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Whether you’re putting your toes in the sand at the beach or stretching out in the sun poolside, everyone wants to be able to enjoy themselves in the water. Unfortunately, with all the pressure to look good, it can be easy to get wrapped up in how you look.
The easiest way to do that? Be confident in your own skin- even when you’re bearing it all at the beach! For me, the best place to start is choosing a swimsuit that I feel confident in, which means choosing something that helps me hide my FUPA.
So, when it comes to how to hide a FUPA in a swimsuit, what are some quick tips?
Swimsuits come in all types of cuts and styles and choosing certain cuts and patterns will help you hide your FUPA. Choosing swimsuits with a high waist, long skirt, or ruffles helps hide problem areas. You can also opt for sculpting swimwear or try a cover-up or wrap for when you aren’t in the water.
Below, we’ll take a closer look at how you can hide a FUPA in a swimsuit, so you can feel like the most confident version of yourself at the beach!
Should You Wear a 1-Piece or 2-Piece Swimsuit to Hide a FUPA?
It’s pretty common for bigger girls to feel like they should or shouldn’t wear certain articles of clothing. For example, things like two-piece swimsuits, crop tops, and even stripes are pretty controversial in plus size fashion.
I’ll start by saying that if you’ve been following this blog, you probably know it’s my opinion that you should wear anything your heart desires, regardless of your body size. After all, they make clothes in our sizes for a reason.
But, for those people who do want to wear the things that make them feel confident, there are some basic guidelines that you can follow. For starters, it doesn’t matter if you go with a whole swimsuit or a two-piece when it comes to the FUPA.
In fact, high-waisted bikini bottoms are a great place to tuck away a FUPA. While you don’t have to wear a bikini (there are a lot of other cute options), know that if you choose to, there are bikinis that look great whether you’re full-figured or just chubby.
Bottom line? There’s not really any right or wrong answer when it comes to whether a 1-piece or 2-piece swimsuit is better for a curvier woman. It’s all about your preference and whether you feel more confident in a bikini or a 1-piece.
Accentuate Your Favorite Parts of Your Body
When I’m dressing for any occasion, not just the beach, the thing that has helped with confidence the most is accentuating the areas I feel most confident about.
Love your thighs? Choose a swimsuit that shows them off. Love your hips/waist or your butt? Make sure your suit flatters that area.
When you dress to show off the areas you do love on your body, those things you’re worried about like whether you have cellulite showing or if your FUPA is too big to wear that swimsuit don’t seem as important. You’ll feel confident from what you are showing off instead of worrying about the things that don’t really matter.
How to Hide a FUPA in Different Swimsuit Styles
You’ll never catch me telling any woman what she should or should not wear on her body. After all, the best place to start when it comes to being able to enjoy yourself at the beach, even while fat, is choosing a swimsuit that you feel good in.
This means that you choose how much (or how little) skin you want to show. With so many options for plus size swimwear, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at all the variety and how easy it makes it for you to feel confident at the beach.
High-Waisted Bottoms
If you are going to go with a bikini, then high-waisted bottoms are a must if you are trying to hide a FUPA. You see, the thing that I love about anything high-waisted is that it gives my belly that extra support it needs, so it isn’t just flopping around under my clothes.
This is a photo of a friend that I absolutely love because it really just radiates plus size confidence. You can see how the high-waisted bottoms make it easy to hide the FUPA, while still accentuating her curves in all the right places.
I also love that the back on high-waisted swimsuits is usually a little higher, which helps with hiding back fat and really accentuates areas like the backside and thighs.
That being said, high-waisted doesn’t necessarily mean you need to go with this style of cut. You can also find high-waisted skirts and shorts (like this) as bottoms, which is a good choice for women who don’t want to show off as much skin in the back.
1-Piece Swimsuits With Cutouts vs. Full Coverage
While there’s nothing wrong with choosing a swimsuit that offers full coverage, I do love the way that cutouts look on the plus size body. You can show a little bit of skin in the back, or opt for waist cut-outs like this.
I feel like they really show off the shape of the body and that natural hourglass figure that curvier women have. Of course, cutouts aren’t the only way to go. I also love full coverage swimsuits that hug your curves.
This swimsuit, for example, really accentuates the waist and draws attention to the shape of the body. However, it’s not over-the-top showy and there’s plenty of room to hide problem areas.
Swimsuits With Ruffles or Ruches
Ruffles or ruches are also good choices when you have an area you’re trying to cover up. Plus, they’re really cute and stylish. I feel like they just add a little something extra to your swimsuit.
You can go for a ruffle that goes across the waist to hide your FUPA or try out something like this ruched design (see below).
