Woman Convinces Shape Magazine To Publish Bikini Muffin Top Photo

This lady says this photo was part of her transformation from chubby lumpkins to fit and fly

Woman Convinces Shape Magazine To Publish Bikini Muffin Top Photo

A formerly overweight woman who was chosen to be featured in an issue of SHAPE magazine put the publication on blast after they initially refused to include a photo of her in a two-piece bikini (shown above) that showed off her un-flattering stomach.

via THG

Brooke Birmingham will be featured in Shape Magazine after all.

Over the past few months, the 28-year old Illinois resident has risen to online fame through her blog (Brooke: Not on a Diet), which chronicles her 170-pound weight loss.

The story caught the attention of Shape editors, who asked to publish a photo of Brooke’s incredible feat… only to back out when she provided them with the following image:

Told it was “policy” for the publication to only run images of subjects with their shirts on, Birmingham was applauded for basically calling out this BS excuse to NOT post a picture of her stomach rolls.

“If I couldn’t have the picture of me in my bikini to go along with my story, then it wasn’t MY story,” she wrote a few weeks ago. “The story I wanted to tell and shout out to the world, not their ideal story. So, if I couldn’t tell it my way, then they weren’t going to be able to tell it at all.”

Now, however, we’re proud to say Brooke has won her battle.  Along with other “real” women, she’ll be featured in an upcoming Shape spread.

Kudos to this woman for being brave enough to share her story with millions who will surely read the issue…but what are your thoughts on this photo?