'The Bachelor' Alum Bekah Martinez Defends Going 7 Years Without Shaving: 'Hair on a Woman's Body Is Normal'

The Bachelor alum Bekah Martinez is getting candid about women's body hair.

In a July 8 Instagram post, the former reality television star defended her decision to go seven years without shaving in response to a mean-spirited comment from an Instagram user.

"Your face doesn't jive with your hairy legs. Grey [Martinez's fiancé, Grayston Leonard] must be grossed out," the user wrote in a direct message.

In response, Martinez — who previously competed on season 22 of The Bachelor, where Arie Luyendyk Jr. was the star — discussed the uncomfortable moments in her childhood that led to her working on her relationship with her body hair.

"I started sneaking my mom's razors in 3rd grade. I remember praying to God that he'd remove all my hair from the neck down. Family, friends, and even teachers and coaches would gently tease when any of my jet black leg stubble was growing out," she wrote. "It was seemingly harmless but continued to reinforce that my body's hair was wrong." 

Martinez, 30, explained that the decision to stop shaving came when she was pregnant with her first child, and stemmed from not wanting her children to have negative feelings about their bodies.

"I wanted my daughter and my future sons to see that hair on a woman's body is normal," she added. "Not shameful. Not gross. I wanted to demonstrate that body hair is not masculine. because I am a woman. And so my body hair is feminine."

The Bekah & Friends podcaster also noted that she "wanted to consciously work through the disgust I had in my natural body." While she still doesn't "love" her body hair, "the feeling has so much less power over me than it used to."

In the caption of the post, Martinez added, "And for the record, Gray went to a liberal arts college in Oregon, so he’s had his fair share of gross razor-less women."

The comments section of Martinez's post was largely supportive. "Why is it that when a woman doesn’t shave it is 'unhygienic' but when a man doesn’t shave it is fine and hygienic? We all grow hair, we are mammals," one user wrote.

Another user added, "No one should care about this at all, and you shouldn’t have to post this. You’re awesome," while another commented, "you’re an inspiration."

Martinez's fiancé, Leonard, also chimed in with a supportive comment of his own. "Love you and your hairy legs," he wrote.

Martinez's body hair isn't the only time she's gone viral. She appeared on season 22 of The Bachelor and became the first and only contestant in the show's history to wear a pixie cut during her run.

The star made it to the seventh week of The Bachelor and traveled overseas to Tuscany, Italy, though she was later eliminated in the seventh episode of the season, just before the hometown dates.