Gabrielle Union Strips Down, Bares It All for 52nd Birthday

On Oct. 29, Bad Boys II star Gabrielle Union posted some revealing pictures to Instagram celebrating her 52nd birthday. “This is 52,” Union captioned the carousel of four photos and three videos.

The most notable photograph finds Union stripped down to her birthday suit, covering herself with a small wash cloth and her hands as she bathes in an outdoor shower. Another shot showcases Union, in an orange bikini, sitting on a boat and throwing her hands up at the sunset. The actor, who’s married to Dwyane Wade, also included a shot of herself standing on a beach at sunset in a black sarong and a messy-haired mirror selfie.

“This is 52. This is grown woman sh-t. This is being accountable for mess ups,” Union captioned the carousel. “Being gracious when others mess up. Being open to being wrong and being proud and confident when you are right. This is loving passionately and unapologetically. This is clear and firm boundaries. This is sexy. This is audacious. This is fun and full of wild adventures. This is calling a thing a thing and not falling for the Okey-Doke and demanding better.”

Union continued: “This is being alone without being lonely. This is enjoying nature. This is fierce and compassionate motherhood. This is fighting for my people and yours. This is me at 52. Loving ALL of me.”

In the carousel, Union also included a video of herself showing off a black bikini for the camera, and another in which she takes photos in an evening gown. The final video is an interview with Union in which she speaks about using as motivation the times she was told “no” throughout her life.

“Some no’s feel like, I’m sure there’s a lesson in there somewhere,” Union said. “And some no’s feel like projection of someone else’s challenges. And I rebuke that. And I recognize that if…I was around people like that, my soul would be worn down.”