What it’s really like to grow up with big breasts

Cleavage, cleavage!” my aunt roared when my dupatta released, revealing my perfectly preserved, blouse-secured boobs. Come to think of it, a liberal display of the waist is absolved—sari not sorry—but the littlest of skin-show above the waist falls under scrutiny. The dichotomy is deplorable. But it is what it is.

You see, my plums matured into melons sooner than expected; I’d hit puberty at 10—the first in my grade—which likely catalysed hormone-induced growth, leaving me with a bra far bigger than that of my peers...and a befitting moniker, “Double D”.

So it wouldn’t be a stretch to assume that my blossoming womanhood was stirring feelings of self-consciousness.

In a bid to tone down my tatas, I’d conceal them with loose-fitting clothes, pull out of 5Ks and even saunter, for I thought a bouncing rack was unsightly. All—and I mean all—that it’d take to draw away attention.

Turns out, I wasn’t alone. According to Women’s Health (Lond.), mature-aged women with larger breasts express a desire to change their breast size, and are less satisfied with their bra fit.

Now, it’s only fair to ask: What of the men? Does this sentiment extend to our male counterparts, too?

Findings in the Archives of Sexual Behaviour suggest that men who tend to engage in short-term, low-commitment relationships are far more attracted to large breasts than those who engage in long-term relationships with high emotional commitment.

Who would’ve known. And to think that the voices in my silence almost had me sign up for a breast reduction surgery a couple years ago...

 

Bosom, boobs, tits, call it what you may, they’re a heavy weight to carry. And with a steady gaze on DD- chests, stashing away your voluptuousness may be the sole route to safeguard your self-esteem.

Folded arms soon became my perpetual pose, and a crew neck my preferred style. Throw in some back pain, the trading of push-ups for shapewear, and sturdier fabrics for better support into the mix, and you’ve got yourself a winner.

No pretty bras for big-boobed girls either! We renounce lace and tulle for stocky straps and underwire. Meanwhile, padded brassieres create the illusion of a fuller chest, so not a chance in hell.

But I will say, the right bra, with the right fit—ever so slightly embellished; just a tad—can be life-changing.

You see, it’s a vicious cycle, an endless loop to downplay the chest. But the interventions only go as far as the mirror allows mercy.

It was time to come clean. To come to terms with my body, my reality.

The shame, the embarrassment; impaired self-worth needed to be addressed. How? Positive self-talk, self-compassion, and surrounding myself with like-minded folks.

And so, my plunging neckline pledge—as I’d liked to call it—kicked off with an evening run (as the sun sets, so do the unsolicited stares). This was accompanied with a calorie deficit (crash diets won’t do you any good), ample hydration, and a sound, eight-hour sleep. Ngl, it all helped downsize the rack, but the real work had to be done on an emotional level.

I couldn’t escape the piercing male gaze, the prying eyes, fleeting glances via the rear-view mirror...even so, I was learning to love my body.

You know, there’s something undeniably sexy about curves that command attention—the right kind, of course. One button down and your cleavage can turn a T-shirt into a statement...and leave a man aching for more. The quiet defiance of donning what you desire, in lieu of dressing to disappear.

I didn’t need to contour my boobs, or resort to inserts. I was saving up on double push-up bras, too (yep, that’s girl math for you). I was, finally, reclaiming the narrative.

Having big breasts exemplifies the weight of being constantly seen; the tightrope between “not enough” and “too much”. There’s vulnerability... it’s quite liberating.

They may be saggy, misshapen, seemingly ginormous...but they’re mine all the same.

My bra strap had turned into a symbol of empowerment, and I refused to be sexualised without consent.

Lead image credit: Adobestock 

This article originally appeared in Cosmopolitan India, June 2025 print issue.

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