DRIPPING with sweat as she walks in the front door Mel Shelton, 30, drops her bag on the floor and peels off her jeans, shirt, and underwear.
But the psychology student isn’t headed to the shower.
She says sunbathing nude means she doesn’t end up with weird tan lines from her swimming costume[/caption]
Instead, she pours herself an ice-cold juice, grabs some sunscreen and walks out onto the balcony where she lays on her sunlounger – completely starkers.
“If people above my flat crane their necks they may get an eyeful,” she says.
“Window cleaners working on scaffolding across the road let out a cheer once and I got a thumbs up from a builder on the balcony above me too.
“A couple of OAP’s have given me evils in the lift and mumbled people should stay covered on their ‘terrace’
“I’m not bothered by people getting the odd eyeful.
“I’d rather strip down than cover up to enjoy this current burst of warm weather.”
Mel, a hairdresser and mature psychology student, lives in her two-bedroom rented apartment in her block of flats in Warrington, Cheshire.
“I chose this flat because the balcony gets sun in winter and summer,” she says.
“It’s the outdoor space many people who live in apartments don’t get to enjoy.
“I moved in two years ago; my balcony has been my ‘me time’ sunning space in the hot weather.
“It’s also saved me cash on the sunbeds I would otherwise be using.”
However, while Mel’s sunbathing spot is relatively secluded, she doesn’t go totally unnoticed.
“Window cleaners and repair men are often working on the outside of the apartment block,” she explains.
“There have been a few times when I opened my eyes to gawking blokes and the odd wolf-whistle.
“As for grumpy OAPs who somehow manage to spot my bare skin, I just smile when they waggle their fingers at me.
“I told one older woman she should have a go herself and the next time she saw me she looked tanned and gave me a cheeky wink.”
But while plenty of Brits will enjoy basking in the sun this week, according to recent research a growing number will be stripping off just like Mel.
An Ipsos survey found 6.75 million or 14% of British adults describe themselves as naturists an increase of 8% since 2011.
But more astonishingly of those people more than 30% of women are stripping off in 2025 empowered using naturism as a vehicle for improved body confidence, self-esteem, and mental well-being.
Naturists groups say around 2 million women are now bearing all now compared to a 2011 when figures show less than 600,000 were stripping off in the sun.
“I am one of those women, I have learnt to love my body and not be ashamed of it,” says Mel.
“I am hoping for a heatwave this week. I may even take a day off work just to top up my tan if that happens.”
Join the growing number of other women stripping off and embracing ‘buff love’
Mel Shelton
Mel’s naked and topless sunbathing obsession began more than a decade ago.
“I started sunbathing topless at home when I was 19,” she explains.
“I’d find a sheltered area of the garden and ensure my bikini top didn’t leave unwanted marks.”
But she admits that her dedication to achieving the perfect tan has seen her get burnt on a few occasions, literally.
“I have ended up with a burnt bottom and boobs,” she says.
“I learnt my lesson and always top up with SPF as I have fair skin.
Is it legal to sunbathe topless?
Being naked in the comfort of your own home or sunbathing topless in the garden might not seem like a huge problem.
But it could get you in trouble.
Under the law, it’s technically legal to be naked anywhere in the UK, unless the nudity is to cause shock, outrage or upset.
For it to become illegal, it needs to be proven that the stripping off was done deliberately.
This means it is legal for you to be naked in your own back garden, as long as you’re not doing so to upset your neighbours.
So if you’re thinking of sunbathing in the nude, make sure your neighbours can’t overlook or wouldn’t mind.
According to the Crown Prosecution Service “a balance needs to be struck between the naturist’s right to freedom of expression and the right of the wider public to be protected from harassment, alarm and distress”.
While she may have faced some judgement, Mel wants to encourage other women to starkers sunbathing and realise how beneficial it can be.
“I know firsthand that if you have the guts to strip off and enjoy the sun you don’t get so hung up and obsessed with body issues,” she says.
“It’s not just for an all over tan there are multiple health benefits as well as you’re allowing your skin to breathe and get some Vitamin D.
“Just remember if you are going to go topless or naked, check who is around, be considerate and don’t break the law.
“The weather’s heating up so join the growing number of other women stripping off and embracing ‘buff love’.”
