Women of Naturism: Maria – Part 1

A Story From a Country Where It Cannot Yet Be Told Out Loud

We have written about naturism from the inside for over a year. We have written about body acceptance, about trust, about what it means to exist in your own skin without apology. We have written about couples who found something together in clothes-free living and about the community that holds all of it together.

But there is a voice that has been largely missing from naturism’s public story. The voice of women. Women who are living this, navigating it, questioning it, and in some cases building it, but who remain largely invisible in how naturism talks about itself.

“Women of Naturism” exists to try to change that.

This is an ongoing series of individual profiles. Real women, real stories, told in their own words through in-depth conversations that go beyond the easy answers. Most are not ambassadors or spokespeople. They are just women with honest accounts of what clothes-free living actually looks like from their own perspectives.

We screen every participant carefully. We ask hard questions. We publish nothing without explicit approval at every stage. And we let the woman’s own voice carry the piece. Because that is the only voice that can tell her story accurately.

Most of the women in this series will share their first name and non anonymous photos. But not all of them can. And that is important because the reasons people cannot be visible are sometimes the most important part of the story.

This profile is published anonymously. She stated there is nothing to be ashamed of… but the world she lives in has not caught up to that truth yet.

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Each woman in this series arrives at a different point on the visibility spectrum. Our first profile featured Gabby Quinn, The Crowned Nudi, one of the most publicly visible younger women in naturism today.

Maria is 38 years old and has never posted a photo online and has never had a Facebook or Instagram account. She lives in Costa Rica, with her husband of eight years. A country where naturism cannot be discussed openly and where being discovered could cost her her job. Where the conservative culture equates nudity with sexuality completely. Her husband reads our articles to her and that’s how she discovered us. For this article she worked with her husband on her first intentional photo shoot and she told us afterward: “These pictures steal my heart.”

Both women are Women of Naturism. The distance between their circumstances is exactly why this series exists.

Maria came to naturism not through curiosity or a friend’s invitation but through love and fear. A man who taught her to see her own body differently. Who stood her in front of a mirror without clothes and quietly described what he saw until her mind formed a new picture of herself. She says in that experience, in front of the mirror, little by little, she discovered virtues… parts of her body that made her feel beautiful and good about herself. It was a process that took time but she eventually stopped seeing herself as a major flaw. Then they received a diagnosis. A tumor. Surgeries. Uncertainty. The particular fear that comes when life suddenly feels finite.

So they decided to stop waiting.

Her husband booked a naturist Airbnb in Costa Rica. A quiet, warm place managed by a French couple who opened their hearts to two nervous strangers and gave them the time and gentleness they needed to find their footing. Maria spent a long time in the room before she finally made the decision. She had a stomachache from nerves. She went anyway and has never regretted it.

In the seven years since that first afternoon, she and her husband have traveled to Haulover Beach, Blind Creek, Cypress Cove, Glen Eden Sun, and Orient Beach in Saint Martin. They have found community in small private gatherings with other Costa Rican naturists. They have built a life that includes this… quietly, carefully, and with full awareness of what it would cost if the wrong people found out.

Maria describes herself as someone who came to naturism not through philosophy but through feeling. She calls herself a naturist and the label matters to her… but not as an identity to wear publicly. She believes the word itself does important work. “The naturist concept opens another door,” she says, “one that allows for self-knowledge from the intimate and natural perspective of the body, and respect for oneself and those around you.” She sees nudity and sexuality as a society-constructed equation, one her own culture reinforces constantly through religion and political rhetoric, and one she has quietly chosen not to accept.

She also has opinions about what the naturist community gets wrong.

Maria writes in Spanish. Her words have been translated by herself here, and we have tried to preserve every shade of what she wrote. Her photos are anonymous. But everything she has shared with us is entirely real.

This is her story… told from a country where it cannot yet be told out loud.

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You described how your husband would stand you naked in front of a mirror and describe what he saw… and how your mind gained a new perspective in that moment. It’s an intimate and unconventional starting point toward body acceptance. What did you actually feel during that experience? Do you think it permanently changed the way you see yourself, or is it something that requires ongoing maintenance?

Difficult moment. I felt a lot of fear and shame. I remember that for a long time I preferred to keep my eyes closed to avoid looking at myself directly. And yes, perhaps it’s unconventional, but I must thank my husband for always being open to talking and supporting me in situations like these. And yes, it did change the way I perceive myself. It gave me confidence and understanding of many things, but mainly it helped me understand that you don’t need a perfect body to be happy with yourself.

This concept was reinforced when I visited a nudist beach for the first time; I’ll talk about that later. And yes, of course, it’s a topic that requires ongoing attention because we are connected to different emotions that can affect our mood and distort how we behave. Realizing this is difficult, but in my case, I know it happens, for example, when I don’t feel like dressing up or getting ready, much less looking at myself in the mirror.

Your husband’s diagnosis of a tumor was the moment you both decided to stop waiting. You said you chose to live, enjoy life, and discover things regardless of who judged you. How close were you to never having that first naturist experience? How do you think your life would be now if that diagnosis had never happened?

