{"id":437470,"date":"2026-03-24T21:27:05","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T20:27:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/?p=437470"},"modified":"2026-03-24T21:27:05","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T20:27:05","slug":"rides-bonheur-mere-affiche-peau-naturelle-divise-toile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/wrinkles-happiness-mother-natural-skin-divides-canvas-437470","title":{"rendered":"&quot;Happiness wrinkles&quot;: at 32, this mother shows off her natural skin and divides the internet"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In an age of filters and perfectly smoothed skin, showing one&#39;s natural face can become a truly political act. This is the choice a young American mother made by displaying her unretouched wrinkles. The result: a wave of reactions as intense as they were contrasting.<\/p>\n<h2> An unfiltered video to celebrate living skin<\/h2>\n<p> Meg Gray, a mother of three, decided to share a video of herself without makeup or filters on Instagram. In this Reel, published at the end of February 2026, she appears with her fine lines, visible pores, and dark circles, openly displaying skin that she describes as &quot;full of life.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Her message is simple, yet powerful: learn to see the beauty in real aging. For her, each mark tells a story\u2014the shortened nights, the bursts of laughter, the intense emotions of motherhood. She even chooses to rename her wrinkles &quot;happy wrinkles,&quot; a way of giving them a positive dimension and moving beyond the guilt-inducing discourse often associated with aging. <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DV62QADEVmv\/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\"> View this post on Instagram <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"> <a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DV62QADEVmv\/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Meg Gray | mom + postpartum creator (@mamagraysdays)<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2> A tidal wave of reactions on social media<\/h2>\n<p> The video did not go unnoticed. It quickly racked up millions of views and thousands of comments. On one hand, the criticisms poured in. Some internet users judged her appearance &quot;abnormal&quot; for her age, while others mocked a supposed <em>&quot;bad skincare routine.&quot;<\/em> A few even went so far as to suggest she was using <em>&quot;a filter to look older,&quot;<\/em> proof that natural beauty has sometimes become hard to believe online.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, a wave of support is emerging. Many comments praise her authenticity, her approach, and her courage. Some people even thank her <em>&quot;for showing a more realistic image of skin in your 30s.&quot;<\/em><\/p>\n<h2> A mirror of unrealistic expectations<\/h2>\n<p> Beyond individual reactions, this post highlights a broader phenomenon: the gap between idealized images on social media and the reality of bodies. In a world where faces are often retouched, filtered, and standardized, seeing natural skin can almost seem disconcerting. Yet, what Meg Gray shows is simply\u2026 human.<\/p>\n<p>Her story resonates deeply with many mothers who recognize themselves in this visible fatigue, these features marked by daily life, and these physical transformations linked to aging. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/mom-of-three-shares-natural-skin-32-not-prepared-backlash-11722115\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">She also highlights the gap<\/a> between representation and reality, reminding us that current standards can be difficult, even impossible, to achieve.<\/p>\n<h2> Reclaiming one&#39;s image, at one&#39;s own pace<\/h2>\n<p> Behind this video lies a personal journey: learning to accept one&#39;s face as it is today. A process that can take time, especially in a society where youth is often held up as an ideal.<\/p>\n<p>If this statement is so divisive, it&#39;s undoubtedly because it touches on something profound: our relationship with image, time, and self-acceptance. By showing her face unfiltered, Meg Gray isn&#39;t trying to impose a model, but to open a discussion. She reminds us that beauty isn&#39;t limited to smooth, even skin, and that your face can reflect a rich, intense, and fully lived life.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, this story raises a crucial question: what if you allowed your reality a little more space, without trying to smooth it over? Between criticism and messages of support, one thing is certain: this approach is generating a lot of discussion. And in a world saturated with perfect images, it already feels like a small revolution.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In an age of filters and perfectly smoothed skin, showing one&#39;s natural face can become a truly political...","protected":false},"author":8385,"featured_media":437471,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_msn":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-437470","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bodypositive"],"image":{"medium":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Des-rides-de-bonheur_-_-a-32-ans-cette-mere-affiche-sa-peau-naturelle-et-divise-la-toile-200x113.jpg",200,113,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Des-rides-de-bonheur_-_-a-32-ans-cette-mere-affiche-sa-peau-naturelle-et-divise-la-toile-500x281.jpg",500,281,true]},"custom":{"td_video":"","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Des-rides-de-bonheur_-_-a-32-ans-cette-mere-affiche-sa-peau-naturelle-et-divise-la-toile.jpg","author":{"name":"Julia Perez","avatar":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cropped-julia_perez-96x96.jpg"},"categories":[{"term_id":6140,"name":"Body positive","slug":"bodypositive","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":6312,"taxonomy":"category","description":"<p>The Body positive section of The Body Optimist celebrates every body: plus-size or slim, young or older, disabled, marked by stretch marks, scars or illness. Portraits, personal stories and explainers question beauty standards to help you feel more at peace with your appearance, with no pressure to lose weight or to love yourself no matter what.