We love how Demi Lovato is showing off her stretch marks

You don’t have to be a mother to have stretch marks. They can happen to any human being, including Demi Lovato, who is celebrating the strength of her body by painting her stretch marks with glitter.

The 28-year-old singer shared a heartfelt post on Instagram about her recovery from an eating disorder and how she’s choosing to celebrate her healthy body with gratitude and glitter.

“I used to genuinely believe recovery from an eating disorder wasn’t real,” she began her post. “That everyone was faking or secretly relapsing behind closed doors. “Surely she throws up here and there”, “she can’t POSSIBLY accept her cellulite”… those we’re just a few of the things that I used to tell myself growing up.”

She continued, “I’m so grateful that I can honestly say for the first time in my life – my dietitian looked at me and said “This is what eating disorder recovery looks like.” In honor of my gratitude for the place I’m in today, this was a lil shoot I did by myself in quarantine this summer when I wanted to celebrate my stretch marks instead of being ashamed of them.”

Lovato shared a series of images of herself in a black bathing suit, posing so that her glittery stretch marks are the focus of each photo.

“I started wearing actual glitter paint on my stretch marks to celebrate my body and all of it’s features (whether society views them as good OR bad) My stretch marks aren’t going away so might as well throw a lil glitter on em’ amiright?”

We love this! Some people gain stretch marks as their bodies grow through puberty. Some earn stretch marks on the road to recovery from eating disorders, like Lovato. And many women gain stretch marks following pregnancy.

They’re incredibly common and a visible reminder of the strength of our bodies. Instead of worrying about covering those stretch marks up, maybe we should take a page from Demi’s book and celebrate them, instead.

“Also let this be a reminder to anyone who doesn’t think it’s possible,” she added, “IT ACTUALLY IS ☺️☺️ YOU CAN DO IT. I BELIEVE IN YOU. This year was tough.. be gentle on yourself if you slip up and remember to get right back on track because you’re WORTH THE MIRACLE OF RECOVERY I LOVE YOU.”

If you’re battling an eating disorder, you’re not alone. Contact the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) at 1-800-931-2237 or NationalEatingDisorders.org.