by Alex, age 17

Being a teenager isn’t always easy. But being a nudist teenagers comes with some unique challenges.

For one, there’s the secrecy. I can’t tell my classmates what I did over the summer without editing the truth. I can’t talk about the beach we go to or the friends I’ve made at the resort without carefully avoiding the word “nudist.” That kind of constant filtering gets exhausting. I’m not ashamed of who I am, but I’ve learned that not everyone is kind when they hear something different. People judge quickly, especially when they don’t understand. And nobody wants to be the target of rumors in high school.

Another challenge is the isolation. Even at nudist places, it’s not always easy to find other teens to share this part of my life. Sometimes I’m the only person my age around. While the adults are kind and supportive, it can feel lonely not having peers to hang out with. And online, there’s very little space for teens like me to talk about naturism in a safe, respectful way. It can feel like you exist in this tiny in-between world where you don’t quite belong on either side.

And, of course, there’s the pressure we all feel around body image—something that doesn’t just vanish in nudist spaces. Even though naturism teaches body acceptance, I’m still a teenager in a society obsessed with appearance. I’ve had moments of insecurity, comparing myself to others, wondering if I’m “normal.” But in those moments, I also remember that nudism has helped me fight back against those thoughts more than anything else has. Because when you’re around people of all ages, shapes, and sizes, and no one is hiding behind clothes or pretending to be something they’re not, you start to see your body as just yours. Not perfect. Not broken. Just real.

So yeah—it’s not always easy being a teenage nudist, but even with the added social stresses, I still love nudism and I'm glad to have been raised a nudist. Because nudism, for me, is more than just being without clothes. It’s about being me.

Nudism has given me a kind of freedom I don’t find anywhere else. Freedom from judgment, from comparison, from pretending. It’s helped me feel more confident in who I am and more comfortable in my own skin. It’s brought me closer to my family in a way that’s honest and open. And even if I sometimes feel alone, I know I’m not the only one who’s chosen this path.

I believe in what nudism stands for—respect, acceptance, and authenticity. And I hope that someday it won’t be something people whisper about or laugh at. I hope more teens like me will be able to talk about it without fear. Until then, I’ll keep being who I am, even if I have to do it quietly sometimes.

Because in the end, I’d rather be real and misunderstood than fake and accepted.