She gave birth to her first child Alfie Rivers two months ago.
And Ashley James was reflecting on her postpartum figure on Tuesday as she posed for gorgeous new Instagram snaps in a black bikini.
The DJ and influencer, 33, said that all women should feel beautiful now the warmer weather has arrived, even if their bodies have changed over lockdown.
Candid: Ashley James was reflecting on her postpartum figure on Tuesday as she posed for gorgeous new Instagram snaps in a black bikini
The former Made in Chelsea star also said she has more ‘respect’ for her body since giving birth and that she has embraced being ‘bigger’ and having stretch marks.
She looked stunning in the snaps as she posed in the swimwear while soaking up the sunshine on the terrace of her London home.
Alongside the bikini pictures she penned: ‘I don’t know who needs to read this, but you deserve to enjoy the sunshine no matter how your body has changed over lockdown! ☀️
‘I was so excited for the heatwave I didn’t really think about the fact my body had changed since last year and all my bikinis are all teeny weeny.
Honest: The DJ and influencer, 33, said that all women should feel beautiful now the warmer weather has arrived, even if their bodies have changed over lockdown
‘When I look back at my body before I had a baby I think how amazing I look and I wish I hadn’t wasted time feeling insecure about how it looked. And it made me think that there’ll be a time when I look back at this photo and think how great I looked.’
She added that all women whether they have just given birth or not should feel confident: ‘Whether you’ve just had a baby, or whether you’ve put some weight on in lockdown, or whether you’re just nervous to get back in your summer clothes – we really deserve to enjoy ourselves.
‘This year especially. And diet culture and unachievable beauty standards have put so much pressure on us, but I’ve come to realise it’s in our minds and has nothing to do with the way we look.’
Real talk: The former Made in Chelsea star also said she has more ‘respect’ for her body since giving birth and that she has embraced being ‘bigger’ and having stretch marks
Advice: Alongside the bikini pictures she penned: ‘I don’t know who needs to read this, but you deserve to enjoy the sunshine no matter how your body has changed over lockdown!’
She went on to say that confidence makes you beautiful: ‘When I see loads of women on the beach I usually see beauty everywhere. I love to see women of all shapes and sizes.
‘I love to see cellulite, and bellies, and all the things that make people beautiful… Mainly I admire the women who look carefree and confident. That’s true beauty.’
She signed off by saying: ‘So this year, I’m bigger than I was last year, sure. I’ve got some stretch marks, which I like to think of has a tattoo from Mother Nature to commemorate growing Alfie. But I have a whole lot more respect for my body, and all our bodies for what they do for us every day. ‘
It comes after earlier this month Ashley defended sharing breastfeeding selfies online and said they are an attempt to ‘normalise’ nursing her baby.
She made the comments during an appearance on Channel 5’s Jeremy Vine chat show recently, stating the ‘stigma’ around breastfeeding needs to end.
Ashley, who shares Alfie with Tom Andrews, 31, said she believes ‘boobs have been so hyper-sexualised’, leading to her receiving backlash from posting pictures of her feeding online.
Normal: It comes after earlier this month Ashley defended sharing breastfeeding selfies online and said they are an attempt to ‘normalise’ nursing her baby
Ashley appeared on the show via video link from her London home, saying that by posting candid pictures of her feeding her baby she is simply showing that she is ‘feeding a child’.
She said: ‘I have had big boobs since I was a teenager and this is the first time I feel like I don’t have to be ashamed of my breasts.
‘I am feeding a child – what more amazing thing can you do with breasts than that?’
Confident: The model, 33, said the ‘stigma’ around breastfeeding needs to end and that by posting candid pictures of her online she is simply showing that she is ‘feeding a child’
She added: ‘I think it [the backlash] kind of shows why the UK has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world because there is still so much shame and stigma around breastfeeding.’
Another guest on the show, journalist Angela Epstein, said that while she breastfed all four of her children, she thinks that mothers shouldn’t share pictures of it, saying it is something ‘intimate’ and it doesn’t need to be paraded online.
She said: ‘Things you post online live forever. I can’t imagine if I had posted a picture of one of children being breastfed by me, and they are now grown up, and they saw it they would be absolutely horrified!
New mum: Ashley said she believes ‘boobs have been so hyper-sexualised’ which is why she thinks she has received backlash from posting pictures of her feeding online
‘So we are not actually even thinking about the baby here.’
Ashley replied: ‘I think you are proving why there is so much shame and stigma around breastfeeding the thought that we would be horrified to learn that we were breastfed!’
The former Made in Chelsea star continued: ‘Boobs have been so hyper-sexualised.
‘Why is it we can look at an advert for someone selling lingerie and that’s fine, but we can’t feel comfortable… feeding [my son]?’
Adorable: The DJ, who shares her son with boyfriend Tom Andrews, 31, welcomed Alfie Rivers in January