#Fatkini: Grow to love those handles

A body-confidence trend is helping curvaceous women feel unashamed about showing off their figures.

Women who have been hiding under mountains of clothing because they feel self-conscious, are now posting selfies using hashtags #Fatkini and #LoveYourLines. The trending topics on social media have been growing rapidly in the last two weeks.

British tabloid the Mirror reports that the fatkini trend started when blogger Gabi Gregg posted a picture of herself in a bikini. Before long, curvy women around the world were inspired by the hashtag as a term of empowerment and have been flaunting their curves in swimwear.

Against a backdrop of exotic beaches, or reflected in bathroom mirrors, the selfies have been rolling in.

"I'm ready to be extremely cute, fat and visible today at the beach," said Lorraine @daddysjaguar, with a picture taken in her bathroom.

Over in @jennabenoiit's powder room, you could almost hear the surprise in her voice when she posted: "Today I put on a bikini for the first time in three years, and goddamn I look good ."

But not everyone is impressed with this exhibitionism, no matter how well-intended.

As someone who's been both overweight and underweight, journalist Daisy Buchanan, writing for thedebrief.co.uk, believes #fatkini just perpetuates the idea that it's okay to comment on people's weight. "We'd all be happier women if we stopped focusing on our bodies. Fetishising fat is no more admirable than fetishising thin. We're still judging ourselves and other women," she said.

However, London psychiatrist Natasha Bijlani believes this trend is a backlash against our obsession with being thin.

The Fatkini trend is not the only body image craze making waves on social media.

The Love Your Lines Instagram account encourages real women to post pictures of their stretch marks.

In one post, the founders write: "We would love a photo showcasing a part of your body that you think will inspire others to feel good about themselves (a part that you may have struggled with in the past or currently). Thank you so much for courageously sharing."

The idea of the account is to celebrate "real women, real bodies and real self-love".

A typical caption reads: "I've got stretch marks that I've had to learn to love all down my breasts. They aren't going anywhere and neither is my acceptance of them."

©The Daily Telegraph with additional reporting by Mashego