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Devon Windsor calls out postpartum pressures women face: 'I just don't feel like I'm allowed to complain at all'

Devon Windsor gets candid on TikTok about the challenges of a being a new mom. (Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP via Getty Images)
Devon Windsor gets candid on TikTok about the challenges of a being a new mom. (Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP via Getty Images)

Devon Windsor is fighting against the pressure to be "perfect" postpartum.

On Sunday, the 27-year-old model and former Victoria's Secret angel posted a TikTok of herself in her bathroom wearing pajamas while talking about the expectations and realities of being a new mom. Windsor gave birth to daughter Enzo Elodie, whom she shares with husband Johnny Dexter Barbara, three months ago.

"Can we just take a moment and discuss all the things women go through," she began after putting cream on a pimple. "Not that men don’t get pimples, but just like pressures of society to be perfect; to be able to get pregnant; to be able to grow a human for nine months and then birth a human, come out of you or get literally cut out of you. And then people just expect you to be all dandy and fine, acting normal like. It’s just crazy."

Windsor went on to say that people expect women to be "healed" and "ready to go" after just a month postpartum, as they begin to receive questions about when they are going to have another baby. She also noted that she has been told how amazing she looks, which just adds to the pressures a lot of new moms face.

"I’m not fitting into anything, but the pressure to look amazing, it’s just like, God forbid I’m a model and the pressure is even scarier — like you know, agents asking you when do you want to go back to work and just, like, not fitting into your old clothes, just feeling that pressure to, like, be perfect," she explained.

Windsor shared that she's "so happy" her body has been "doing its thing," saying: "I eat what I want, I workout if I feel like it. If not, whatever." But she shares: "I still feel like I’m doing something wrong all the time, all the time, not to mention how tired you are and those breastfeeding mamas, like if you can relate, it’s just like you’re just tired all the time from producing this milk to feed this human, like how are we supposed to be ok all the time? You’re supposed to like always have it together. I just don’t feel like I’m allowed to complain at all. It’s just like, sometimes you just need to complain."

The swimwear designer also held a Q&A session on Instagram where she gave her more than 3 million followers a chance to ask her questions about her pregnancy and postpartum journey. When one of her followers asked her how she dealt with anxiety over pregnancy weight gain, she shared a throwback photo of herself showing off her baby bump.

"This was something that society definitely puts pressure on women about," Windsor wrote. "For me personally, I was so excited to get my bump. I was actually bump shamed about having a small bump LOL! No matter how you slice and dice it someone will always feel the need to comment LOL. I think trust that this is a natural part of pregnancy. For me personally, I didn't even look at the scale or care to. As long as me and baby were healthy. That's all that matters. Also know that this is temporary and won't last forever."

Devon Windsor answers questions from followers on her Instagram Stories (Photo: Instagram)
Devon Windsor answers questions from followers on her Instagram Stories (Photo: Instagram)

She addressed the bump shaming in a TikTok back in May, saying, "Everybody is different. Every body is different. Everyone carries differently. Everybody’s pregnancy journey’s different. I’m 5 11, baby’s super low on me. I have back pain. I don’t know what to tell you guys, but everybody’s super different."

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