Sarah Nicole Landry is no stranger to reinvention. The powerhouse behind The Birds Papaya has spent years dismantling rigid beauty standards, reshaping conversations around postpartum bodies, and proving that self-love isn’t a destination—it’s a lifelong practice. What started as a personal blog has evolved into a thriving digital empire, a space where millions find solace, inspiration, and unfiltered honesty. From her viral moment at Miami Swim Week for Sports Illustrated to the raw, transformative conversations she fosters on The Papaya Podcast, Sarah’s work is a testament to the power of showing up—fear and all.

Motherhood, in all its complexities, has been both her greatest challenge and most profound teacher. Now a mother of four, she’s navigated parenthood across different decades, with the wisdom of experience reshaping how she approaches body image, identity, and balance. Her message? Embrace the discomfort. Say yes to the things that scare you. And, above all, don’t sit on the sidelines of your own life.

In this conversation, Landry gets candid about the realities of postpartum body acceptance, the evolving nature of success, and the responsibility of using social media as a tool for change. Whether she’s reflecting on the weight of external judgment or the deep love that motherhood has instilled in her, one thing is clear: she’s not just sharing her story—she’s creating space for others to rewrite theirs.

The House interview with Sarah Nicole Landry

You’ve been a vocal advocate for normalizing postpartum body changes. How did your perspective on body image evolve after each of your pregnancies?

My first three kids came in my early adult years (between 21-25) and so it feels like my entire adult life has also been my postpartum journey. But those first three times postpartum there was no roadmap, no online support system or awareness of body changes (such a stretch marks or loose skin from childbearing). So, naturally, I felt completely alone, full of shame and hid my body for that entire decade. I went through a weight loss journey thinking that would fix my problems, only to find myself still not loving my body and my body image sinking lower than ever. I began to heal through online communities and sharing in real time my coming to terms with my body after kids, even 8,9,10 years after the fact. Then, I found myself pregnant with my fourth. I felt like I would be way more prepared to navigate it this time, but to be honest, it was just as hard. The difference was – I committed to showing up in every bit of that hard and discomfort and share it with my online community in hopes that I could help change the narrative and image of postpartum. 

Many mothers struggle with maintaining their personal identity while embracing their role as a parent. How have you navigated this balance, and what advice would you offer to mothers facing this challenge?

To actually grieve. I think when we talk about self-love it feels like just another task we feel set up to fail at, at least that’s how I felt. When your body changes so rapidly, it only makes sense that you would grieve what was. Grief, is simply a processing tool for change. So instead of chasing who I used to be, I could let her go and meet myself where I was and through every change moving forward. I gave myself a lot of grace, to move through things slower, to not force anything, but to try and SAY YES to as many wild and uncomfy things to keep reminding myself that while my body may change, I do not wish my feelings around that to hold me back. It ended up being the best thing I could have done for myself, to NOT sit on the sidelines waiting for a bounce back, but instead honoring my bounce forward. 

With children spanning various age groups, how have the different stages of motherhood influenced your approach to parenting and self-care?

For the first three, I was a stay at home mom (for a decade) and I put a LOT of pressure on myself to do it all and do it well all the time. Self care didn’t exist. I found myself burnt out a lot, and I’m sure they felt that. Even if I overall really enjoyed motherhood, I was entirely focused on them and very little on myself. Having another baby a decade later, I knew I wanted a better approach. I knew that not only did I not want to spread myself so thin, but I simply couldn’t. I didn’t want my kids getting burnt out pieces of me anymore. I learned that asking for help was honestly a strong thing to do. I learned that letting others be more involved in raising them was a gift for ALL of us. As the kids grow, the needs shift, and being adaptable to change has been the best thing I could do. But that starts and ends with me making sure I’m working to be my best self so that I’m ready to take on whatever comes, even if that means – asking for help or letting things slide. I love the analogy about sorting your life by glass and rubber balls. The rubber balls are the things that can bounce back (a messy house, a stack of laundry to be done, etc.) where a glass ball can’t be dropped (family, nourishment, your mental/physical health). Balancing things isn’t easy, but if you figure out what balls are glass and what ones are rubber, you can move through things with a bit more grace for yourself. 

Throughout the major transitions in your life, how has your definition of personal and professional success changed? What insights did these transitions provide about self-worth and resilience?

For the longest time I felt like resilience you achieved by becoming hardened to things that may come in your way. I don’t believe that anymore. I’m a soft person, I feel it all. My self-worth ebbs and flows, I’m constantly learning how to navigate that. That is such resilience. To keep going. To keep figuring things out. To not get hardened to the world as I do. Professionally, this has meant saying “no” more (even with the internal panics that persist every time I do). Personally it means saying “yes” to the things that scare me and letting myself lead a life of least regret, not a life of least resistance. My self-worth is 1000% strengthened by this. Doing things scared. 

In today’s digital age, how do you perceive the role of social media in shaping perceptions of motherhood? Do you see it becoming easier or more difficult to be authentic on these platforms?