<\/p>\n<h2>What you\u2019ll find in the Body positive section<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Beauty standards<\/strong>: stretch marks, cellulite, hip dips, body hair and wrinkles, demystified, as in our story on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/hip-dips-heres-why-hollow-hips-are-an-asset-not-a-flaw-428176\">hip dips, a natural feature rather than a flaw<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Portraits<\/strong>: plus-size models, athletes, women over sixty and disabled people who are changing who gets seen.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bodies and society<\/strong>: fashion that doesn\u2019t cater to every size, the constant scrutiny of women\u2019s bellies, echoing our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/grossophobie\">Fatphobia<\/a> section.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Self-acceptance<\/strong>: quotes, exercises and stories to make peace with your reflection, alongside our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/confiance-en-soi\">Self-confidence<\/a> section.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What is body positivity and where does it come from?<\/h2>\n<p>Body positivity is a movement built on the idea that every body deserves respect and representation, regardless of size, skin color, age, gender or disability. Its roots lie in the fat acceptance movement, which emerged in the United States in the late 1960s to fight weight discrimination. The term later took off on social media, at the risk of being co-opted by brands and refocused on bodies close to the norm. Going back to its activist origins is a reminder that it\u2019s not only about \u201cloving yourself\u201d but also about fighting fatphobia.<\/p>\n<h2>Body positivity vs. body neutrality: what\u2019s the difference?<\/h2>\n<p>Body neutrality takes appearance out of the spotlight: instead of striving to love your body, you respect it for what it lets you do, such as walking, dancing or resting. It suits people for whom the pressure to \u201clove yourself\u201d adds stress, or whose relationship with their body has been shaped by illness or an eating disorder. The two approaches aren\u2019t opposites. On tough days, a few habits help: unfollow accounts that make you feel guilty, wear clothes that fit the body you have today, and thank your body for something it did rather than judging how it looks. Here\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/why-body-neutrality-is-increasingly-appealing-to-women-446685\">why body neutrality appeals to more and more women<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Our commitment<\/h2>\n<p>Accepting all bodies has been at the heart of our editorial line since our beginnings in plus-size fashion. We show bodies that are rarely seen without reducing them to a \u201cbefore and after\u201d or a heroic feat, and we reject any message that equates health with thinness. Our portraits let people speak for themselves, and never describe anyone as a \u201cflaw to fix.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Where to start<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/she-is-told-to-correct-her-asymmetrical-chest-to-choose-to-love-her-as-she-is-428203\">Embracing asymmetrical breasts<\/a>: the story of a woman who was told to \u201ccorrect\u201d her chest and chose not to.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/nose-stomach-arms-how-complexes-shape-life-choices-432126\">How body insecurities shape our choices<\/a>: nose, belly, arms, and the decisions we make around them.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/this-plus-size-model-denounces-the-silent-demise-of-inclusive-fashion-431725\">The quiet retreat of inclusive fashion<\/a>: a plus-size model calls out the industry for leaving bigger bodies behind.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/taboos-surrounding-stretch-marks-model-kelly-brook-decides-to-speak-out-428667\">Breaking the stretch mark taboo<\/a>: why one model decided to speak openly about hers.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/im-not-a-fit-girl-she-challenges-preconceived-ideas-about-the-athletic-body-447083\">Athletic bodies come in every shape<\/a>: a woman who challenges assumptions about what a sporty body looks like.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>Does accepting your body mean neglecting your health?<\/h3>\n<p>No. The movement challenges the idea that thinness proves good health and that fat people deserve less respect or care. It calls for health care free of weight stigma and aligns with the Health at Every Size (HAES) approach, which focuses on habits rather than the number on the scale.<\/p>\n<h3>Do you have to love your body every day?<\/h3>\n<p>No. Self-acceptance doesn\u2019t demand constant love: it means every body, including yours, deserves respect, even on days when you don\u2019t like it much. Body neutrality offers a gentler path for those days, focused on what your body does rather than how it looks.<\/p>\n<h3>What does \u201cbopo\u201d mean?<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cBopo\u201d is short for body positive or body positivity. It\u2019s widely used on social media, especially as a hashtag, to share unretouched photos and messages of self-acceptance. By extension, it also refers to the content and creators who champion body diversity.<\/p>\n<p>Keep exploring: all our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\">psychology topics<\/a>, family life in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\">Parenting<\/a>, and body diversity on the runway in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/mannequinat-inclusif\">Inclusive modeling<\/a>.<\/p>","parent":6138,"count":680,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":6140,"category_count":680,"category_description":"<p>The Body positive section of The Body Optimist celebrates every body: plus-size or slim, young or older, disabled, marked by stretch marks, scars or illness. Portraits, personal stories and explainers question beauty standards to help you feel more at peace with your appearance, with no pressure to lose weight or to love yourself no matter what.