Choosing Swimsuit Colors and Patterns When You’re Plus Size
Once you’ve decided on the cut you want, there are usually several different colors to choose from. This is another thing that comes down to personal preference, however, certain colors and patterns can look better on a plus size body.
For example, when I go with a solid color, I prefer something that has ruches or cutouts instead of something that’s just one solid, blocky color. Without any type of contrast, it’s harder to hide a FUPA.
Something else is that with certain designs (like animal print, stripes, or any other number of colors/styles), it really depends on the individual person and the shape of their body. There’s even the option of mixing patterns, like this.
If you’re shopping online or don’t have the option of trying the swimsuit on first, try looking for comments/pictures from other women that have tried it on. A lot of websites even give you the option to filter based on height, weight, and size!
Consider Sculpting Swimwear
Another alternative that can help if you want that extra edge to feel confident poolside is sculpting swimwear. Sculpting swimwear is made like shapewear in the sense that it uses compression panels to help smooth and sculpt your body.
There will likely be different levels of compression depending on the brand and style of the swimsuit you choose. Keep in mind that sizing when you opt for compression swimwear really matters.
Like shapewear, choosing the wrong size can actually make you look fatter because it pushes fat around and creates rolls instead of providing support like it’s supposed.
Don’t Opt for Shapewear Instead
As you consider sculpting swimwear, you might be wondering if you can wear shapewear under your swimsuit instead. While shapewear is definitely a friend to curvy women, especially those times you want to look your best, at the pool is not one of the times it’s going to give you that polished look you want.
Wearing shapewear under your swimsuit is going to get hot fast, especially if you aren’t in the water. It also might look bulky, cause bunching in your swimsuit, and be hard to keep in place because of the slippery material that most swimsuits are made out of.
In the water, it’s going to restrict your movements and make it harder to swim. Plus, if you still aren’t convinced, wearing shapewear under your swimsuit could cause irritation, skin rashes, or other problems. Save it for those times when you’re trying to hide back fat in a dress at a formal event or dinner instead.
Wear a Cover-Up
Wearing a wrap or cover-up of some kind is a good way to help build your confidence at the beach. Especially if you’re like me and love swimming, but hate the walk back from the water’s edge to wherever you’re laying out.
While you aren’t going to be wearing a cover-up if you’re stretching out in the sun or while you’re in the water, I love it for those in-between times. Plus, if you’re trying out a swimsuit or just aren’t that comfortable on the beach yet, it can kind of help you “get your toes wet” when it comes to developing that confidence to enjoy yourself at the beach.
Walk With Confidence
My final tip? Be sure to walk with confidence when you’re in your swimsuit. You should do this for two reasons.
First, when you walk like you’re confident, you are going to feel more confident. Other people are also going to notice this confidence and treat you like you are confident, which reinforces this in your brain. This is something called biofeedback, and it’s actually used as a treatment for people with low self-esteem.
Second, when you stand up tall, you aren’t scrunching your belly. Most people are aware that when they sit down, they just look bigger. This is because there is less room for your belly, so it’s pushed further outward to accommodate it.
When you walk tall, you just look slimmer. So, stand up straight and don’t be afraid to take up space at the beach or pool, no matter how much you weigh!
How Can I Be More Confident at the Beach?
The thing with confidence is that it’s a state of mind. And in my opinion, it’s one of those things where you fake it ’til you make it.
Basically, act confident until you start to feel confident. Choosing a swimsuit that you love and love how it looks on your body can really help!
It ‘s also really helpful when you feel like your best self at the beach. Be sure you’re hydrated, choose a swimsuit that you love, moisturize your skin beforehand, and consider tanning or painting your toenails if you’d like.
Some people find that being tan makes them feel thinner. When your skin is darker, it appears smoother because the shadows created by cellulite and skin imperfections aren’t as noticeable. (You can find some tips on how to tan when you’re fat here).
Something else that could really help is following some plus size beauties with realistic bodies on social media. When you see someone with your body type and think, “Wow, she’s beautiful”, it makes it a lot easier to feel those same positive thoughts about your own body, too.
Finally, stop comparing yourself. When it comes down to it, nobody’s opinion really matters and when you stop caring, it does wonders for your confidence. Have the confidence to know that you look great regardless of your FUPA or other areas your struggle with.
Final Word
When it comes to how to hide a FUPA in a swimsuit, what matters most is that whatever you are wearing, it makes you feel confident. There are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to plus size fashion, but there are some swimsuits better suited to the curvy, full-figured woman.
Opting for high-waisted swimsuits or bikinis, ruffles that cover the tummy area, or 1-pieces with cut-outs are all a great way to accentuate your favorite areas of your body. You can also opt to cover your FUPA with a swim skirt or cover up.
Hopefully, these tips let you feel your most confident self, so you can focus less on what you look like and more on enjoying yourself in the sun!