Model Rain Dove praised for video spreading positive message about body hair

‘Hair or not - ugly is a feeling, not an aesthetic’

Curly, straight, dark, light, thick, fair… the hair that grows on the human body comes in many forms.

While it’s entirely natural for the body to grow hair on areas other than the head, some people in society oppose the notion of visible body hair, especially on women.

Rain Dove, a 28-year-old model who believes strongly in not conforming to gender norms, has shared a video on Instagram explaining why we as a society need to eliminate the stigma that surrounds body hair.

In the video Dove can be seen shaving her legs and using scissors to trim her armpit hair, all the while discussing the detrimental effects of beauty ideals dictated by society.

“When people tell you that your body hair is not ‘feminine’ and that you need to get rid of it to be beautiful, here’s what to remember,” she says in the voiceover.

“Whether you’re fuzzy or hairless, you shouldn’t feel ugly for it. Because this isn’t about beauty: it’s about freedom.”

She elaborated further in the caption of the post, explaining that some people’s initial response to the video was that they found it “gross”.

“But I just laughed,” she wrote. “Because to me what is actually ‘gross’ is how much shame people feel for their body being in its natural state.

“Not everyone naturally has body hair, but those that do (especially those that society identifies as ‘female’) are taught from a young age that their hair is disgusting.

“Not of their identity. Not pleasant for others. Something to be ashamed of and removed.”

Dove touched upon the fact that body hair is functional, as it aids with body temperature regulation and helps the body cool when sweating.

Moreover, she explained that choosing whether to grow your hair or remove it is entirely your choice, and not one that should be dictated by idealised beauty standards.

“Because hair or not - ugly is a feeling not an aesthetic,” she wrote. “No amount of shaving or waxing will ever create true beauty.”

Many of Dove’s 240,000 followers commended her for her poignant message.

“Uh yaas! I love you so much! I think you make such a powerful statement and it’s amazing,” one person wrote.

“When will people learn that body hair is normal and every being has the right to do whatever they want with it?” another individual remarked.

Some commenters stated that they found Dove’s choice to glue pubic hair to her face as part of the video unusual.

However, the general consensus was one of praise for breaking down barriers and making an important point about widespread beauty ideals.

In April, 21-year-old model Sophia Hadjipanteli discussed the criticism that she’s received online for choosing to grow and embrace her unibrow.

“When people say it’s disgusting, it’s like what is disgusting about hair on your face, or anywhere?” she told New York Magazine.

“I really want to push people to look at me and to look at a unibrow that they’ve been conditioned to think was kind of weird or maybe something you should get rid of, for them to still say that I was beautiful."