<\/p>\n<h2>What you\u2019ll find in the Body positive section<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Beauty standards<\/strong>: stretch marks, cellulite, hip dips, body hair and wrinkles, demystified, as in our story on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/hip-dips-heres-why-hollow-hips-are-an-asset-not-a-flaw-428176\">hip dips, a natural feature rather than a flaw<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Portraits<\/strong>: plus-size models, athletes, women over sixty and disabled people who are changing who gets seen.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bodies and society<\/strong>: fashion that doesn\u2019t cater to every size, the constant scrutiny of women\u2019s bellies, echoing our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/grossophobie\">Fatphobia<\/a> section.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Self-acceptance<\/strong>: quotes, exercises and stories to make peace with your reflection, alongside our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/confiance-en-soi\">Self-confidence<\/a> section.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What is body positivity and where does it come from?<\/h2>\n<p>Body positivity is a movement built on the idea that every body deserves respect and representation, regardless of size, skin color, age, gender or disability. Its roots lie in the fat acceptance movement, which emerged in the United States in the late 1960s to fight weight discrimination. The term later took off on social media, at the risk of being co-opted by brands and refocused on bodies close to the norm. Going back to its activist origins is a reminder that it\u2019s not only about \u201cloving yourself\u201d but also about fighting fatphobia.<\/p>\n<h2>Body positivity vs. body neutrality: what\u2019s the difference?<\/h2>\n<p>Body neutrality takes appearance out of the spotlight: instead of striving to love your body, you respect it for what it lets you do, such as walking, dancing or resting. It suits people for whom the pressure to \u201clove yourself\u201d adds stress, or whose relationship with their body has been shaped by illness or an eating disorder. The two approaches aren\u2019t opposites. On tough days, a few habits help: unfollow accounts that make you feel guilty, wear clothes that fit the body you have today, and thank your body for something it did rather than judging how it looks. Here\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/why-body-neutrality-is-increasingly-appealing-to-women-446685\">why body neutrality appeals to more and more women<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Our commitment<\/h2>\n<p>Accepting all bodies has been at the heart of our editorial line since our beginnings in plus-size fashion. We show bodies that are rarely seen without reducing them to a \u201cbefore and after\u201d or a heroic feat, and we reject any message that equates health with thinness. Our portraits let people speak for themselves, and never describe anyone as a \u201cflaw to fix.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Where to start<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/she-is-told-to-correct-her-asymmetrical-chest-to-choose-to-love-her-as-she-is-428203\">Embracing asymmetrical breasts<\/a>: the story of a woman who was told to \u201ccorrect\u201d her chest and chose not to.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/nose-stomach-arms-how-complexes-shape-life-choices-432126\">How body insecurities shape our choices<\/a>: nose, belly, arms, and the decisions we make around them.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/this-plus-size-model-denounces-the-silent-demise-of-inclusive-fashion-431725\">The quiet retreat of inclusive fashion<\/a>: a plus-size model calls out the industry for leaving bigger bodies behind.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/taboos-surrounding-stretch-marks-model-kelly-brook-decides-to-speak-out-428667\">Breaking the stretch mark taboo<\/a>: why one model decided to speak openly about hers.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/im-not-a-fit-girl-she-challenges-preconceived-ideas-about-the-athletic-body-447083\">Athletic bodies come in every shape<\/a>: a woman who challenges assumptions about what a sporty body looks like.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>Does accepting your body mean neglecting your health?<\/h3>\n<p>No. The movement challenges the idea that thinness proves good health and that fat people deserve less respect or care. It calls for health care free of weight stigma and aligns with the Health at Every Size (HAES) approach, which focuses on habits rather than the number on the scale.<\/p>\n<h3>Do you have to love your body every day?<\/h3>\n<p>No. Self-acceptance doesn\u2019t demand constant love: it means every body, including yours, deserves respect, even on days when you don\u2019t like it much. Body neutrality offers a gentler path for those days, focused on what your body does rather than how it looks.<\/p>\n<h3>What does \u201cbopo\u201d mean?<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cBopo\u201d is short for body positive or body positivity. It\u2019s widely used on social media, especially as a hashtag, to share unretouched photos and messages of self-acceptance. By extension, it also refers to the content and creators who champion body diversity.<\/p>\n<p>Keep exploring: all our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\">psychology topics<\/a>, family life in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\">Parenting<\/a>, and body diversity on the runway in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/mannequinat-inclusif\">Inclusive modeling<\/a>.<\/p>","cat_name":"Body positive","category_nicename":"bodypositive","category_parent":6138}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/437470","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8385"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=437470"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/437470\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":437517,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/437470\/revisions\/437517"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/437471"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=437470"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=437470"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=437470"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}