Chrissy Teigen Explained Why She Wears Shapewear During Pregnancy Amid SKIMS Backlash

• Kim Kardashian's SKIMS shapewear brand (opens in new tab) recently unveiled a new maternity collection, sparking internet backlash.
• Chrissy Teigen responded (opens in new tab) to the controversy on her Instagram Story, explaining why she wears pregnancy shapewear.
• "Basically, the reason I love pregnancy shapewear is because it stops all the folds of my vagina and stomach from eating any other type of underwear," she said. "For the most part, it’s just the most comfortable thing to wear

After Kim Kardashian's latest SKIMS launch—a "Maternity Solutionwear" collection—triggered an online backlash, Chrissy Teigen took to Instagram to explain why she chooses to wear pregnancy shapewear. Some felt the concept of pregnancy shapewear implied pregnant people should try to make their bodies look smaller, a stance Kardashian and Teigen disagreed with.

Teigen shared a series of videos on her Instagram Story, wearing a full set of pregnancy shapewear (while she didn't specify the brand she was wearing, it looked a lot like SKIMS' upcoming release). "Basically, the reason I love pregnancy shapewear is because it stops all the folds of my vagina and stomach from eating any other type of underwear," she said. "When you're pregnant and you're sitting down a lot, or on bed rest like me, you tend to just sit there, and if you're wearing regular, basic-ass underwear, all it does is roll inside of folds I didn't even know I had. It rolls up in there and it doesn’t even look like I have underwear on."

"We're not trying to do anything to trick you, we're pregnant. We would just like to feel good about ourselves in a time where mentally, it can be really challenging," she continued. "What’s the big deal? I don’t think I have some fucking magic waistline now. Do you guys think that? I’m not doing it to get a waistline. I merely want to wear underwear that’s pretty, that I feel good in, that’s soft, that’s comfortable, that stretches nicely over my belly, and that my pussy doesn’t eat."

"We do it so we feel high and tight and honestly it feels easier to get up, it feels easier to move around when you’re not flopping all over the place," she said. "For the most part, it’s just the most comfortable thing to wear."

Shortly after Teigen spoke on Instagram, Kardashian tweeted, "To anyone who has an issue with maternity solutionwear, and if you haven’t been pregnant before you may not know the struggle of what it’s like carrying all of this weight the way I did along with millions of strong women. @skims maternity line is not to slim but to support."

"The belly part doesn’t slim your belly, it’s actually sheer and a thinner layered material compared to the rest of the garment. It provides support to help with the uncomfortable weight being carried in your stomach which affects your lower back," Kardashian continued. "and the compression on the leggings helps with pain relief caused by swelling. It is also worn after you have given birth and provides the comfort and support that most women need after delivery especially if you are recovering from a cesarean."