I think we are at a crossroads to be honest. We have so much information now. As a 4th time mom I was shocked at the sheer volume of advice and judgement passing through my screens. I realized quickly that validation and being seen in motherhood was equally as important as finding your boundaries with it all too. We have collectively yet to find that balance and I really don’t want to see an entire generation of parents overwhelmed by the constant moving of goal posts. So while I believe we have the ability to be more authentic now, it comes with the risk of overwhelm as well. I’ve had to find my own way with it. Good and bad. 

For mothers grappling with body image issues postpartum, what practical steps or mindset shifts would you recommend to foster self-acceptance and confidence?

I would first encourage them to give themselves grace for every human feeling they’re experiencing. I would practice walking away from the mirror, wearing comfy clothes that allow you to live without “feeling” your body so much, and just keep giving yourself these tiny pieces of grace in the discomfort. Next, I would encourage them to try and show up and say yes. Putting a swimsuit after baby is not always an easy experience, but just because it’s harder doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try (while also honoring that you can wear the one that you feel the most comfy in, OR choose to challenge yourself with something new). The point isn’t what you’re wearing, the point is that you keep doing. I sat out of a lot of my kids childhoods because of how I felt about my body and the shame I carried. I may still struggle with my self image, but I refuse to not show up in the one life I have and really live it. So it’s uncomfortable sometimes. You know what’s more uncomfortable? Sitting out, and living with regret. 

In what ways have your children contributed to your journey of self-discovery and personal growth? Can you share specific moments where motherhood profoundly impacted your perspective on life?

It’s interesting because I think the thing that impacted me the most is the way I love them. Just from a parental standpoint I love them regardless of how messy they are, or when they fail at something, or when they grow and change. That love is so in action all the time. So, that type of love taught me I could do the same for myself. That loving myself could be an action, to love in the mess, to love when I’m failing, to love myself when I’m changing. They taught me that. Whatever I would naturally want for them in their life, I remember to want that for me, too.

Being in the public eye, how do you handle external judgments or criticisms related to your parenting choices? What strategies have you developed to maintain your family’s privacy and well-being?

I had such a small tight knit online community for about a decade, so when things really took off and I was in a larger public eye, I was really struggling with the fact that I can’t please them all and some are very committed to misunderstanding you. The best thing I have done to approach this is really pulling back on sharing that much about specifics in our life while also sharing my experiences with life. And honoring that by doing that, it doesn’t make me “not vulnerable” I’m just vulnerable, with boundaries. 

You’ve emphasized the importance of honest discussions around motherhood’s challenges. How can communities and platforms better support mothers in sharing their authentic experiences without fear of judgment?

I have recognized that there are SO many right ways to do things, just because someone else has another way of doing it, doesn’t mean mine is wrong or theirs is. There is SO many ways to be a mom. Working, at home, mom of 1 or mom of 7, breastfed, bottle-fed, etc. we all could do better at supporting each other and our own paths. Regardless of what I may face, hateful or judgmental online, I try and just do the most to be the opposite of that. I call it, “balancing the force” but really, sometimes the negativity can really get to you, so I’ll spend an hour or so online just commenting as many nice things as I can to remind myself that we can truly be the change. 

Your Miami Swim Week runway moment for Sports Illustrated, showcasing your swimwear collaboration with Knix, resonated with millions. What was it like to step onto that stage, and how did it feel to see the overwhelming response from women around the world?

I was terrified, for one. Truly felt SO out of my element with an incredible amount of “why me?”. I had applied with Sports Illustrated Swim for years. I wanted this with all my heart. Now it was time to do the scary thing. I let people in on that, that I was terrified, but I was doing it anyway. I was in a sarong over a string bikini and I decided this was going to be a moment for me to really make a difference for myself and for every person who has shared a similar body change as I have. I took off the sarong and expected crickets, but roars of cheers erupted. A woman yelled out, “That’s a mother!!”. I think about that moment a lot. Not what it even meant for everyone else but what that meant for me. To hear that, after decades of hiding my body, will live in me forever. The fun part is, whether I had heard cheers or crickets, I still did the dang thing. That’s the win. The rest is a cherry on top, including the video of my walk which has now reached over 75 million views, and still blows my mind. 

Your podcast has covered a wide range of topics, from identity and relationships to self-worth. How has The Papaya Podcast evolved since its launch, and what conversations are you most excited to explore in upcoming episodes?

I love storytelling, and podcasts are such a great place to hear OTHERS stories and learn from them. I have had some of the most amazing guests, learned some of the coolest things, and feel like I’m leveling up as a human a little bit more with each episode. I hope the listeners do too. We’ve explored topics like sex after baby, divorce, grief, mental health, careers, finances, and so much more. It’s honestly just one of my favorite places to hang out. 

Looking ahead, what are your goals for your platform in terms of advocating for mothers and promoting body confidence? Are there specific projects or initiatives you’re excited about?

My goal this year remains the same – keep saying yes to scary things, to show others they can too, to keep showing up for myself, keep evolving, and keep taking care of me in the midst of it all. I have no idea what’s ahead, that’s scary and exciting. Feels like I’m sitting at the top of the rollercoaster just ready to take the ride. 

Credits:

Written by Kacey Perez | @studioblume_

Photography by Brendan Wixted | @brendanwixtedphoto

Follow Sarah Nicole Landry | @thebirdspapaya