Seventeen.com’s online poll asked teens, “When wearing a swimsuit on the beach you feel… insecure or hot?”  Nearly twice as many voters admitted to feeling insecure.

Swimsuit angst begin during the teen years — when a girl’s body starts changing — and can last a lifetime. The solution is to find the right bathing suit for your body. No body is perfect, but a good swimsuit will accentuate good features and camouflage the bad.

The first thing you have to do is identify your body shape. The fashion industry typically classifies women’s bodies like this:

HOURGLASS SHAPE
The hourglass shape describes a curvy body — whether a size 2 or a size 2X. The breasts are in proportion with the hips, and they’re separated by a well-defined waistline. Think Jessica Simpson (left) and Kim Kardashian. Hourglass gals are usually able to wear the same size top and bottom — and they look good in both one and two-piece swimsuits. Flaunt your curves in a fab suit from Victoria’s Secret. This crocheted black string bikini is from the GUESS collection and comes in sizes XS to L.

PEAR SHAPE
Pear girls come in all sizes, too — both Kiera Knightly and Oprah are pears!  This shape describes girls who are smaller on top and larger on the bottom, particularly in the thighs and hips (like Beyonce, left). A two-piece bikini (or tankini) draws attention to the waist, so it’s usually a good bet for this figure. Choose a brightly colored top with ruffles or gathers to enhance the bust. To downplay your hips, select darker bottoms. If you desire a little more coverage, try a skirted bottom or boycut bottoms (right)like these from Venus.

APPLE SHAPE
With a larger upper than lower body, the apple is the opposite of the pear. Heather Locklear (left) and Drew Barrymore are good examples. To minimize a wide midsection, one-piece suits are best. V-cut and plunging necklines create the illusion of a narrow waist. Look for suits made Lycra, spandex, or “miracle” fabrics that smooth out and flatten the tummy. This Shape fx metallic surplice maillot (right) from Newport News has a tummy-flattening power-mesh panel and a breast-lifting molded cup underwire bra. The waist is defined with shirring and beading, and the hips look fuller with mid-cut legs.

ATHLETIC SHAPE
From volleyball to surfing, Cameron Diaz is always performing some athletic feat on the beach. Like Cameron (left), girls in this category are not very curvy. But you can create some curves with the right suit. Look for padded cups or bandeau tops to give the illusion of a fuller bust. And go for bottoms with lots of accents — like sashes, ties, and fringe — to make the hips and butt look curvier.  Cameron’s suit (left) is ideal for an athletic body, as is this Juicy Couture suit (right), featuring a halter bikini top and a cute skirted bottom. Shop Saks Fifth Avenue.

Tell us about your body shape and favorite swimsuit…