Stephanie Tripp for 'Natural Beauty' by Ben Hopper (2014)
“I stopped shaving firstly because I was inspired by the Natural Beauty project. I am a firm believer in natural beauty.
Learning to love and accept yourself for who you are.
I know this isn't always easy but I would still never get any cosmetic work done. Working in the modelling, dancing, and acting industries can make you question the way you look, and you constantly compare yourself to other women. It can be tiring.
It was also a personal challenge and social experiment. I was curious how I would feel and how others around me would react.
At first it I felt a little bit physically uncomfortable because the hair was a bit itchy, but I was excited. I had shaved everyday since the moment I started to grow hair. My mum is a beauty therapist so I had tried every method of hair removal by the time I was 14. The hair took ages to grow, as my underarms aren't particularly hairy. When it started to get longer I found myself often stroking the hair, I couldn't resist playing with it. It felt quite erotic.
I got mixed reactions; my best friend already had long underarm hair so she knew how liberating and sexy it made you feel. My boyfriend at the time didn't like it very much, which made me want to rebel even more ha ha.
I would totally recommend trying it at least once.”
– Stephanie Tripp. Actress. (2014)