This self-proclaimed hippie made the bold decision to grow out her armpit hair after taking up a nomadic lifestyle.
Mya Loftus took the leap into hairy life after deciding she spent too much time, effort and money on something that she didn’t really need to do.
She explained how negative feedback online isn’t something that will stop her being comfortable in her own skin.
Between 92% and 99% of women in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and much of western Europe regularly remove their leg and underarm hair.
However, a study from 2016 found that nearly one in four women aged 18-24 had stopped shaving their underarm hair, and it’s likely that figure has increased since then.
There are even many famous celebrities who have defied the weight of societal standards and stopped shaving their armpit hair, such as Madonna, Rachel McAdams and Julia Roberts.
Mya, from Virginia, USA, decided to grow out her body hair four years ago after spending too much money on razors, as well as wasting water in the process.
She said: “I believe in staying true to myself and not letting others dictate how I should look or feel, I’m perfectly content with who I am.”
As well as having hairy armpits, she also lets her leg hair grow and says she is embracing her natural self.
The free-spirited woman wants to challenge societal norms and throw away the unrealistic standards that she’s been following her whole life.
Mya shows off her ever growing locks across her social media, aiming to prove to other women that they shouldn’t be afraid of their own body hair.
She said: “The process of razors is expensive and I just didn’t want to spend my time or energy on shaving or waxing.
“I believe my hair has energy since my body creates it, it’s magical.
“It’s also about feeling comfortable in my own skin and rejecting unrealistic beauty standards.”
From a young age, Mya was told by her family that women and girls were supposed to get rid of their hair.
Although she felt self-conscious at times after making her decision to not shave, she soon learnt to prioritise her own feelings and confidence over other people’s opinions.
She explained: “Embracing my natural hair has been a journey of self-discovery and empowerment for me.
“It’s about accepting myself the way I am, regardless of expectations.
“All bodies are unique in their own way, hairy or not you are meant to be loved.”
Mya’s decision to embrace her natural body is reminding women that beauty isn’t about fitting in, it’s about being true to themselves.