When Beyonce speaks, the world listens.
This week, the award-winning singer and global pop culture icon spoke about many a thing in her cover interview in US Vogue’s prestigious September issue.
The interview and cover were groundbreaking in so many ways. Beyonce was said to have had ‘full creative control’ over the cover shoot, which involved bringing 23-year-old photographer Tyler Mitchell on to shoot it – the first ever person of colour to shoot a Vogue cover.
In the interview, the 36-year-old touched on topics such as her post-baby body acceptance, how she suffered from toxemia during her pregnancy and her experience of having a c-section, the pressure to ‘bounce back’ straight away and the need for greater diversity in the entertainment industry.
She also took the opportunity to address the taboo body part many women feel self conscious about, but wouldn’t dare speak of… even going as far as to give it a name.
FUPA.
“I think it’s important for women and men to see and appreciate the beauty in their natural bodies,” the mum-of-three began.
“To this day my arms, shoulders, breasts, and thighs are fuller [after having kids]. I have a little mommy pouch, and I’m in no rush to get rid of it. I think it’s real. Whenever I’m ready to get a six-pack, I will go into beast zone and work my ass off until I have it. But right now, my little FUPA and I feel like we are meant to be.”
This is all wonderful and inspiring, but can we pause because WHAT IS A FUPA AND DO I HAVE ONE TOO?
To clear up any miscommunication, here’s a very quick explainer what exactly a FUPA is.
FUPA meaning
FUPA is, of course, a charming acronym for: fatty upper pubic area. Medically speaking, a FUPA is when a person carries fat on their mons pubis (a.k.a pubic mountain).
By definition, a FUPA is a fatty area where your pubic hair grows… not to be mistaken for your equally lovely ‘muffin top’ or the bit where you lower abdomen sticks out a little bit.
As for what causes a FUPA, you can thank gravity for moving fat and skin redundancy to the lowest point in the lower abdomen.
Do I have a FUPA?
Maybe.
The thing about FUPAs is they are common. Dr Amira Sanki from Silkwood Medical previously told Mamamia a lot of her patients are concerned about their pubic area.
“It’s actually really, really common. What happens is when you are overweight, your tummy camouflages [the FUPA], but then if you lose weight, your tummy flattens and the mons pubis protrudes,” she said.
But because no one wants to talk about having a ‘chubby’ pubic area, many of us might keep our concerns to ourselves, therefore perpetuating the idea that a FUPA is something to be ashamed of or that needs to be ‘fixed’.
Side note – if you’re after an injection of body confidence, check out what the awesome Taryn Brumfitt has to say about your ‘flabby bits’, including a FUPA. Post continues after video.
How to get rid of a FUPA.
Hang on now.
First of all, FUPAs, or any other area on a woman’s body deserving of an acronym or nickname, are not ‘bad’.
They are normal, and as Beyonce pointed out, natural – having a FUPA is nothing to be embarrassed about, and it might come and go at different points in your life just as our weight fluctuates depending on your health priorities.
What matters is how you feel about it.
If you’re not keen on yours or it makes you feel bad about yourself, personal trainer Trent Langlands previously told Mamamia focusing on your diet is the best way to see physical results.
“I don’t believe you can spot reduce [any area], you need a holistic approach and aim for losing centimetres off the entire body, not one area. Nutrition is vital – when it comes to losing weight I believe it’s 80 per cent nutrition, 20 per cent training. The training will assist weight loss but you need to eat cleanly and well to get results,” he said.
Cosmetic surgery (liposuction or a tummy tuck) is also a more extreme option for those who are really concerned about the area.
But honestly, if Beyonce’s not bothered by her FUPA, then neither are we.
If you are concerned about any part of your body, please always seek professional help from your GP or a specialist.
How does it make you feel when celebrities like Beyonce speak candidly about their own body issues? Tell us in the comments.