This is difficult to answer, because I can give my opinion based on what I already know, starting from my current experience, which I already know, and tell you that regardless of the health situation that my husband and I are facing, I would do it, no matter what the reason was that led us to that first moment.

But the truth is that’s how it happened, and I can firmly say that life puts you in situations that often seem chaotic, but somehow they accommodate or open doors to other perspectives on life, and that’s what happened in my case; my husband’s health situation allowed us to take that risk, live that experience, and as a result, love it.

You described your first social naturist experience in great detail: the nervous stomachache, retreating to the room, the French couple, (Valerie and Roland), who opened their hearts to you. What is it about that particular memory that remains so vivid? What do you think they understood about you that day that you didn’t yet understand about yourself?

I don’t know if you’ve seen the Disney movie “Inside Out”, but my family always says I’m the character “Joy”. There might be some truth to that, though I don’t agree. There are moments in my life that are etched in my heart , and I can close my eyes and describe them exactly as they are because they represent a feeling of genuine happiness in my memories . For example, when my sister was born, my first date with my husband, the first time I visited Cirque du Soleil. Added to those memories is the experience with Valerie and Roland. The way they welcomed us, the warmth in their voices, and how naturally they moved around was truly beautiful and natural.

They probably sensed our nervousness, but they acted so warmly that we forgot about it and enjoyed the moment (of course, it took time). I remember that we visited them again before Christmas.

What is it about that particular afternoon with two strangers in a warm, reserved place in Costa Rica that belongs in the same part of your memory as the rest?

The memory is formed from several scenes, the first when Valerie saw my husband leave the room with clothes and she turned around and told him to have no problem undressing, of course while I was “dying of stomachache” in the room. After this, most of the conversations took place in the pool, because she lived on the same property, so she went into the water every time. In this space the question arose if it was our first time, and of course the answer was YES!

However, during that conversation she was never startled or evidenced a tone of voice that evidenced criticism, on the contrary she very warmly explained some rules, the importance of feeling comfortable and enjoying without shame, because it was a completely healthy and normal activity. With that same warmth, in a short time our conversations were “everyday”, “normal”. As every day and normal as talking about the router that was near the pool because it didn’t work, even though technicians had gone many times to check it. I remember that Valerie translated parts of the conversation for Roland because she was the one who spoke Spanish better or in any case supported herself with English. So normal was this conversation that my husband ended up helping them check the internet around the pool.

The experience was as every day and normal as talking about his cat, his favorite pet and why the place had been called “Casa Gwapa” something like “handsome house”. As every day and normal as talking to the neighbor you’ve known for 10 years, that neighbor you always see in clothes… but in Valerie’s case it was not like that, I remember that it was very striking to see her leave and enter the pool with so much confidence, as if she had forgotten that she did not have her clothes on, and I think that this factor made me relax and enjoy, this experience allowed me to be me.

Our next visit also brought back a very good memory: it had rained a lot and that made it difficult for my husband and me to go out and look for food, because of this Roland and Valerie invited us to eat at their house, something simple, but prepared with love, with dedication and all this under that naturalness: without clothes, without stigma, without drama, without gestures or actions that showed disapproval. The two of them are always in my heart and their departure from our country generated sadness.

It closed a door to the few spaces where naturism could take place, but it also closed a door that received us with total naturalness.

You live in Costa Rica, a place where you stated naturism and sexuality are perceived as one and the same, where your job could be at risk if you were discovered, and where you don’t use social media to jealously guard your privacy. And yet, here you are. What price do you pay for living this aspect of your life in hiding from your own culture? Is there a future where this changes?

I firmly believe that one should live within their own reality. Yes, my country has many limitations, but it’s where I grew up and I love it, because the experiences I’ve had here have allowed me to grow as a person. The people I love, family and friends, live here, and I also work here, which is something I love. But life isn’t always perfect, and that’s where naturism comes in. In the reality we live in, “sexuality is lived behind closed doors”. And unfortunately, it’s a deeply ingrained concept, constantly reinforced by religion and political rhetoric, so the chances of this changing in my culture are very slim.

However, the fact that I differ from my own culture doesn’t make me feel like I’m hiding something. For example, if I have a special moment with a friend and take a picture, I don’t post it not because I’m hiding it, but because it’s a memory of mine and it has meaning for me. I understand that for someone else who sees it, it won’t mean the same thing; they won’t understand the feeling or the importance of the moment captured in that photo. I apply the same concept to naturism. It’s something I enjoy, and I know perfectly well where I can experience it: at home with my husband, and outside of it, even if only occasionally, when we visit another country. Because even though this involves a financial effort, we ‘re aware that it’s the way we can access this experiences.

You and your husband travel once or more a year specifically to be fully yourselves in a way your own country does not allow. What is the journey home like? The moment when you leave that space and return to the life where this part of you must be kept quiet.

Well, I told you in another of the questions that many times you have to see both sides of a coin and learn to live with what you have. In our case, being able to make these trips recharges us with energy and allows us to return to our routines without difficulty. In fact, in our house we are always naked, I think the only time I wear a shirt is when I go to cook, but this is because I don’t like to splash myself with hot oil.

