MY JOURNEY

My portrait came.. I love it so much. 

I have been on quite a journey this year with my vulva. I went to a yoni healing. I had a lot of deep issues and pain held deep within my yoni. I had disrespected myself and my precious vulva. I had no conscious understanding of how the vulva opens up and invites the man in for sex. I had painfully had sex for years by not allowing the wetness to be created but for the penetration to occur before she allowed it. 

She should be worshipped as she is the entry point to the world. She holds so much power. 

I thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for doing this beautiful portrait for me.. I love it. 

R. - 34 years old

FOREVER GRATEFUL

I would be honoured to be a part of your Vulva gallery and share my story. I love how you are putting it out there that every [vulva] is different and that although some are different it doesn't mean that they are weird or wrong. I stumbled upon your Instagram a few months back and it helped me to realise that I shouldn't be ashamed of my [vulva] just because it may look a little different than other ones. I used to be so self conscious about it, and even was self conscious with my boyfriend of 3 and a half years because it didn't look like other ones I've seen. I thought that having bigger labia was weird and unattractive. But you have made me love myself even more. And for that I am forever grateful! And I always look forward to seeing what new vulvas you draw and post! That is my story and thank you for telling others!! :) ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

A. - 20 years old

I'VE NEVER FELT MORE COMFORTABLE THAN I FEEL NOW

I've been following your Instagram account for a while and it's incredible how something so "simple" can be so empowering!

Growing up I struggled with my own vulva (my mons pubis specific as I learned how its called here, with you) and I never really knew how to address or talk about it with anyone. It's crazy, because nobody never said anything bad to me, bullied me for it or anything like that, but I'd still feel really bad about it. I leave in Rio, Brazil, and while everybody else was going to the beach I would struggle to wear a bikini and let it show. See, I was feeling down for not fitting into some standard and I didn't even realise it. In my head it was just wrong.
I remember when I first heard that you could do a reduction surgery on it. I was about 17 years old and I wanted to do it so badly.. and I've always been kinda against plastic surgery. 
Talking to my mom very briefly about the surgery was as close as I ever got to expose how I felt to someone else.

I never got it done and today I'm very happy for it. I've never felt more comfortable and confident about it than I feel now, after I found this account! It's clear to me now that much of what I went trough could've been avoided if only work like yours had been presented to me at school age (and there should be a similar one for boys too). I've always believed diversity was beautiful, but it took me a little longer to see it in everything, in every aspect of our bodies and life. It feels good to finally speak so openly about this. I promise I'll try to do it it more often so maybe I can help others too. 

Thank you so, so much. You can't imagine how important and meaningful your work is.
Much love and vulva power! 

H. - 25 years old

I THINK TO MYSELF NOW: "WHAT A CUTE PUSSY"

Like many others have said before me, I haven’t always loved the look of my vulva.  When I was younger, I remember noticing that my inner labia were growing longer (one more than the other) and I felt uncomfortable with that, so I would tuck them inside my outer labia (and still do sometimes to this day).  Watching pornography, I would compare myself to the women on the screen and sadly, felt unrepresented as there weren’t many vulvas quite like mine.  It came to a point where I even considered labiaplasty, but I look back and am so relieved I didn’t.  I have a wonderful partner, who loves me, respects me, and has helped me feel more comfortable with my vulva.  I am also so thankful for you, Hilde.  I think it’s so important for women to see the variety of vulva in the world.  Your art has certainly moved me and had it not been for you, I don’t think I would look at my vulva in the same way as I do now.  Looking at the photo I sent to you and seeing your beautiful painting, I think to myself, “what a cute pussy”, words I would’ve never dreamed of saying many moons ago. Thank you!

D. - 29 years old

A MILLION OF NORMAL SHAPES AND COLOURS

I just want to say thank you. Really. I like my vulva. I mean, I used to think that my vulva was like all the vulvas in the world, because it's like how the vulvas in the media look. (And all the other vulvas I've seen look like that. I guess I don't really see so much of them in my life, so it might have been just a coincidence).

So, when I found the vulva gallery, I felt really ashamed. I didn't have idea that there are soooooo many types of vulvas. Actually, I feel a little stupid - ok, not "a little", I feel REALLY stupid- but now I know, and even tell my best friends: "Hey, did you know about this... it's amazing!". You work is beautiful and useful. I hope someday all people love their vulvas just the way they are. And, maybe, in the future, when somebody says "a normal vulva", we will ask "ok, which of a million of normal shapes and normal colours of vulvas?". That would be nice.

So, thank you again!!

Love to you!

