A woman has caught the attention of 56 million people after unapologetically showcasing her armpit fuzz and untrimmed pubic hair online – and she doesn’t care what people think
An influencer has rebelled against traditional beauty standards and body-shamers by showing off her armpit and pubic hair.
Dubbed the ‘natural girl’, content creator Martina Peach caught the attention of 56 million viewers with her latest TikTok video, flaunting a skimpy bikini in the pool. And while her physique was certainly a topic of interest in the comments, users were primarily stunned by her armpit fuzz and untrimmed bush, which she proudly flaunts without even a mention. Although “beautiful” and “amazing” were among the uplifting remarks from viewers of Martina’s bold page (@martina_peach), other cruel trolls were quick to shame her body.
“Someone said in the jungle the mighty jungle,” one user joked, as another echoed: “Welcome to the jungle, we got fun and games.” Amidst this however, psychologist Dr Louise Goddard-Crawley claims that content like Martina’s could help bid a buck to typical pressures surrounding body hair.
She told The Mirror: “Western culture has historically placed a high value on women’s beauty, often equating femininity with hairlessness… TikTokers challenging these taboos can indeed help reshape societal norms and encourage more open conversations about beauty standards and gender expectations. By sharing their experiences and promoting body positivity, these influencers can inspire others to question and redefine these deeply ingrained beliefs.”
While choosing to keep or shave body hair is a personal choice, Dr Goddard-Crawley explains that many women are unknowingly influenced by ‘internalised sexism’, living in line with stereotypes due to societal pressure. She added: “Women may perpetuate these stereotypes in an attempt to fit in, gain acceptance, or even assert their own position within a patriarchal society. This has been perpetuated through various channels, including media representation, beauty standards, and even religious beliefs.
“In fact, many women actively contribute to the enforcement of societal expectations around beauty and femininity, including the removal of body hair.”
While Martina doesn’t often comment on her body hair, she’s previously referred to it as ‘normal just like photosynthesis’, adding “Yes, I’m hairy and I go to the beach like this! it’s normal!”
In light of this, Dr Goddard-Crawley argues that Martina may help to create something known as the ‘attractiveness halo effect’ – a phenomenon in which people unconsciously view attractive individuals as more persuasive, intelligent or trustworthy.
“In the case of TikTok influencers advocating for body hair acceptance, their attractiveness may help them reach a wider audience and make their message more palatable to those who might otherwise be resistant to the idea,” she continued.
“This could be seen as both a positive and a negative aspect of the issue – positive in the sense that it helps spread a message of body positivity and acceptance, but negative in the sense that it reinforces the notion that physical appearance determines the worth or validity of one’s ideas.’
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