Are YOU brave enough? Thousands of women join Hairy Legs Club movement, posting photos of unshaven limbs online



Thousands of women are posting hairy leg pictures on social media sites



Hairy Legs Club blog on tumblr invites women to post their images



Groups include Women Against Non-essential Grooming on Facebook



Making a statement about 'not conforming to social expectations' of beauty



If you’re fed up of being fastidious about your depilation, you will be pleased to learn the hairy legs movement has arrived - and it's making waves on social media.

Women around the globe are saying ‘no’ to waxing and shaving, instead posting proud pictures of their fluffy limbs online.

One such online community, the Hairy Legs Club, is blazing a trail on tumblr, inviting women to post their photos to make a statement about social expectations of beauty.

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In her opening statement, the blog's pioneer, Sarah, told her followers: 'This blog is dedicated to females with very hairy legs. Let our legs be the champions!'



And a flurry of pictures followed.

One blogger, 'Pupmami', writes simply 'Ginger hairy legs', while others leave a more inspirational message.

Along with an image of her unshaven legs , regular blogger 'Swankified' writes, 'I’m so glad I don’t feel ashamed of my natural body hair anymore!' - a sentiment echoed on hundreds of other posts.

Left: Unshaven legs posted on the Very Hairy Legs blog with the simple caption 'Ginger hairy legs'; Right: The leg that launched a thousand posts - the original Very Hairy Legs blog post



Hairy and proud: A post on the very Hairy Legs Club by a 21-year-old blogger who has never shaved her legs

'When I first stopped shaving my legs it took a while for me to feel confident about it,' Swankifield told the MailOnline. 'Seeing pictures of other women doing the same helped me get used to it.

'I guess I post mine now because I like them - I like the way they look and that they remind me I’m not obligated to do anything I don’t want with my body.'

The blogger adds: 'Also, it’s nice to get support from the online community, considering people outside don’t really approve.'

Judging by many of the other posts, that support and solidarity is felt my many.

Left: This proud unshaven lady posted her image of her out and about with her unshaven legs; Right: 'Leg hair, don't care!' reads the caption on another



This seasons stylish look: Gladiator sandals, perfectly painted toes and hairy legs

‘You inspire me all so much…You are all stars for honouring yourselves!’ reads one post on the Hairy Legs Club blog along with a picture of bushy legs.



‘I have hairy legs, and, to be honest, I feel more feminine than ever!’ reads the caption beneath another.



A particularly poetic poster writes of her hirsute legs: ‘It just feels so nice to have them wave around in the pool or ocean.'



She adds: ‘Everyone around me thinks they’re gross, but I feel it’s important for me to grow them out not only for myself on my journey to self-love and acceptance, but also for other people who might be ashamed of theirs as I once.



'Good luck to everyone on here, you are all brave and beautiful people! This blog makes me feel a lot better in a society that portrays women as being hairless 99 per cent of the time!’

Left: 'Behold my sparkly shins!' reads this Hairy Legs Club post; Right: A hairy pair in the bath



One inspired blogger's first hairy leg post. 'This blog is such a great inspiration!' reads the caption

The hairy legs trend is also gaining traction on Facebook. The Women Against Non-Essential Grooming (WANG) page has attracted 1,405 members and counting.

Their profile mission statement explains their raison d’etre: ‘WANG believes that everyone should be free from coercive gendered bodily norms and should have absolute bodily autonomy.



‘We look forward to a day when people can present their bodies in whatever way they choose, free from political, social, and economic constraints!’



And who can argue with that. The question is…do you dare?