CASSIE

Currently I'm happy with my breasts and am very happy with their size. I was on the contraceptive pill as a teenager to help with my period pain, and it made my boobs get drastically bigger. For years, I hated them. They were too big and bothersome, and I wore baggy t-shirts and never wanted my body to be seen at all. I'm a small person and it made me feel so out of balance. Plus, my biggest fear was being sexualized by men.

I went off the pill a few years ago, and they've returned to their normal size and shape, and I'm so happy to have them. They are so me. I'm so much happier in my skin. My nipples aren't a perfect shape, but I don't really care to be insecure about my boobs anymore. It's so much easier to love them.

I remember feeling a lot of shame around my boobs when they started growing. I felt weird and gross in T Shirts. I now wonder if that was something that came naturally, or if I was picking up on the perception of others –Why did I feel more gross if I was wearing a tight top around a man? Were there small hints and whispers at something that made me feel like an alien in my own skin?

I remember seeing young cousins taking their tops off to swim with the boys and getting reprimanded. Her chest was as flat as the boys and she was a kid, but even then, there was an implication of rash, inappropriate imagery in seeing a female topless.

No, but I can completely understand those that get a breast reduction, and [I were] in that situation, I probably would get one.

I used to wear a wire bra every single day and even sleep in one. I just hated my natural boobs so much, and [I] didn't want anyone, including myself to see them. Now, I never wear a bra. I have some nice ones to make me feel sexy, but they're just for [the] aesthetic, and they're all wireless. Sometimes my nipple slips, but I don't really care. It's a human body, and I wish it could exist in the same human state of unapologetic casualness that men get to enjoy.

I notice when you can see nipples poking through a t-shirt, because I think that's a cool look. Also when I see women with massive boobs, I wonder how hard it must be for her.

Pink. Soft. Mine.

JAYME

My current relationship with my breasts is best described as acceptance. When I was in elementary [and] middle school, I was the first of my friends to develop and was incredibly embarrassed by my breasts. I would only wear a sports bra or bralette, because it made me appear flatter. Then I hit 15 and my friends caught up with me, and I no longer felt so ashamed.

Well, now, I wear what I would consider a “real bra.” Something with underwire. Sports bras are now reserved for working out.

Overall, I don’t mind my breasts, but having been a child of the 90s, early 2000s, I still wish they were a little flatter. I know that’s not the norm, especially since my boobs are perky and average in size, but when I think about them, I wonder how will they look in a certain outfit versus, ‘Do I like them when I’m naked,’ or ‘Are they healthy?’

Also, flatter was always better in my mind, because I felt like I would appear thinner. I’ve struggled with body dysmorphia since I was 8 and to this day I’m working on accepting myself.

Nope. It’s never something that’s interested me. I might want my breasts to be flatter, but it doesn’t seem necessary to go under the knife, when I don’t have any medical or immediate issues with them.

I do. My favorite is the CUUP Plunge. I’m also very comfortable without a bra.

I’m usually looking at other women’s breasts based on their outfit. I’m usually thinking, ‘Would that look good on me?’

Perky, soft, pale.

JENNA

My relationship from an early age was one of desire to change them. I had very small breasts and was constantly teased about them. At the age of 22, I got breast enhancement surgery. I went from not even filling a cup to a full C cup. I wasn't aware that women aren't fully developed at that age, so they got bigger. I was then wearing a size E bra.

At a certain point, I ended up spending more time hiding them—covering them up with baggy clothes while still trying to cinch at the waist, so I didn't look like a potato sack.

It's been a journey of highs and lows.

I did. But to be honest, my breasts became a constant thought, sometimes loving them, sometimes regretting them. I underwent breast explant [surgery] a few weeks ago, so I am currently trying to accept and love them and really discover who I am without them.

I never really wore a bra when I had my implants in. It was an effort to help them sag, so they didn't have a fake look to them. Not to mention, bras were hard to find and oftentimes uncomfortable.

I always loved the look of a dainty lace bralette, and now I'll finally be able to wear them. I am currently living in Jockey lightweight sports bras that I purchased at Target.

Yes. Always. Not in a sexual way or in comparison, but more as an appreciation of the human form. Breasts are beautiful, all shapes and all sizes.

Honestly, going to the Korean spa was the first time I noticed so many different shapes, colors, and ethnicities of women, all walking around naked. Everyone there has the same goal: relaxation. Each person has their own routine. No one is outwardly ashamed or visibly judging others. It's truly beautiful.

Mine, acceptance, beautiful—even though the right one is a bit deformed.

MEGHAN

Content; they nursed two babies and [they] bring me pleasure.

I waited and waited for them to grow, and then one day, [I] stopped waiting.

No.

Rarely. Sometimes I wear a lace bralette under a blazer, but most comfortable sans bra. It’s a sensory experience.

Absolutely; I find breasts beautiful.

Small and mighty.

MELISSA

My current relationship with my breasts is excellent. I am fond of them but not obsessed. They have served me well in life. My little booblettes and I are a good team.