M. - 28 years old

I ALMOST GOT A LABIAPLASTY - BUT I WON'T NOW

Thank you for what you do! I wish I'd seen pictures like this years ago - I've hated how I look for nearly 20 years and I almost got a labioplasty. I had been for a labioplasty consultation as well and was in the process of arranging the finance for the procedure so I really was so close to doing it. I won't now. You've saved me £3000!

I think that realistic pictures of the human body like this should be part of education - not just for girls, but for boys too, who are seeing mountains of distorted images in porn online. It's just as damaging for them as it is for us.  

I will 100% show my daughters pictures like this (when I have some).

Thanks

HAPPY AND EMPOWERED

I, like many, went through a whole body image phase, and believe it or not my vulva was the biggest issue I have had to grapple with! Nobody has ever decided they wanted to showcase body beauty in such a real way that I have responded to. I have never felt more comfortable with myself, than I had once I stumbled across your Instagram.

Words cannot express how happy and empowered this portrait you've done has made me feel! Thank you so very much, I wasn't expecting to feel so emotional over a painting of my vulva but I AM! I have always struggled with self image issues, specifically with the size and aesthetic of my inner labia. Before you and your work, and every informative and positive story or comment, I had no idea how diverse and beautiful our bodies can be. This has empowered me and helped beat that pesky self image issue.

Thank you so very much for allowing me to be a part of this amazing portfolio and message.

S. - 24 years old

ASYMMETRICAL VULVA

I just want to thank you for creating this beautiful website and making women feel comfortable in their own skin. 

Since I was a young girl I felt very insecure about my asymmetrical vulva, and I didn't learn that it was completely normal until I was in my late teens. A lack of decent sex education and early exposure to porn did not help me, and I actually thought about cutting my own labia. Now I'm in my late twenties I am very happy with how I look, in part at least because of brilliant projects like this one, which spread the word about the diversity of women's bodies. 

Thanks so much and keep up the good work!

L. - 27 years old

I WAS A FLOWER BUD WAITING TO BLOSSOM

I'd like to share my vulva story from the point of view of a non-binary person :)

I never really hated my pussy, I was never insecure about it, I never compared my vulva to other vulvas... because I for a very long time felt no connection whatsoever. I never really noticed it. Never did I wonder what was down there, how it looks like, tastes like or smells like. However, upon discovering the bliss of masturbation, I noticed something else emerge: fear and shame. Fear of my vulva. I didn't dare to touch it! I discovered a quick and effective method to satisfy myself without the need of touching whatever was down there. And shame for being sexual in some way, for wanting to feel pleasure.
Those feelings continued to dwell in the back of my mind as I played and pleasured myself. Some time passed and I began questioning my sexuality and gender. I identified as asexual, and no longer was I a girl, rather non binary. This, while helping me feel more free and more like myself, created an even greater distance in connecting with my vulva.
It wasn't until, with the help of a friend, I took a step out of my comfort zone and a step closer to my vulva. I began to open up, I dared to touch my vulva and discover it's hills and valleys, delicate crevasses and sensitive peaks. I slowly started to form a bond with my forbidden garden. Through masturbation, I connected even more with myself and my sexuality flourished and evolved (my asexuality naturally changed into pansexuality, both of which are valid). Nonetheless, I began to struggle with the notion that vulva equals woman, and that menstruation equals woman. With small steps and long nights of talking with myself, I let go of that thought and my vulva no longer was a body part of a woman. It became a part of me, spiritually and physically. I also became fascinated by my menstrual cycle, learning to see it as something natural and beautiful, the complete opposite of what society teaches us.

After a long journey, I evolved to be sexually open and fearless, in love with my vulva, with my menstrual cycle, with myself. I have fully accepted my gender, my sexuality, my vulva, all of me. All along I was a flower bud waiting to blossom... And with time, patience and love, I did.

C. - 19 years old

I'M STARTING TO FEEL BETTER ABOUT IT

I'm 21 years old, and I still struggle with being comfortable with my vulva--more specifically my clitoris and long inner labia. I was born 4 months early and while I'm lucky I don't suffer from any major health problems, they put me on steroids to mature my lungs as they weren't ready for oxygen yet. The steroids created what is known as "preemie clitoris" which is the enlargement of it. I'm extremely self conscious but through the support of my boyfriend as well as others, I'm starting to feel better about it.

- W., 21 years old

MY VULVA IS BEAUTIFUL WITH HAIR

First of all, I love my vulva. I love it because it's small and pink. I like it's shape and all. But the thing that is very difficult to me is that I have a lot of hair. Everywhere. So it's very difficult to shave it. I have hair in every part of my vulva, so I felt that my vulva was disgusting. In all my sexual experiences, though, nobody has ever told me anything about my hair. But I'm still ashamed. But I made the determination to not shaving my vulva hair only because society teaches us that we have to be hairless. I have to learn to love my hair, because my vulva is beautiful with hair.

