13 Vulva Illustrations Prove We’re All Different And We’re All Beautiful

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By Rae Paoletta

Surprise! We can now add "vulva" to the List of Body Parts We Should Feel Bad About.

Not to be confused with the vagina, the vulva is the "whole female genital 'package,'" including the labia, clitoris, vagina, and opening of the urethra, according to Planned Parenthood. But not all vulva-havers seem too happy with the appearance of their parts: in recent years, cosmetic labiaplasty has skyrocketed, even among teens.

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), between 2014 and 2015 alone, labiaplasty surgeries spiked 80% among teenage girls.

But one artist is not here for the v-shaming. Hilde Atalanta from Amsterdam has launched a series of illustrations called "The Vulva Gallery." It's exactly what you think, and then some.

"In my opinion, labiaplasty because of cosmetic reasons isn’t a good development," Atalanta wrote on the Vulva Gallery's website. "No vulva-owning individual should have to undergo this just because they want their vulva to look like the ones they see on the internet (for example in porn), or like what they think other people expect them to look."

Atalanta's whimsical illustrations celebrate all vulva-havers across the gender identity spectrum. Here are a few from the series:

✨I would like to raise awareness to a skin condition called vitiligo ✨ A little while ago I was approached by a young woman, who asked me to represent her vulva in my gallery. She told me about her skin condition called vitiligo, which made the skin and hair on half of her vulva turn white. • Vitiligo is a long term skin condition characterized by patches of the skin losing pigment. Those patches become white and usually have sharp margins, and the hair from the skin may also become white. The cause is typically unknown, but it is believed to be due to genetic susceptibility that is triggered by an environmental factor such that an autoimmune disease occurs. • I would like to finish by saying: thank you for your openness and boldness in approaching me and sharing your story. Your vulva is unique, awesome and beautiful! ????????????✨#thevulvagallery #vulva #vulvas #vitiligo #vaginaart #femaleempowerment #girlempowerment #freethevulva #feminism #everydayfeminism #intersectionalfeminism #feminist #feminista #feministpride #feministart #feministartist #bodypositivity #bodypositive #bodypositivemovement #selflove #watercolor #watercolorpainting #watercolorillustration #loveyourself #labia #freethepussy #pubichair #pubichairdontcare #thehappyfeminist #hildeatalanta

A photo posted by The Vulva Gallery (@the.vulva.gallery) on

The media give us so many reasons not to love ourselves. They point out that we're not 'perfect'; we're chubby, we're not feminine enough, we shouldn't have stretch marks, cellulite and body hair. Periods are something we should hide and avoid talking about. Now I think it's time for change. ???????? I think it's time to stand up and raise our voices. Share experiences, show that we are beautiful just as we are. With our beautiful chubby bellies, cellulite, stretch marks - thick and thin, dark and light skin, hairy or smooth bodies. We shouldn't strive for one perfect body type, but applaud the fact that there's so much diversity! That's what makes us so interesting, the fact that no body is the same. Our bellies, butts, legs, chests; we're all different and unique in our own way. Let's celebrate this diversity. Respect each other's bodies and focus on what we ARE and what we CAN instead of the negatives. Love yourself. And love your vulva, because all vulvas are beautiful just the way they are ????✨#thevulvagallery #vulva #vulvas #vulvaart #vaginaart #labia #vagina #selflove #bodypositive #bodypositivity #bodypositivemovement #feminism #feminist #feministart #feministartist #feminista #intersectionalfeminism #intersectionalfeminist #womenempowerment #empowerment #queerart #queerartist #watercolor #illustration #illustrationoftheday #watercolorart #watercolorartist #loveyourself #hildeatalanta

A photo posted by The Vulva Gallery (@the.vulva.gallery) on

This is a normal vulva. Half of all vulva-owning individuals on earth have inner labia that are longer than their outer labia. That's 1.75 billion individuals with beautiful vulvas similar to this one. Never let anyone tell you that your vulva looks 'weird', because you're as normal as anyone else. Please respect each other's bodies, and learn to see the beauty in diversity. Because diversity is exactly what makes people so interesting. ✨ Love your vulva, because all vulvas are beautiful just the way they are ????✨ #thevulvagallery #vulva #vulvas #freethepussy #pussypride #femaleempowerment #girlempowerment #freethevulva #feminism #everydayfeminism #intersectionalfeminism #feminist #feminista #feministpride #feministart #feministartist #bodypositivity #bodypositive #bodypositivemovement #watercolorart #watercolor #watercolorpainting #watercolorillustration #illustration #labia #vulvaart #pubichair #pubichairdontcare #thehappyfeminist #hildeatalanta

A photo posted by The Vulva Gallery (@the.vulva.gallery) on

The Vulva Gallery is dedicated to everyone - this means people from all kinds of genders. Many people with a vulva don't identify as being female. There are so many gender identities (to name a few: transgender, agender, genderless, genderneutral, genderfluid, bi-gender, genderqueer, cisgender, non-binary, pangender, trigender, or polygender). Having a vulva doesn't define your gender - just as having a penis doesn't define this. It's up to every human being to feel and define what they identify with, and it's up to you to ask people what pronoun fits with their gender identity. Never assume anyones gender. Respect each other, and be kind and open minded, because you never know for sure, unless you ask ???????????? #thevulvagallery #vulva #vulvas #vulvaart #vaginaart #genderidentity #genderequality #freethevulva #genderqueer #gender #genderfluid #feminist #labiaart #openminded #bodylove #feministartist #bodypositivity #bodypositive #bodypositivemovement #selflove #lgbtequality #queerart #watercolorillustration #loveyourself #labia #respect #pubichair #pubichairdontcare #thehappyfeminist #hildeatalanta

