by Francelli
One of the questions I get asked most often is: What did your family say when they found out you were a nudist?
The truth is, there isn’t one simple answer.
Some people supported me from the beginning. Some never really understood it. And others chose to judge me without ever asking why I practiced nudism in the first place.
Like many things in life, the reactions revealed a lot - not just about me, but about the people around me.
The First Person Who Knew
My first experience with nudism happened at a clothing-optional temazcal, a traditional sweat lodge ceremony.
Interestingly, what impacted me most wasn’t the nudity.
Because of the way I was raised, I was never especially shy about the human body. I didn’t grow up with many prejudices around nudity, so being naked wasn’t the part that stayed with me.
What truly fascinated me was everything else: the spiritual atmosphere, the aromatherapy, the songs, the sense of community, and the deep feeling of connection that developed inside the temazcal.
When I got home, I told my mom all about it.
Her reaction was surprisingly calm. She wasn’t shocked by the nudity at all. In fact, she told me the temazcal sounded so interesting that she would consider attending one herself someday.
She never did, but I still remember her response because it was far more open-minded than I expected.
My Parents’ Reaction
Both of my parents found out almost from the very beginning.
There were no dramatic family arguments, no ultimatums, and certainly no threats to disown me, which is what some people imagine when they hear stories about someone becoming a nudist.
At first, they were curious. They asked what the events were like, who attended them, what kind of activities we did, and what the social atmosphere was like.
Once their curiosity was satisfied, the subject mostly faded into the background.
There was no rejection. No major concern. No lasting change in how they saw me.
They simply respected my decisions and continued seeing me as the same person I had always been.
The Rest of My Family
Most of my immediate family handled it quite well.
Some of my aunts, however, were a completely different story.
I especially remember one aunt who told me she had also done “crazy things” when she was young, but that she had calmed down with age. She seemed to assume that nudism was some kind of rebellious, hedonistic phase I would eventually outgrow.
Another aunt was much more critical.
For years, she spoke negatively about me behind my back. At one point, she even tried to turn my grandmother against me by showing her a nude photograph I had publicly shared with a former partner.
She said something along the lines of:
“Look at what your granddaughter is doing. Aren’t you ashamed?”
My grandmother’s response remains one of the best I have ever heard:
“Stay out of my granddaughter’s life.”
My grandmother was an amazing person.
Of course, not everyone responded that way.
There were relatives who stopped inviting me to certain family gatherings. Some cousins were told not to spend too much time around me. More than once, other family members told my father that I was “heading down the wrong path.”
They spoke about me as if I had dropped out of school, gotten into serious trouble, or lost control of my life.
For some people, being a nudist seemed to belong in that same category.
The Positive Surprises
But not everything was criticism.
Some of the biggest surprises came from people I never expected to support me.
My brother was one of them.
One of my aunts, her husband, their children, and one of my cousins were also incredibly supportive. Some even helped me with the nudist events I organized. Others participated in activities and gatherings themselves.
Seeing people not only respect my decision, but actually become involved and supportive, meant a lot to me.
It reminded me that people can surprise you in beautiful ways, too.
My Friends’ Reaction
Interestingly, my friends have been the most neutral group of all.
None of my close friends have shown any real interest in attending nudist events. None have tried nudism. None have asked me to take them to a nude beach.
But they haven’t judged me either.
They never made cruel jokes. They never interrogated me endlessly. They never called me crazy or tried to convince me to abandon this part of my life.
They simply accepted that it was part of who I am.
And honestly, that kind of quiet acceptance can be just as meaningful as enthusiastic support.
The Absurd Questions
Over the years, I’ve heard just about everything.
Many people automatically assume that nudism must be connected to swinging, exhibitionism, or some type of sexual activity. Some find it impossible to believe that a person might simply enjoy being naked because it feels comfortable, natural, and freeing.
I’ve been asked things like:
“If you’re already making nudist content, why don’t you just do porn?”
Others have told me I’m naïve for believing that other nudists share the same motivations I do. According to them, everyone is pretending, and what people really want is to look at naked bodies.
It’s fascinating how difficult it is for some people to imagine a relationship with nudity that isn’t rooted in sexuality.
Unexpected Encounters
One of the funniest situations happened when I ran into a coworker.
The funny part was that I had already met her before — at a nudist event.
We immediately recognized each other.
Neither of us said a word.
Neither of us mentioned it to our coworkers.
We simply continued working as if nothing had happened.
I still laugh when I think about it.
What I Learned After All These Years
If I’m completely honest, part of me sometimes regrets making my nudist life so public.
Social prejudice carries more weight than many people realize. And the internet has an infinite memory.
The photos and videos I’ve shared will never completely disappear. Don’t get me wrong — I’m not ashamed that nude images of me exist online.
What bothers me is that some people have stolen my content and reposted it on erotic websites, in contexts that have absolutely nothing to do with the message I was trying to share.
That part genuinely frustrates me. It makes me feel disappointed in people.
If I could go back in time, I would probably still practice nudism. I would probably still organize events. I would probably still build community around it.
But I might choose not to appear so prominently in the photos.
My Advice to Other Nudists
My biggest piece of advice is simple: practice nudism in spaces where you feel safe, and move at your own pace.
There is no obligation to tell everyone.
Each person gets to decide who deserves access to that part of their life.
And if someone criticizes you, remember something important: people who truly care about you usually respect your decisions, even when they don’t fully understand them.
When someone tries to control your life, shame you, or attack you over a personal choice that doesn’t affect them, it’s worth asking how much space you really want that person to occupy in your life.
Would I Tell My Entire Family Again?
It depends.
If you come from an extremely traditional, tightly connected family with strong social expectations, I would think carefully before sharing it.
Not because there is anything wrong with nudism.
But because, in many cases, the emotional cost of explaining it may be greater than the benefit of telling people.
Some individuals will never understand.
And that’s okay.
Not everyone needs to know every detail of your life.
On the other hand, if you are someone who can live peacefully regardless of what your family thinks, then go for it.
That’s what I did.
And although it wasn’t always easy, I can honestly say it taught me a great deal about my family, my friendships, and most importantly, myself.
Thank you for reading.
Francelli Rentería is a regular Nude Beach Map contributor and one of Mexico’s most recognized naturist advocates, sharing stories that help normalize nudism and body freedom.