Something fun is I have to be careful with my little neighbor, he is 5 years old and loves to come to visit us, but he is very trusting. He calls me from the door: “Mari, Mari”! And since I don’t answer him, maybe because I’m busy, he brings his face as close as he can to the window to see if he can find me inside the house.

So, out of respect for him and the education he receives from his family, I prefer to cover myself when this happens.

You mentioned that, very occasionally, someone approaches you in a naturist setting with sexual intentions, and that you once witnessed a man photographing himself with an erection. How do you specifically perceive these infractions in naturist spaces, and what do you think should happen when they occur?

It’s important to clarify that desire or attraction for another person is something we’ve all experienced at some point. For example, in a naturist setting, a stranger might be attractive, and the same can happen when you’re walking through a shopping mall and see someone with striking physical characteristics. What differs here is how you approach that person: with inappropriate sexual behavior. I’ll cite two examples, such as displaying an erection, or politely, which could begin by initiating a conversation .

I believe the vulnerable point in a naturist environment is that most people don’t wear clothes, and this allows others to “take advantage” of it to exhibit themselves sexually.

And the truth is that, with or without clothes, and regardless of the environment, facing such a situation provokes distrust, insecurity, fear, and helplessness.

It is not wrong for a person to have a sexual desire and want to satisfy it, what is not right is to take advantage of the environment in which they find themselves; this becomes an act of disrespect because it violates the safety of those who are there.

Question , “What should happen when it occurs?”…

Really difficult situation. Personally, when this happens, it makes me feel vulnerable, uncomfortable, and insecure. And contextually, I don’t feel capable of correcting or addressing that person’s behavior, firstly because of a language barrier. I mostly speak Spanish, and the places we visit aren’t. Furthermore, due to a lack of knowledge about the law, for example, if the behavior occurs in an open space, like the beach, is it something that can be punished by law? Should I file a complaint? Are there people in these spaces who can address this situation ?

How important are the philosophy behind naturism: body acceptance, connection with nature, the argument for equality… to you personally? Or is it simply something you enjoy doing?

It is indeed something I enjoy, but also… and here I’ll return to the topic of body acceptance, it’s a philosophy of life. After changing my opions of myself in the mirror exercise, visiting my first nudist beach only reinforced this feeling. In this place, you can see people of different sexes, with different skin colors, women with large breasts, small breasts, or who have had mastectomies, and this doesn’t make them more or less beautiful, or more or less important. The same goes for men, with or without beards, tall or short, with penises of different shapes, etc. They are still men, and I watch them walk by, and they are a reflection of me . Each one with their own thoughts, their own worries, their own certainties and insecurities.

In my work we always use the phrase “We are all equal, but different,” and that ‘s truly the case. Naturism really does connect you with nature, with the purity of life, with your body and your soul. And in this environment, we all coexist with the same respect for life.

You mention watching people at the nude beach, women with mastectomies, men of different shapes and sizes, and connecting it to the phrase you use in your work: “We are all equal, but different.” That phrase clearly means something to you beyond its professional context. What does seeing that reality in a naturist space actually do to you in the moment?

It was AWESOME! I never expected it to be like this, that’s when the concept that only Barbie and Ken could show off was broken. Seeing these people read, play, walk, enter the sea, all so naturally opened my mind and filled me with a lot of emotion. The truth is that everyone creates their own barriers, but the moment you decide to face them you realize that life is beautiful and very different from what you imagined: there is no such thing as PERFECT.

But also, and although it sounds contradictory, each one is PERFECT. It only depends on how you decide to live. And by this I don’t mean that all people should be naturists (although those who are not miss it) but that everyone can be and do what they like.

You grew up in a home where nudity simply ceased to exist after a certain age; it was repressed without explanation, and you said it didn’t seem strange to you because that’s just how things were. Looking back, what do you think that caused in you, and when did you first realize it?

I only became aware of this change in my adult life. Perhaps before that, I didn’t face a situation that led me to question that behavior, which everyone considered “normal.” In my case, I think the first time I confronted nudity as such was when I had sex with a partner before my husband. How was I going to take off my clothes? How was that person going to see me naked? And what if he didn’t like what he saw? It was terrible to have that train of thoughts running through my mind without a clear answer.

In retrospect, I understand the cultural reasons why we don’t talk about the body, or why we don’t talk about nudity or sexuality. It’s clearly easier to avoid these kinds of situations or conversations due to a lack of information, and of course, because it’s a learning process: how can I talk about something I shouldn’t and didn’t consider important ?

However, I could say that addressing these issues from a young age could provide emotional stability to people, making it easier for each person to live healthy relationships, with the ability to know what they want or don’t want in relation to their body.

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In part 2 we talk about receiving sexual attention, and why she decided to do this interview at all.

We hope you enjoy our articles and interviews with other naturists around the world. You can always subscribe here in Substack or over on our website, ournaturistlife.com. Or you can buy us a spark or a subscription through Ko-fi. We truly appreciate it.

Kevin and Corin