F. - 23 years old

BUTTERFLY WINGS

When I was younger I was ashamed of my vulva, mostly because of porn and a young (very rude / very hurt) ex boyfriend who said one very nasty comment... it stuck with me for a long time. After that, I always manipulated sexual situations to make sure the lights were turned off. I didn't let my own partners see me... not even after years. But as I grew a bit older and braver and began dating quality men, my self-love also began to grow. Seeing vulva art also made me realize how much variety there is, and how beautiful each one is.

One day, I grabbed a hand-held mirror and observed my own vulva. I was surprised at what I saw. It was as if I was afraid to look at it, but when I did, I saw so much beauty. The folds and shape resemble butterfly wings – Graceful, delicate, feminine folds. And the gradient of pink, mauve and golden skin is stunning! After gaining that appreciation and confidence, I took a very courageous leap of faith and allowed my partner to see me, fully... broad daylight, wide open! He told me how beautiful it is. And all of my partners since then have said exactly the same. They adore it! 

It fills my heart to finally give myself the love and adoration my vulva deserved all along. 

Thank you so much for your lovely art!

YOU CAN STILL BE CONFIDENT NO MATTER WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE

I just wanted to thank you for having a page like this! I was 14 when I had the labiaplasty surgery. I felt like something was wrong with me and that boys would never want to touch me. My mom even freaked out, so I definitely thought something was wrong with me. Luckily there's this page that spreads awareness that not all vulva's look the same and you can still be confident no matter what you look like down there. I hope that some girl struggling with her body stumbles across this page and sees that her body is normal and beautiful too. Although I can't go back in time and reverse the surgery I am happy that other girls have this outlet. Keep being awesome! 

I'M FEELING A LOT MORE POSITIVE ABOUT MY BODY

I just want to say that being subscribed to you for the past couple of days has already supported a shift in my relationship with my own body! I'm feeling a lot more positive and comfortable about it. Thank you, you're doing such a beautiful thing! 🌸💗🌺

FLAUNT WHAT WE GOT AND WORK WITH IT

Your Instagram basically changed my life. I've always been so insecure about how my vagina looks and I've always been scared to have sex with the lights on because my lips are much larger and stick out much more than those "perfect pussies". Your Instagram made me feel so much better, because it's not only me that goes through this unnecessary thought process, it's all of us. And it shouldn't be, because we can't even do anything about what it looks like; all we can do is flaunt what we got and work with it, and accept it and not be ashamed. So thank you for helping me cope with something I've never even had the courage to talk about.

LOCKER ROOMS

I am a college swimmer and have been competitively swimming my entire life. Because of the nature of the locker room, I have seen more than a normal amount of female parts. My experiences in locker rooms and exposure to online nudity/porn has allowed me to appreciate the fact that no two vulvas are the same. In fact, I find the concept to be extremely beautiful. 

Though I have been able to value the the uniqueness of the vulvas of other girls, I have failed to appreciate my own. My labia minora hang far below my labia majora, and the hood on my clit is very visible, even from a few meters away. Through my swimming career I have always grown out my pubic hair in a (poor) effort to hide my privates. 

This year I have been trying to face my insecurities head on by accepting my vulva and shaving away my pubic hair. Hairless is so much more comfortable in a swimsuit!

I still become a bit uncomfortable when I see my labia lips reflecting in the mirror, but pushing myself to accept them has brought me a long way from the discomfort I grew up with. When I see your posts on Instagram, I am reminded to love my vulva, and appreciate my vulva's beauty as much as I appreciate other ladies' unique vulvas.

Again, thank you for your encouragement! 

"HOW IT SHOULD LOOK" & HOW BODY POSITIVITY CHANGED ME

From a young age, (twelve) I was worried that my vulva wasn't normal, and I stressed about it for years. Years of worrying about my body later, I resorted to looking up porn, out of curiosity of what it was "supposed to look like" and I was horrified. I was horrified that my body didn't look like theirs. I even began to think of my body as disgusting. I didn't even want to look at it in the shower because it made me want to cry.. I also started hearing comments at school, about the way labia should look, and about how a "loose" vagina always had larger outer labia. Although the actual comments made were much more crude. And it hurt me so deeply, and I began to truly believe that my body was this awful, revolting thing that I should never think about. I never thought I could love that part of myself.

