Aussie model exposes double standards of G-string bikini ban at public pools

An Australian model has criticized a council for banning ‘revealing’ swimwear at swimming pools and questions why men’s swimwear is not placed under the same scrutiny.

Jess King, 34, spoke out against Blue Mountains council during a debate on swimwear rules on Tuesday.

Last week the council reiterated that thongs and G-string swimwear are ‘not acceptable’ to wear in public swimming pools: Katoomba Sports and Aquatic Centre, Springwood Aquatic and Fitness Centre, Blackheath Pool or Glenbrook Swim Centre.

Ms King said the rule sexualised swimmers’ bodies, particularly women.

“Such a ban means that the human body – especially the buttocks, which we all have – is inherently inappropriate or sexualized, reinforcing shame rather than promoting acceptance,” she said. Yahoo.

“These conversations often focus disproportionately on women’s and women’s fashion trends, while similar discussions about men’s swimwear, such as parakeet smugglers, are conspicuously absent.”

Conditions of entry at the centers indicate that the rule was based on hygiene rather than a moral stance, stating that ‘visitors are encouraged to shower thoroughly before entering the pool and approved swimwear must be worn’.

‘Recognised swimwear does not include G-strings’, the conditions state.

The rule came to light after the city council had to clarify that ‘revealing swimwear’ does not include regular bikinis, which are allowed..

Ms King, a ‘curve’ model who advocates acceptance of all body types, questioned how exactly the council would determine how much fabric separates a standard bikini from a thong.

‘Who decides how much coverage is sufficient?’ she said.

‘Bodies come in all shapes and sizes, and certain styles can be more or less revealing depending on the individual.

‘For someone with a curvier figure, even full-coverage swimwear can still show some skin.’

Thongs and G-string swimwear are prohibited at the Katoomba Sports and Aquatic Center (pictured), Springwood Aquatic and Fitness Centre, Blackheath Pool and Glenbrook Swim Center

Her opinion was widely supported in the comments on the municipality’s social media account.

“People go to the pool to swim without worrying about what other people are wearing,” one person said.

“How about we solve this by putting the responsibility on the person who has feelings about someone else’s clothes, and not on the children wearing them,” said a second local.

“Young people will wear what is fashionable, and this is what is fashionable. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it.’

A third urged others to ‘stop worrying or commenting on what other people look like or what they wear’.

“If anyone is so offended by a cheeky G-string bikini, don’t wear one or look at others wearing them,” they wrote.

‘There are a lot of bodies at the pool that I don’t like to look at, they still have every right to be there and wear what they want.

“This policy, in my opinion, is so old fashioned and outdated.”

Ms King believed the ban on string bikinis unfairly targeted women, saying: ‘These conversations often focus disproportionately on women’s and femme fashion trends’

But others said they had no problem with the ban.

‘I don’t see the problem here. People take this out of context. It’s not like they’re telling you to cover it all up,” one user wrote.

“There are so many children swimming innocently and enjoying themselves, only to see a bunch of butts walking past which I actually find ridiculous,” said another.

“No, we don’t have to look, but kids do and I don’t want them to think it’s all okay, especially when there’s dirt around.”

Project host Sarah Harris also shared her thoughts on the debate, saying that while she wouldn’t wear a G-string bikini, she couldn’t understand other poolgoers being offended by those who did.

“A lot of the responses were, what will the kids think?” she said.

“I spend a lot of time at the beach with my kids, they’re not watching.”

Her co-host Georgie Tunney agreed, saying: ‘I don’t care what people wear, if they feel confident enough to wear that then I’m really happy they do.

“I wish I was one of you, but alas.”

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Blue Mountains City Council for comment.