist Rebecca Corbin-Murray went on to reveal that among other things that stars stress over, armpit vagina is right on top of the list.

Why this phrase is the pits?

It’s the most natural thing to happen, and yet actresses often end up indulging in self-flagellation over armpit vaginas. The phrase was first coined by none other than X-Men star Jennifer Lawrence, who complained about it at the 2014 SAG awards. She told reporters at the time, “I know I have armpit fat, it’s OK... it’s armpit vagina.’ While the actress received a lot of compliments for her look at the time, she, in her usual deadpan style, went on to talk about how she wasn’t feeling comfortable. She said that her dress was ‘squeezing her breasts into her armpits.’  

And while she left it at that, model Chrissy Teigen went as far as going under the knife. In May this year, she revealed that she had gotten liposuction nearly a decade ago to avoid the dreaded armpit vagina. When quizzed about the craziest treatment she had received, she said, “I had my armpit sucked out.” The procedure, she exclaimed, added ‘two inches of length’ to her arms and made her feel more confident while wearing sleeveless shirts.

Avoid stretch fabrics

Fitness experts opine that there aren't any specific workouts for armpit vagina as it’s a natural phenomenon. However, there are a few styling tips that one can follow to avoid it. Designer Nachiket Barve says it’s vital to get the armhole shape of the garment right. He elaborates, “Wear it too in-cut and you get a wrestler’s shoulder. Wear it cut too deep and you risk the dreaded armpit vagina. The depth of the armhole should allow movement but not be too fitted so the excess skin is seen and gets pushed out. So, it’s best to avoid stretch fabrics.” He suggests women with unsightly skin folds should avoid sleeveless and instead try to draw attention to their outstanding features. He concludes, “A cold shoulder or a draped sleeve may also help tackle the problem.”

Use body make-up

The key, according to the image consultant and life coach Chhaya Momaya, is to understand your body type and use some clever styling tips to disguise your perceived flaws. Chhaya says, “Everyone has a body type and what they perceive as flaws. The key is to make sure you disguise them with some clever body make-up and dressing tips. For instance, a sheer shrug can be paired with a body-hugging dress, a shaper can be used underneath to shape and conceal a slight bulge on the tummy, body make-up can be used to hide blue veins or permanent scars and give your skin an even tone. To avoid back cleavage from showing, pick an outfit that’s one size bigger and then alter it as per your body measurements. For a healthy glow on your hands and legs use international celebrity make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury’s leg make-up, but after a point, there’s nothing much you can do. Not giving a damn about what you have no control over can help.”

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