Until the body positivity movement began to become pronounced. I started seeing these beautiful, raw photos of women baring their belly rolls and their stretch marks with these amazing smiles. It moved me. It took a long time, years in fact, but slowly I started to love myself more. And the last thing to conquer, was my repulsion of my vulva, in particular my labia. The vulva gallery helped me tremendously on my journey, and now I can finally say that I've conquered that final obstacle. Yes there will be moments of insecurity, but I'll never again look at myself and be truly disgusted. How could I ever think that about myself? About this most intimate part of me?

The vulva gallery is truly a beautiful thing, and I wouldn't be the same person as I am now without it. I can't explain how much better I feel, there are no words. I guess true happiness comes the closest. Once you're at peace with yourself you can focus on bringing that peace into other people's lives and I plan on doing just that. Much love 💚

YOUR SCARS ARE NOT A FLAW

Ever since puberty, I have had pimples turn up on my bum and bikini line. I was so humiliated by them and terrified at the thought of  anyone ever seeing my vulva and bum because of it. Shaving my pubic hair irritated the hair follicles really badly and would cause pimples again. After many years of this, my bikini line was left with dark purple Acne scars, and I still get the occasional pimple on the bikini line. I felt disgusting, gross, and frankly repulsive to any possible sexual partners. I remember wanting to only have sex with lights dim or off so they couldn't see. How could they not stare at the marks on me? How would they not be repulsed if they had oral sex with me? I felt intense insecurity and shame over the marks on my bikini line, especially since I couldn't find any images of people similar to me.

However, as I researched, I learnt many people with vulvas also had acne marks and scar marks on their bikini line and sides of mons pubis like I did. The online world gave me tips to help lessen the colouring of the scarring and tips on how to keep my vulva healthy, and knowing others were like me deeply comforted my fears.

After three separate sexual partners, I realised how irrational my fear of repulsion was. Most people who want to be intimate with you aren't going to stare and judge your body parts, they are there because they want to be intimate with you. I have had supportive and loving partners, who have complimented my vulva knowing how insecure I am which has helped me.

I still have difficulty accepting my scars and vulva sometimes. I still sometimes get shy and embarrassed by my scars. I know I'll always have some level of insecurity over my vulva and bikini line, but with research, respect and love from partners, I have learnt to take some measure of love in my scars. They are an extension of my body, and though some may seem them as flaws (including myself at times), I know these scars are just my bodies path into forming the human I am today, forming my body into a grown up from child.

For anyone finding trouble accepting their marks and scars in such intimate areas, I suggest baby steps. Start with simply learning your body, learning you. You will eventually find love in your individuality, in your quirks, slowly but surely.

I LOVE MY MONS PUBIS

I have always been a slightly bigger-than-average woman. I was aware of it when I was a kid and I secretly longed to be like the rest of the girls in my class: they were petit and gracious whereas I was quite concerned about what I looked like as a whole. My very specific problem was my tummy so I didn't analyse my body beyond that, I didn't even think about my mons pubis. 'Luckily' someone made me aware of how fat, big and ugly it was. It was essential to hide it.

Going to the beach was a great deal. I had my swimsuits either made or chosen with a fringe to conceal my 'big' mons. I was not allowed to lie down on the sand without bending one or both of my legs. It was not proper. My mons was large. I do remember well the first time I just lied down (not so long ago)... It gave me a sour-sweet taste: I was not decent but what was wrong with it? It turned out to be delightful. No body looked at it!!! It was absolutely normal!

I became a happy teenager who had to be on a diet once a year. One of those diets was the preparation for a mons liposuction. The only thing that prevented me from it was the cost. If I had the money, I would have gone through it.

Many years passed. Now I'm a grown-up and I have reconsidered all this. I can say that I did not have a problem with my mons pubis. Someone else did and made me think it was my problem when, in reality, it was hers. She was successful because I felt ashamed of it for years.

Oddly enough, none of my partners complained about it. My mons was loved and pampered and I was encouraged to love it as it is. It was so good to have compliments and warm words. They reminded me that every woman is beautiful as are their mons. I will never cover it again. I am determined to love me.

SWIMMING COSTUME

It is by complete chance that I came across this profile! And I'm actually feeling quite emotional right now. Thank you so so so much for having this profile here - I have always thought that the way I 'look down there' is abnormal and strange and weird and even 'off-putting' because it doesn't look like the diagrams in textbooks etc. I'm so happy I came across this page - it has now given me such an appreciation for my own unique body. Thank you so much! It's incredibly empowering and inspiring.

By the way, I've now started wearing a swimming costume without shorts! And I'm proud of it. Thank you for giving me the confidence to do so!