"When I do the pinch test, there is nothing there," said Munroe, 56, a marketing executive who watches her food portions and gets her exercise carrying luggage and running through airports in high-heeled shoes. "So I'm going to continue to wear a bikini. Bikinis are my happy outfit."
What should those of us do who want a beach experience but don't have a genetic predisposition for backside exposure or hours a week to dedicate to maintaining a six-pack starting in January?
Jené Luciani, a New York-based style expert and author of The Bra Book, says exfoliate in the shower, apply a spray tan, and get a bathing suit - preferably one with vintage polka dots - that fits well.
"You don't have to be afraid of bikinis," Luciani said. "If you are busty, just get one with an underwire that supports you," she said. If your thighs are your nemesis, buy high-cut bottoms, as boy shorts will only make you look thicker.
I'll think about that.
Last, women shouldn't forget the most important thing about wearing a bikini: Have fun. I know that can be a little tough when, according to that Fitness survey, nearly 90 percent of women said their toughest critics weren't men, but other women.
But don't think about those manicured claws.
Throw a beach ball. Lie in the sand. Wade in the water. So what if you've got a little pooch and some cellulite? There are worse things: Corsets and pantyhose could still be mandatory.
Contact fashion writer Elizabeth Wellington at 215-854-2704, ewellington@phillynews.com, or ewellingtonphl on Twitter.
