Lauren, Brazil

"I decided to let my body hair grow because my body is my own, and I can do what I want with it. People should understand that women have body hair too, and there's nothing wrong with that."

Allyson, 30, Austin, Texas

"I stopped shaving my bikini area in college when my then-boyfriend went on a study abroad trip. While he was gone, I realized I preferred having a fuller bikini area. Ingrown hairs were awful! Razor burn was awful! And the hair helps prevent yeast infections and other issues. I quit shaving my legs [two years later], when one day I calculated the amount of time I spent a week shaving. I felt like I was wasting time on something that didn't matter, so I quit."

Molly, 23, Durham, North Carolina

"It's funny because I shaved to conform or please in some way, but I was always self-conscious about it. I think that was ultimately because I felt uncomfortable [with myself] in general, physically and emotionally. Only when I stopped did I feel more comfortable -- not the other way around. Having grown out body hair, specifically pubic hair, makes me feel more womanly, more self-assured, more in control."

Klara, 24, Berlin, Germany

"We are not objects, we're subjects."