Nigella Lawson wears a burkini on Bondi Beach

[Spiraling Leopard]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/celebritynews/8459441/Nigella-Lawson-wears-a-burkini-on-Bondi-Beach.html

For admirers of Nigella Lawson's Rubenesque curves, the prospect of the domestic goddess hitting the beach was one to savour.

From corseted Vivienne Westwood gowns to figure-hugging cashmere twinsets, the television chef never fails to make the most of her voluptuous figure.
So her choice of swimwear for a dip off Sydney's Bondi Beach came as something of a surprise. Rather than a revealing swimming costume, Miss Lawson was covered head to toe in a burkini, the modesty-saving outfit designed for Muslim women.
The 51-year-old cut a striking figure as she splashed in the surf with her friend, comedian Maria McErlane. While Miss McErlane wore a skimpy bikini, Miss Lawson was protected from the elements in a black two-piece and peaked cap, leaving only her hands, feet and face showing.
Rather than a sudden conversion to Islam, her choice of outfit was motivated by a desire to shield her creamy complexion from the Australian sun. "Nigella was protecting herself from sunburn, nothing more than that," said her spokesman.
Miss Lawson purchased the burkini from Islamic swimwear company Modestly Active, which has stores in the east London suburbs of Walthamstow and Stratford. The firm makes "shariah compliant swimwear" and the model chosen by Miss Lawson costs from £79.99 for a small size to £89.99 for XXL, offering a sun protection factor of 50+.

Ismail Sacranie, Modestly Active's marketing director, said: "We set up the company in 2007 to cater for people who wanted an alternative to the swimwear that was out there, mainly for religious reasons. We didn't really anticipate non-Muslims buying the clothing but now we have a healthy and loyal following - about 15 per cent of our client base.
"Non-Muslim women buy our clothes for all sorts of reasons. There is the health benefit of protecting your skin from the sun, but it's just a case of choice - women choose to wear what they feel comfortable in.
"For a long time, women who wanted to wear something modest while swimming didn't have any alternative except for leggings and a T-shirt, which are not ideal bceause they drag you down and cling to the body. I think there was a desperate need for someone to come up with a product like this."
Mr Sacranie added: "It is always nice to have celebrities wearing our product."
When Miss Lawson stepped out in a Vivienne Westwood corset dress two years ago, sales soared. Burkini-makers will be waiting to see if she does the same for them.
The chef was in Sydney to record a guest appearance on the Australian version of MasterChef. She and Miss McErlane breakfasted on eggs at a beachside cafe before venturing into the sea.
She is not the first celebrity to don an all-in-one outfit for swimming. Pale-skinned Nicole Kidman also favours the all-in-one. Australia takes sun protection seriously and the lifeguard association Surf Life Saving Australia includes Muslim members who wear yellow and red burkinis.
Back on dry land, Miss Lawson is proud of her curves. She has said: "I'm very glad that I don't have that skinny straight-up-and-down shape, that I'm this Edwardian throwback with a very small waist and ankles and wrists, and the rest [is] billowing."