The ‘bend & snap’ bikini photo that celebrities love – it makes you look slimmer
IF you feel like you’re never happy with your bikini photos, don’t be too hard on yourself.
You might think that you can look at pictures of celebrities in swimsuits and your stomach will never be that flat and your arms will never be that toned. But it turns out that virtually every celebrity in Tinseltown uses specific poses to look slim and sexy.
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Summer has long been associated with body image issues, with more than two in five women dreading swimsuit season.
And 77 percent feel more insecure during this period, when many people focus on the so-called bikini body.
According to experts, many celebrities have a little-known secret to perfecting their look: the “bend and snap” pose.
Celebrities twist, bend and stretch their torsos in an attempt to achieve the perfect ‘swan neck’ body shape.
Judi James
A favorite of A-list celebrities and reality stars like Kylie Jenner, Amanda Holden and Maya Jama, the ‘bend and snap’ technique ensures they get the perfect bikini photo every time.
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This pose pushes the breasts up and out to create a full, yet firm look. At the same time, the torso is stretched and arched back to slim the waist and create a flat stomach.
Finally, the ass is pushed forward to make it as voluptuous as possible.
Body positive influencer Tally Sharp, who has 411,000 followers on Instagram page @thetallysharp, says: “Bikini photos are all about feeling sexy on the inside and, more importantly, showing that you’re enjoying your time in a warm destination.
“It’s all about the sultry look, the confidence and the tension with the camera.
“Kylie Jenner is a great example of someone who does this pose well.
“She makes sure you can see the skin and the thighs, which gives shape to the image. When you combine that with a bit of ‘bend and click’, the image becomes even more illuminated.
“I take these kinds of photos, but I also make sure to take images where my body is in its natural form, because that’s even more beautiful.
“I want other women to embrace themselves in their own way. Whether it’s learning poses or buying themselves something that makes them feel sexy.
“I always feel powerful when I do the wet look, or in the studio when a fan is blowing through my hair.
“Not every angle I use for my Instagram is flattering, but this is me, this is my body and I love it.”
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And it’s not just about looking good, the pose also exudes a sense of power, according to body language expert Judi James.
She says: “This is a ‘no pain no gain’ pose where celebrities twist, curve and stretch their torsos in an attempt to create the perfect curved ‘swan neck’ body shape.
“It creates a fluid line, shape and movement that makes the eyes scan and appreciate the entire body rather than just emphasizing one element, such as the décolleté.
“Pushing out the butt—the most sensual part of the body—indicates sexual availability or arousal.
Bikini photos are all about feeling your inner sexy and, more importantly, showing that you are enjoying your time relaxing in a warm destination.
Tally Sharp
“This gives a deeper reason why arching the back ’till you snap’ is so popular.
“For modern celebrities, it’s also a pose that suggests sexual superiority and uniqueness. The flattering ‘bend and snap’ suggests gym-honed flexibility and dedication, more of a sex goddess than a girl next one door.”
In this article, Judi James breaks down the celebrities who have perfected the bend-and-snap pose to ensure you get the look you want, while Tally explains how you can do it yourself.
Maura Higgins
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Maura puts the emphasis on her cleavage, but the 33-year-old actress looks more sweet than sensual.
Judi says: ‘Her smile can come across as shy, with a laugh and an expression in her eyes that suggests she wants to be liked.
“Maura’s attempts to arch her back were not in vain, because the camera angle that would have best shown off her sensual signals is missing here.”
Kylie Jenner
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Kylie, 26, performed the ‘bend and snap’ pose while modeling an orange bikini.
Judi says: “Kylie’s pose is a subtle yet powerful ‘bend and snip’.
“Her looks are cute, but her determination is formidable. She knows how to arch her spine, push her ass out and pull her pants down, which adds emphasis.
“Cool and cute come together, because she makes it all look effortless.”
Arabella Chi
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Arabella, 33, nailed the pose as she modelled a tan bikini.
Judi says: “It looks like she has her eyes almost closed as she performs the ‘bend and snap’ pose.
“This shows that she is thinking about the best sex of her life and enjoying the moment.
“She’s wearing a swimsuit that covers her body, but the look here says it all in terms of sensual poses.”
Emily Ratajkowski
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Emily’s pose shows off the 33-year-old’s enviable washboard abs.
Judi says: “The way she creates leg curls and an arched back without putting any strain on her face or neck shows she is a true professional.
“Here she uses one arm as a kind of barrier gesture to cover her torso and create a more discreet angle. In doing so, she wants to give the impression that she is not desperate for attention.”
Amanda Holden
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Amanda, 55, doesn’t get Holden back when she goes on vacation.
Judi says: “Amanda gets all the credit for pulling off the ‘Bend and Snap’ move whilst balancing on a deck railing and still making it look like a relaxing sunbathing moment.
“This is truly a heroic dedication to the pose and she even adds extended arms and legs and ‘en point’ toes to pose like the badass she is.”
Ashley Graham
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The 36-year-old American model Ashley, in top form, received top marks for showing how curvy girls can also pull off the pose.
Judi says, “Ashley puts in the least effort here with her Bend and Snap, straightening one knee but avoiding too much twisting of the spine.
“Her gaze to the right seems to suggest that she is saying she is sexy enough without trying and the hands gripping her pants indicate some inner confidence.”
Nicole Scherzinger
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Wouldn’t Cha want you to be as hot as Nicole, 46, in your bikini photos? Well, the ‘bend and snap’ pose makes it achievable.
Judi says: “Nicole’s perfect contortions here create the perfect S-shape, from her pointed toes to the slight tilt of her head back.
“She even exposes her armpits with both arms, as a sign of self-confidence and current.
“Nicole always seems like a perfectionist and it pays off in this memorable photo.”
How to recreate the pose
Body Positive Influencer Tally Sharp has revealed how to perfect the ‘bend and click’ pose, just like celebrities do.
“This attitude is all about showing your strengths.
“This pushes the breasts up and out to create a full, yet firm look.
“The torso is then stretched upwards and bent backwards to slim the waist and create a flat stomach.
“Finally, the butt is pushed forward to make it as voluptuous as possible.”
My other tips for taking the perfect photo…
Form
The perfect photo embraces FORM and uses your body or an outfit to enhance it.
Bikinis and lingerie are great for this type of photo. They are best used as a prop. They also help to make your curves stand out.
Grab your bikini and lift one hip up, or move the side of your bikini while gently cupping your face with your other hand, or grab your hair on either side of your head as if it were a natural swipe shot.
Then put one foot in front of the other. It’s about diversity in the image.
Corner
Know which angels you like. It’s so funny, whenever I see someone who follows me on Instagram, they always say ‘you’re so much smaller in real life, I thought you were tall!’
I always have to laugh at this because the angle I use is at hip height and slightly upwards, which makes the image appear longer and makes me look taller.
So try to discover with a friend which angles you like about yourself. Once you have found them, it will be a lot easier.
Practice makes perfect
Try sitting, standing, lying down, and any other levels you can think of.
I live by the principle: if it doesn’t work and you don’t get the right photo, sit down or change the background.
Have fun
Content creation is all about having fun! And that’s where you really get “the shot”! Splash around, dance, be creative and bloom baby.
Follow Tally Sharp on Instagram page @thetallysharp for more body positive content
Maya Jama
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The 29-year-old combines sexuality with a ‘best friend’ vibe, which is why she’s such a good presenter on Love Island.
Judi says: “Her back arch creates a Kardashian-style hourglass figure.
“She has her hands behind her head and looks into the camera with a tiny grin. She shows her friendly nature, but proves that she is someone not to be messed with.
“Sexy but relatable.”