My relationship with my breasts has changed dramatically since puberty. Though the lower half of my body began to shift to a more womanly shape around age twelve, my upper half remained stubbornly in childhood. My chest was flat as a board all through school and remained that way until my first pregnancy at age 21. The breasts did not stick around after I stopped nursing my first baby, nor did they see fit to stay after the second baby. I was quite thin, so it didn’t look terribly out of proportion. Still, I was extremely uncomfortable about my lack of bosom. Beyond embarrassed, I felt ashamed that every woman I saw appeared to have an appropriate set of breasts, and I still had nothing.

This all changed in my early 30’s. I had put on about ten pounds and suddenly I was a B cup! Finally, something to work with! I gained another ten pounds, and then another ten, and I finally had big, bouncy, beautiful breasts! I loved them. No matter that a size 32DD bra was difficult to find. No matter that I was teetering on the edge of pre-diabetes. My tits were amazing. No stretch marks. No sagging. Just beautiful, natural breasts.

When I began to lose the weight, it came off slowly, and a bit of breast tissue actually stuck around this time. Now I love my whole body, not just my tits!

Breast augmentation is something I began seriously considering when I was still a teenager. I researched plastic surgeons, materials, techniques, and complications. It was all rather frightening. Worse, the results never looked like anything I wanted on my body. I wanted to look like Scarlett Johansson, not Pamela Anderson! Once I realized that surgery could never provide me with the soft, bouncy, medium-sized breasts I wanted, I lost all interest in surgery.

For me bras serve only three purposes: support (which I only need for vigorous exercise), coverage and shaping when I go out, and fashion/sexy time. I wear a bra only 10-20% of the time, and I try to be free of them whenever possible. While I do have a selection of comfortable, well-fitted bras, nothing is more comfortable than not wearing on at all.

I do notice other women’s breasts sometimes, though I am no longer actively looking for them. After my ‘busty phase,’ the need to scope out another woman’s breasts to compare to my own simply vanished. Now I only notice a woman’s breasts if they are exceptionally pretty.

My breasts in three words? Small, cute, and fun!

ROMY

My current relationship with my breasts is a bit off at the moment. I’ve watched them change and drop over the four years since [my] reduction surgery, and now I contemplate [getting] a tiny implant. I don’t love their shape, but I’ve accepted that they are what they are. Talking to girlfriends about their breasts as I get older is so funny, as it so clearly shows me none of us ever have exactly what [we] want. I’m going for my first mammogram soon as my mother has breast cancer, so I need to start younger. So, that part has left me with a little apprehension.

What a big one! I got my first bra when I was nine and remember being heavily self- conscious for years. By the time other girls had started this process, I was in C cups. I felt glaringly aware of the difference in my anatomy [versus that of] other girls my age and felt a sense of shame. When I grew breasts at such a young age, I was bullied and sometimes ostracized. When I watched girls develop them years later, only to watch them soar with confidence, I certainly felt envy. I was about 16 when I first started researching reductions, something that I would do four years later.

I have! And I did. I had a reduction and lift four years ago. I couldn’t stand my breast[s], and looking in the mirror drove me to tears, I had such a deep hatred for something I felt I couldn’t change. It gave me a whole new lease on life, and my confidence was shifted so dramatically, so it was definitely a good thing. However, there are some days I wish I could go back and ask that young girl to wait, try and love her body more. Whether she would though... it’s impossible to know.

Sometimes! I will wear a soft t-shirt bra to work with no padding or underwire, and it’s off as soon as I get home. I try not to wear one when I’m not at work, as they hurt my back and shoulders so much. I’ve been wearing them for more than half my life, so the relaxation on my shoulders is nice.

I’ll notice nipples! [Laughs]. I definitely am aware of breasts around me as they’ve been such a big part of my life, first with my mother having breast cancer, and then myself with my own obstacles. I’m a TOTAL supporter of every woman doing whatever the fuck they want to with their breasts. Pierce them, enlarge them, reduce them, tattoo them! Claiming back your overspecialized anatomy for your enjoyment is a liberating thrill, so I’m all for any of it.

Oooh, a few years ago I would have answered this so differently. Today… scarred, supple, sacred.

SOPHIE

I love them.

Having breasts was one of my feminine goals when I was a little girl. When puberty started, I was watching my breasts every day in the mirror and remember the exact day I got my first bra. Over time, I learned how to appropriate that part of my body, not as part, but as my body.

Actually I’m lucky enough to love my breasts as they are.

Not every day and almost never in the summer.

Yes I do, I think breasts are one of the most beautiful parts of a woman—small, big, exposed or hidden, they are our treasure.

Strong, protective, soft.

SORA

We are in a very genuine and loving relationship!

I've definitely become way more open [and] accepting since puberty. Then, I absolutely had to wear a bra. It was embarrassing if anyone could make out the shape, size, or color. Now, I could care less. They are what they are, and truly, as I get older and learn more about who I am as a person, I grow more in love with every part of my being. That includes my breasts!