A photo posted by The Vulva Gallery (@the.vulva.gallery) on

This is a normal vulva. Half of all vulva-owning individuals on earth have inner labia that are longer than their outer labia. That's 1.75 billion individuals with beautiful vulvas similar to this one. ???? Never let anyone tell you that your vulva looks 'weird', because you're as normal as anyone else. Please respect each other's bodies, and learn to see the beauty in diversity. Because diversity is exactly what makes people so interesting. ✨ Love your vulva, because all vulvas are beautiful just the way they are ????✨ #thevulvagallery #vulva #vulvas #freethepussy #pussypride #femaleempowerment #girlempowerment #freethevulva #feminism #everydayfeminism #intersectionalfeminism #feminist #feminista #feministpride #feministart #feministartist #bodypositivity #bodypositive #bodypositivemovement #watercolorart #watercolor #watercolorpainting #watercolorillustration #illustration #labia #vulvaart #pubichair #pubichairdontcare #thehappyfeminist #hildeatalanta

A photo posted by The Vulva Gallery (@the.vulva.gallery) on

✨ Last week I was approached by a sweet trans guy who asked me to draw more vulvas influenced by testosterone. Hereby a post with the first drawing. • When a vulva-owning individual takes testosterone, their clitoris starts to grow. This can vary from 1 to 2.5 or even 3 inches (2-8 centimeters). The difference between a naturally large clitoris and one after taking hormones, is that the hormones cause the clitoris to be harder (more erect), and they tend to stick out of the clitoral hood a bit. They can look much like a miniature penis, with a head. Also, hormones causes pubic hair to grow thicker and longer. • I would like to finish this post by saying: thank you for your openness and for being so courageous in coming to me and sharing your story! It's very much appreciated ???????????? #respecteachother #respect #thevulvagallery #vulva #vulvas #vulvaart #vaginaart #genderidentity #genderequality #freethevulva #genderqueer #gender #genderfluid #feminist #labiaart #openminded #bodylove #feministartist #bodypositivity #bodypositive #bodypositivemovement #selflove #lgbtequality #queerart #watercolorillustration #loveyourself #labia #pubichair #thehappyfeminist #hildeatalanta

A photo posted by The Vulva Gallery (@the.vulva.gallery) on

Yesterday I was interviewed about my gallery, and I was asked: "Why do we need to be more open about these things? Shouldn't we keep some things private?" My answer to this is: I don’t think education is about 'private' or 'public', it goes further than this. I think partly because we keep some parts of the human body so private, even in education, that this leads to a distorted picture of how a 'normal' human body looks. If the only times a young adult sees other vulvas, they see them on the internet (for example a pornographic image) their view on what a normal vulva is gets strongly distorted. They don't get to see diversity. The only way to change the way individuals experience their bodies is to educate them, and others, about natural variety. Showing them that there are so many different body types, in many shapes, sizes, and colours. That every body type is beautiful in it's own way. It goes further than ‘private’ or ‘public’; it’s about approaching the natural human body and how we experience it in a positive way again. ???????? Love your vulva, because all vulvas are beautiful just the way they are ????✨ #thevulvagallery #vulva #vulvas #vulvaart #vaginaart #femaleempowerment #girlempowerment #freethevulva #feminism #everydayfeminism #intersectionalfeminism #feminist #feminista #feministpride #feministart #feministartist #bodypositivity #bodypositive #bodypositivemovement #selflove #watercolor #watercolorpainting #watercolorillustration #loveyourself #labia #freethepussy #pubichair #pubichairdontcare #thehappyfeminist #hildeatalanta

A photo posted by The Vulva Gallery (@the.vulva.gallery) on

Did you know that pubic hair has some real benefits? Besides that it offers a natural barrier to keep things clean (protection from viruses and bacteria from outside), it also protects the tender skin underneath and helps to control the moisture of the skin (thereby decreasing the chances of yeast infection and skin damage). And finally, it's an extension of our senses: at the bottom of each hair follicle, there is a nerve ending. When you brush through your hair, every little hair sends sensation through the hair to the nerve ending. So besides that pubic hair looks cute, it can give you pleasure too! ???????????? Love your vulva, because all vulvas are beautiful just the way they are ????✨ #thevulvagallery #vulva #vulvas #vulvaart #vaginaart #femaleempowerment #girlempowerment #freethevulva #feminism #everydayfeminism #intersectionalfeminism #feminist #feminista #feministpride #feministart #feministartist #bodypositivity #bodypositive #bodypositivemovement #selflove #watercolor #watercolorpainting #watercolorillustration #loveyourself #labia #freethepussy #pubichair #pubichairdontcare #thehappyfeminist #hildeatalanta

A photo posted by The Vulva Gallery (@the.vulva.gallery) on

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