If you think of nudists you might conjure up images of jiggly, leathery old folks working on their tans at the beach. But Sydney resident, Matt, has made it his mission to change that.
He and a few friends founded the Young Nudists of Australia in 2016, with the aim of introducing 18-40 year olds to benefits of getting together, and getting nude.
The group quickly amassed a membership of over 350 people interested in exploring the nudist lifestyle.
Matt says being nude is a "hugely empowering and liberating experience" and one of the greatest equalisers in modern-day society.
"I'm healthy but not overly skinny but if anybody thinks only physically stunning people try naturism, one visit to a nude beach or resort and they will see that isn't true.
"Once I realised that myself, it makes you feel so much better about yourself. Nobody is judging you, nobody is critiquing you and that just makes you feel so accepted. That feeling of acceptance is why I love it."
Being nude around other people in the nude is a great stress release, he says.
"As for how it makes me feel, it is a great reliever of stress. You tend to leave your stresses, worries and hang-ups with your clothes and once the sun and water are on you, all of life's problems are gone, even if only temporarily."
"Nudity is the great equaliser in society. If you're chatting to someone, you have no idea if they're a CEO, a schoolteacher, politician, bus driver, cleaner or whatever. Everyone is the same - no judgment, no comparison, nothing. It's impossible not to be relaxed after a while."
Operating primarily on Facebook, Young Nudists of Australia requires all prospective members to verify their identity in order to gain access. This ensures the integrity of the group is maintained, weeds out any "fakes" and provides a level of assurance that all members have proven they are exactly who they say they are.
"We've been called ageist but that's our system and it isn't changing. You're either in or you're not. And our verification process is in full compliance with state and territory privacy laws, which we've had checked."
The Young Nudists of Australia group operates similarly to a social club, with the only difference being that the club members don't wear any clothing. Matt has plenty of ideas for naked adventures.
"We have plans for events including naked tenpin bowling. We may also look for a bar or pub in Sydney to run a naked pub night complete with live music. Other ideas include roller skating, themed parties (Halloween, Fourth of July, Easter etc) but we're still working out how to make those happen. We'd love to hear from any venues around Australia interested in hosting a naked crowd."
"If you're a first-timer, definitely try and round up some friends as it will be better with people you know and trust. Look up your nearest nude beach or resort and if the latter, get in touch to find out when they are welcoming first-timers or non-members," says Matt.
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