Considered is a strong word. I've definitely thought, " What would life be like if I just did a little this or that," but ultimately, the consideration hasn't been so present. I'm not saying never ever.

If I absolutely have to, but the preference is no.

Um, of course! They're beautiful. Women's bodies, in all their wonderful varieties, are incredible works of art.

Small but mine.

SARAH

I have a complicated relationship with my breasts. They are lopsided and triangular and don’t look like anything I saw growing up; I hated them for a long time. Growing up I was a dancer, so I associated bigger breasts with being overweight and resented them. I’m now trying to shift my perspective; my partner and I are trying to get pregnant and my breasts will literally sustain life. I’m also aware that pregnancy will bring another round of complicated feelings around my boobs and hopefully I can keep leaning into self-acceptance.

Puberty came really late. I didn’t get my period until I was 17, and it felt like my boobs grew overnight. I was embarrassed. I’m only now comfortable showing a hint of cleavage or a sheer shirt that reveals my bra. It’s been a long road to get here, but every year I get a bit more comfortable with them.

I have. My mom had a breast reduction about seven years ago and she was so much happier when the physical weight was lifted. I always assumed I would do the same, after I had a child and [had gone] through breastfeeding.

I do wear a bra but shifted away from underwire during this pandemic. No one can see my breasts over a video conference, so why not be comfortable?

I look at other women’s breasts, when someone has smaller ones than mine or more circular.. [it’s] a combination of admiration and a twinge of jealousy. I’m trying to shift away from comparing my body to [those of] other women because it’s not healthy for me emotionally or mentally. But with social media and being a woman of the world, it’s hard to not get caught up in that cycle.

Awkward. Pale. Mine.

JULIA

Complicated. I wish that I could say that I’ve arrived at a place of acceptance now that I’m in my thirties, but that would be a lie. I’m not preoccupied with them or anything, but sometimes I’ll catch a glimpse of them in the mirror and not be totally thrilled with what I see. As is the case with many women, one of my boobs (the left one) is larger than the other. I really like my nipples though. Is that weird?

I’ve always had small boobs. I was also a relatively late bloomer, so seeing my friends grow into their womanly bodies and bask in all the male attention that transition attracted, I was envious. (Although now I realize, it probably wasn’t always fun to be on the receiving end of that attention.) I still notice the way men’s heads turn when an ample-breasted woman walks into the room, but it doesn’t grate me the way it used to. I guess my relationship with them has changed for the better, if only because as an adult, you have less time to worry about that sort of thing.

Absolutely. While I’ve always been rather fond of my breasts’ shape, an extra half or full cup would be nice. I’ve been known to lose myself in something of a research rabbithole online, but I don’t think it’s something I really want to do. (I already would have gone for it, if that were the case). If I ever have kids, I would definitely consider something more ‘reconstructive’ or even a lift.

Not habitually and I’m picky about them. They either have to be traffic-stopping sexy, at which point they are purely for ‘entertainment,’ or functional. Some tops also just look better with a bra, and sometimes the look IS the bra. Most of the time, I let them roam free.

Yes, and as I mentioned before, I’m also aware of the attention they get. I have a couple of girlfriends who have truly spectacular tits, and I’m not shy about letting them know.

Petite. Unimposing. Squishy.

MAEVA

It's a love-hate story. They are like my mood, changing their shape all the time with [my] stress, [my] hormones, the weather. They are my internal thermometer.

For a long time, I wish I could have made them disappear. I just started to accept them thanks to the recent body positivity movement, which made me understand that they are part of my unique identity, for which I must be proud about all its aspects.

Yes! But I won't and I prefer to focus on learning to love them.

Yes, always during the day. [My breasts] are too heavy and painful to live without [a bra]. I envy the ones that can live without [one], but I have to admit that having big breasts is so nice when you wear a bra that perfectly fits your shape and gives nice cleavage.

Only at the beach. I love going topeless in the summer. It symbolizes freedom.

Capricious, vigorous, generous.

NAM

I love my breasts—they are modest, very perky, and versatile! Because they are so high on my chest, I can make them look big or small, and I love playing up my neckline and décolletage. I often tell women to bring their products down to the neck and chest; it’s all a part of the big picture.

Growing up, I hated being on the smaller chested side. I grew up in California, in what I call “Silicone Valley” because everyone had breast implants! I have learned to love the boobs God gave me.

I always thought I’d get implants when I was older, but I didn’t. Looking back, I am happy that I never took that route because it wasn’t right for me.

I am the queen of bras! Lace, demi, halter, harness, everything! It’s one of my favorite accessories, and I consider myself a bra collector.

Absolutely. I love and appreciate the female body and breasts are uniquely feminine.

Perky, soft, and glowy.

PIA

They make me feel beautiful.

Growing up, I hated being on the smaller chested side. I grew up in California, in what I call “Silicone Valley” because everyone had breast implants! I have learned to love the boobs God gave me.

I did!!

I need to start.

Sometimes! It depends on whether or not it’s something a woman is showing.

Motherly, feminine, and classic.