St Andrews May Dip marred by non‑consensual bikini photography of female students

Over 60% of UK adults report negative body image, and St Andrews students say non‑consensual bikini photos taken at the May Dip have ruined their experience and heightened distress.

Each year hundreds of St Andrews undergraduates plunge into the North Sea at dawn for the May Dip, a tradition believed to bring exam luck. The event takes place on the public East Sands beach, where photography is unrestricted.

In recent years freelance and agency photographers have camped overnight in the dunes, using long lenses to capture images as students run into the sea. Their focus overwhelmingly falls on female students in swimwear, despite the university’s warnings that press may be present.

The university advises students beforehand that images can circulate globally, but it cannot stop photographers from shooting on a public shore.

Anna, whose photo appeared in a spread by the Scotsman, said the publication “ruined my night” and left her unable to shake the image.

Olivia reported seeing a man with a camera pitching a one‑man tent in the dunes from 9 p.m. the night before the Dip, describing the act as “really wrong.”

A UK‑wide survey (cross‑sectional, n≈8,200) found that over 60% of adults experience negative body image feelings, a backdrop that makes unsolicited image sharing especially distressing for young adults.

The photos were reproduced in national outlets including the Daily Mail and the Sun, and reader comments beneath them were overtly objectifying, with remarks such as “The 4 in the first picture are fire.”

Observational research links non‑consensual image sharing to increased anxiety and depressive symptoms (cohort, n≈1,200), though these studies show association, not proven causation.

For students, the sudden loss of control over a personal image can trigger shame, self‑scrutiny, and reluctance to participate in future events.

Practical steps include requesting takedowns from publishers, reporting the images to social platforms, and documenting any harassment for possible legal action.

Universities and advocacy groups are calling for clearer guidelines on press access to public events and for stronger consent‑based policies, while readers are urged to consider the human impact before sharing or commenting on such photos.

Watch for upcoming discussions in the UK Parliament about regulating non‑consensual image publication at public gatherings, as well as any new university‑led campaigns to protect participants’ dignity.