When Brynne Huffman pulled on a pair of shorts on a hot Texas day, little did she know it would lead to her becoming an internet-famous champion of body positivity.
The 39-year-old mother of two has inspired the hashtag shortsonsaturday, encouraging women all over the world to bare their legs regardless of their shape or size.
Heroine indeed. Image: Facebook/Brynne Huffman
It all began with a stranger's snide comment while waiting in line at UPS last weekend.
In a now-viral Facebook post (it's attracted more than 11,000 likes and been shared more than 4800 times), Brynne told of how the person behind her complimented her hair, but told her she ought to "reconsider" her mid-thigh shorts.
Filled with rage, Brynne pleaded with her Facebook friends to shirk social pre-conceptions about body size and stop being hurtful to other women.
"You might have an issue with my body. I don't. And I've worked very hard past judgemental family and friends, past divorce, past depression to NOT have an issue with my body," she wrote.
"Women, do not tear each other down. Celebrate each other. Every day."
And celebrate they did.
Thousands of women commented on Brynne's post to express their support, prompting her to harness the positivity with the #shortsonsaturday campaign.
Here's how it works, she wrote in another Facebook post.
"Step 1: Get a pair of shorts. Buy a new pair or find a pair you own and like.
Step 2: Put on the shorts.
Step 3: Leave the house. Start small. Or go big.
And then...BE SUPPORTIVE. If you see someone else wearing shorts, tell them "love your shorts!" And if you see someone else being shamed, speak up."
Thanks to the overwhelming support, Brynne is well beyond the anger.
"I'm in a wonderful place now! The factors contributing to that are too numerous to count, but I'm lucky. It's been a journey," she told People.
"Your body is your business. Do not tear each other down. Put on your shorts and get out there."
Top Comments
Too cold to wear shorts. :P
Rubbish! I'm in shorts right now!
Way to promote obesity. Sick and tired of all these people coming out on social media to grab all this attention. You're fat get over it. lose some weight and live longer. Yep i said it.
This has nothing to do with promoting obesity at all! (I'm far from obese btw) This has to do with everyone's right to go outside the house & not have strangers comment on their body.. It's OK for someone to love themselves while still not being "perfect" & acknowledging that they may want to make changes etc
Just because someone wants to make changes doesn't mean they should hide away & be ashamed of themselves, how is that in any way healthy?
She is not promoting obesity. She is promoting not being an arsehole.
Yeah. Arthur Dunger wore shorts as well. Let's celebrate his positive inner beauty instead of treating this body type as a mocking joke.
http://photos.connectingsin...
How odd. If someone said an ultra thin person was promoting skinniness it would be censored. How strange that bagging obesity is cool but no comments on the opposite end of the spectrum. She should wear shorts and be happy, personally I would not post about it, but i wouldn't tut tut her either. Women are under so much pressure and there really is only one body type celebrated. Maybe that is why she felt compelled to celebrate herself.