WHILE most of us would be timid enough about slipping into a bikini this summer for Helen Berriman that would be overdressing.
The 47-year-old packed next to nothing when she jetted off on a two week Caribbean cruise as she joined 2,300 naked guests on the nudist vessel.
Helen, from Bromley, London, was fully against naturism when she met her husband, Simon, 47, in 2015, who preferred to live a 'clothing optional' lifestyle.
However, Helen, now says that being a naturist has liberated her mind after spending years struggling with body positivity and confidence.
Helen and Simon's nude cruise left from Tampa, Florida and docked at various locations in the Caribbean, including St Martins, St Kitts, Antigua, Turks and Caicos, the Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas.
She said: "The cruise was with a company called Bare Necessities, and it was a ship that accommodates 2,300 people across 11 decks.
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"You can be nude anywhere around the ship, apart from when docking in certain ports, and if you wanted to go into any of the formal dining rooms.
"You have to get dressed if you want to leave the ship too.
"Otherwise, there was another general canteen where you can be nude as long as you take your towel to sit on, which is just common naturist etiquette."
Not only was this the couple's first nude holiday, it was also their first holiday together in general. It was a big deal for them.
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"We went away for two weeks and it was amazing," Helen said.
"I had my first nudist beach experience in Antigua, did a naked zip wire, and rode horses across a beach topless.
"You also don't need to pack much for a nude holiday, so Simon and I shared a bag between us for the two-week holiday.
"In naturism, everything is stripped back and there is no judgement.
It's impossible to go to nudist events and feel lonely, because everyone talks to everyone
"It's impossible to go to nudist events and feel lonely, because everyone talks to everyone."
Helen says that the friendliness and openness of fellow nudists has helped her mentally, and she now accepts her body for what it is.
Helen added: "I only have one skin, and although it's loose in some places, it fits me nicer than a pair of jeans.
"I used to struggle with body positivity and confidence, but now I am so different. My body is my vessel.
"It allowed me to carry my daughter, and I wear my scars with pride because they are all a part of me.
"I used to equate nudity to sex and being objectified, but now my outlook has totally changed.
"In naturism, no one is objectifying you, no one is leering at you. They're talking to your eyes and not your boobs. It is just comfortable."
When Helen first met her husband, Simon, he revealed to her that he preferred to live a 'clothing optional' lifestyle.
Helen admits that she was fully against it, thought that it was weird, and made him cover up.
When you're dressed, you wonder things such as if your bum looks big in something, and you don’t have this when naked
She said: "If he wanted to do it, I just didn't want to know about it.
"However, fast forward to lockdown when it was really hot, he was naked a lot at home, and I couldn’t be bothered to fight.
"I decided to get myself a bikini, which was a big enough step for me after years of yoyo dieting and hating my body.
"Simon took pictures of me in my bikini and I wasn't repulsed. I actually felt quite good. It just went on from there.
"I then agreed to go along to be a clothed model in reversed life drawing class where everyone else was nude. I felt silly being the only one in a dress on a hot day, so I decided to take it off.
"It was my eureka moment, and I finally understood why Simon liked it so much. I felt free.
"When you're dressed, you wonder things such as if your bum looks big in something, and you don’t have this when naked.
"We then booked to go back to the nudist resort, where I got chatting with so many people from all walks of life, and I fell in love with it even more.
"Now, my every day is living and breathing naturism.
"I want to help other people feel free and understand that it's not weird. I think that people relate to me because I also found it odd to begin with.
"I'm heavily involved in normalising nudity. I'm a receptionist at a naturist resort and I am also the woman's officer for British Naturism.
"We have a few nudist festivals lined up this summer, and we will definitely be booking more nude holidays abroad.
"We had the best time ever."
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