'It ended with a stripper.' 11 women just told us exactly how they celebrated their divorce.

Once upon a time, divorce was an event shrouded in shame. Something you hid, excused, or justified. Ending your marriage was a symbol of failure, often described as such. Women were expected to persevere, tolerate, and sacrifice, and above all else, try to "make it work", before enduring the tragedy of divorce.

But today, an increasing number of women are refusing to do that. In fact, research shows that women initiate most divorces. In heterosexual marriages, around two-thirds of all divorces are filed by women, with some studies placing the number closer to 70 per cent.

Watch: The hosts of Mamamia Out Loud discuss whether liking thirst traps is grounds for divorce. Post continues below.

The numbers prove that women are less willing to stay in relationships that diminish them, and more empowered to walk away from mistreatment, inequality, or emotional exhaustion.

Divorce is no longer seen just as an ending, but rather, a reclamation of identity. Although divorce is most often painful, these days it can also be something to be proud of – a boundary held, or a decision that says you deserve better.

And with that shift comes something many didn't expect, women celebrating their divorces instead of commiserating them.

We asked eleven women* how they celebrated their divorce. Here's what they told us.

"I burnt my marriage certificate and ended up on stage with a stripper." – Melissa.

"I had a divorce party where I had a stripper come to my house and he did his thing in front of my friends and then after that he invited me to come to watch a Magic Men show where he got me on stage in front of everyone and yeah well, the rest is history… I also burnt my marriage certificate at my divorce party!"

"Divorce saved my life." – Natalie.

"I threw an oyster and champagne party with all my friends, and we tried to drink as much of the wine cellar he spent years accumulating as we could. Divorce saved my life!"

"I got a piercing, new clothes, and my spark back." – Jodie.

"My divorce has been celebrated in a few ways. I celebrated signing the divorce papers by getting my bellybutton pierced again and buying myself some new clothes. And I'm celebrating it with a mini-party with the friends who've helped me through it and been my support system. It's the best thing I ever did for myself! So I'll be celebrating finding myself again and getting my spark back!"

"I bought the Tiffany necklace he always promised me." – Felicity

"I bought myself the Tiffany necklace he always said he was going to buy me. I haven't taken it off in over six years. It reminds me that I don't ever need to rely on a man to get what I want."

"I bought a divorce ring." – Cassandra.

"I had a relatively peaceful divorce, so I bought a beautiful divorce ring."

"We had a Gold Coast divorce weekend." – Monique.

"I had a belated divorce social event on the Gold Coast with my siblings – we made a weekend of it and had a blast! Do not regret waiting to have it as it gave me time to process and grieve what life I 'should' have had."

"I didn't celebrate… but I wish I had." – Laura.

"I got divorced in April and I never celebrated. I don't really have friends though. I always wanted to celebrate."

"I went to Africa." – Shira.

"I'm Jewish so I had to get an official Jewish divorce certificate called a ghett. Getting a copy of my ghett is almost as hard as getting a frikkin ghett... I went to Africa with my kid to mark it."

"I don't celebrate divorce, but I honour my peace." – Anonymous.

"I cried for what was and then felt gratitude for my peace.

"I wore my wedding dress and let everyone destroy it." – Tara.

"Had a divorce party mixed with a going away party as we were leaving town shortly after. Wore my dress and let everyone who was there throw different coloured paint on the dress throughout the night. As people drank more, they were putting their smokes out on it, tipping their drinks on it. It got more and more wrecked and ended up in the fire (had a change of clothes). Was a great night."

Listen to this episode of Mamamia Out Loud on the women 'quiet quitting' their husbands. Post continues below.

"It was about celebrating the new me." – Amanda.

"I held a party with my closest girlfriends that had literally held me together over the past 12 months. It was a celebration of the new me and moving forward. No ex-hate, just love for new beginnings."

Feature image: Canva.