What a difference a year makes. The last time we saw Nicole Richie in a bikini, back in 2006, the 85-pound Nicole looked shockingly unhealthy.

But when she recently hit the beach, the mother-to-be happily showed off her filled-out new figure — and her six-month baby bump.

Thanks to her pregnancy, Nicole — who has admitted to eating issues in the past — is finally at peace with her body, says a friend.

“At first, Nicole was uncomfortable with the idea of gaining weight, because she had been thin for so long,” the friend explains. “But as time went on, she stopped worrying about her figure and finally started to feel comfortable in her skin.”

Another big reason for Nicole’s newfound self-acceptance: fiancé Joel Madden. “Joel knows Nicole needs a lot of positive reinforcement about her body,” the friend explains. “So he makes sure to compliment her all the time. He even went bikini-shopping with her before their big trip.” [source: Life & Style]